An ancient tomb in Herefordshire associated with the legendary King Arthur that’s older than the Great Pyramids is being excavated with the help of Archeologists in England for the first time.
King Arthur, the mythical ruler of Camelot, may be best known for pulling the magical sword Excalibur from a stone, but there’s another rock formation that bears his name hidden away in the English countryside.
Archaeologists first excavated a 5,000-year-old Neolithic tomb called Arthur’s Stone in honor of the legendary medieval king. The project is the result of a partnership between researchers at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and the English Heritage, a charity that protects hundreds of historic buildings in the United Kingdom.
Arthur’s Stone is in Herefordshire Near the Welsh border in West Midlands, England. The monument consists of a large capstone supported by a series of upright stones.
Here’s what Ginny Slade of English Heritage said, according to HeritageDaily:
“Arthur’s Stone is one of the country’s most significant Stone Age monuments, and this excavation gives a really rare and exciting chance for members of the public to come and see archaeology in action.”
Ruins are an important part of British history, but little is known about them. Julian Thomas, a project leader and professor of archeology at the University of Manchester, hopes that the excavation of this site will reveal more about the ancient inhabitants of the island.
“The act of constructing such a massive edifice would undoubtedly have been important, as it would have drawn people together to labour, enhancing social solidarity, and perhaps generating prestige for the person or persons directing the work,” Thomas told CNN.
The Daily Wire noted:
The tomb consists of nine standing stones surrounding a grave with a 25-ton capstone on top. Experts believe that there was some kind of false access point to the tomb to protect it from possible intruders.
According to ancient myths, the imprint of the giant was left on one of the stones. An alternative explanation is that Arthur, known for his devotion to Christianity, knelt in prayer on one of the stones, leaving an imprint. Another story says that one of the stones at the Arthur Stone emerged from a pebble that Arthur threw from his shoe as he marched by during one of his expeditions.
Others say that the tomb inspired C.S. Lewis, whose Aslan character was killed on a stone table in the classic book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
Visitors will be able to view the archaeological work and get a closer look at the national monument connected to one of England’s most beloved stories.
According to Slade said, per the University of Manchester:
“Our team of wonderful volunteers will be on hand to explain the latest findings as they happen – we’re asking people to book in advance to make sure everyone has a chance to enjoy this great opportunity.”
Watch the video report here: ABC11/Youtube
Sources: Dailywire, CNN, HeritageDaily