Archeologists In England Find Crypt Said To Be Linked to Legendary King Arthur

Arthur's Stone refers to a New Stone Age (Neolithic) roomed catacomb that has never been unearthed. However, English Heritage states that related samples near a similar location retain several partial human skeletons, pottery, arrowheads, and flakes of flint which would have been used to start fires. Image | UKgeofan | Wikipedia

By Matt Pepple, SJ Correspondent
August 25, 2022 04:00 pm UTC
Modified: August 25, 2022 04:00 pm

ENGLAND – Scientists at the University of Manchester have begun excavation of a 5,000-year-old crypt that has been tied to the legendary King Arthur, aspiring to find any secrets that might be unearthed at the puzzling location.

The specialists are laboring in tandem with English Heritage, which is responsible for the upkeep of Arthur's Stone in Herefordshire. They will be excavating the earth at the site to uncover and report delicate archaeological relics.

“Arthur's Stone” refers to a New Stone Age (Neolithic) roomed catacomb that has never been unearthed. However, English Heritage states that related samples near a similar location retain several partial human skeletons, pottery, arrowheads, and flakes of flint which would have been used to start fires.

Presently, only the massive stones of the hidden rooms still stand, deposited in a hill of rocks and earth for which the primary extent and configuration stays a riddle. The room is made up of 9 tall boulders, with a huge copestone or capstone said to tip the scales with a weight of more than 25 tonnes.

Similar to most ancient memorials of western Wales and England, this crypt has been connected to King Arthur from the time of the 13th century. Traditionally, according to folklore, it was at this spot where Arthur is said to have killed a giant that left an imprint of the giant's elbows on one of the rocks as he was struck down.

Noted writer C.S. Lewis is considered to have been influenced by the region during the origination of his fantastical realm of Narnia – including Arthur's Stone as the motivation for the stone table that the Lion Aslan is sacrificed upon in his book, “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

Ginny Slade is a volunteer supervisor at English Heritage and says, “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. 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,” phys.org quoted Slade as saying.

The excavation corroborates scientific studies set in motion by the Universities of Cardiff and Manchester who focused on the area just south of the stones the last few years. It has also shifted the reason behind what the location was used for, and how it began.

It is thought that Arthur's Stone rose inside of a ridge-shaped rock mound like that which is located in South Wales and Cotswolds. Cardiff's Professor Keith Ray and Manchester's Professor Julian Thomas, however, discovered that the stone extended into a clearing to the southwest and might have assumed the design of a low earth hill with circular edges. Professors Ray and Thomas will also head future digs, and assistance from pupils from the American schools and the University of Cardiff is anticipated.

A lot of ancient sites in England are connected to King Arthur. BBC cited Professor Julian Thomas as saying, however, "In the strict sense, Arthur's Stone has no real connection with King Arthur, as it was constructed four thousand years before the time when Arthur is supposed to have lived".

Volunteers have also been enlisted from English Heritage to assist the archaeologists in their work.

Though many antiquarians have not been able to authenticate King Arthur existed as a true person, his tradition has existed as the basis for many tales and literary works.