Ancient five-foot stone raised again at Dorset nature reserve
The Bride Stone was uncovered during scrub clearance at the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve
A five-foot stone thought to have once been part of a Stone Age tomb has been raised again at the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Dorset.
The sarsen stone has been named the Bride Stone.
Natural England said it had been hidden for generations and is millions of years old.
It was brought back into view through a joint effort by Natural England, community archaeology company Past Participate, and local volunteers.
How the stone was found
The stone emerged during scrub clearance carried out as part of the management of the reserve.
It stands apart from the scattered boulders that give the Valley of Stones its name.
Archaeological excavation by Past Participate suggests it once formed part of a Stone Age tomb.
Natural England said the find is part of its wider work uncovering the hidden history of the landscape.
Reaction
Rob Beard, Reserve Manager for Natural England, said: "I'm thrilled to have the Bride Stone standing over the valley. It's a visual testament to all the similar monuments that have been lost. Its return adds another chapter to the story of a landscape where nature and human history have been intertwined for millennia.
"The stone stands at the heart of a prehistoric landscape, surrounded by stone circles, standing stones, chambered tombs and barrows. It will, I hope, inspire people to visit the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve and evoke the spirit of this special, secret landscape."
Dr Anne Teather, Director of Past Participate, said: "The repositioning of this stone celebrates the exceptional discoveries that have been made recently in the Valley of Stones, and it will serve as a focal point for visitors to this area for decades to come. The Bride Stone represents a tangible reminder of the numerous ancient monuments that have been lost, dismantled or destroyed in this landscape."
About the Valley of Stones
The Valley of Stones is a secluded landscape reached on foot.
It has large blocks of silicified sandstone, known as sarsen boulders, which were shaped by Ice Age weathering.
Some of these stones are thought to have been used by people in Neolithic times to create monuments such as standing stones and stone circles.
The reserve is also home to chalk grassland, which supports a variety of wildflowers and butterflies.
These include the clustered bellflower and the rare Adonis blue butterfly.