During a community heritage project conducted in the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve in Dorset, an immensely rare and significant stone artifact, dating back over 5,000 years, has been discovered.
A polissoir “polishing boulder”, found in the Valley of the Stones near Dorchester, would have been used to make stone axe heads more than 5,000 years ago.
It is only the second undisturbed polissoir to be found in its original position in England.
The boulder will be left where it is, rather than taken to a museum, while the area around it is excavated.
The discovery was made in the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty during a heritage project run by community interest company Past Participate.
Stonehenge
The boulder is formed of sarsen stone, a hard form of sandstone that was also used to build Stonehenge.
Sarsen boulders are found across southern England, but out of nearly 1,000 that have been examined by experts, very few are known to have been used for polishing stone tools.
Jim Rylatt, director of archaeology at Past Participate called the find “unexpected”.
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“The stones would have been extremely important to Neolithic people, as without axes they could not have cleared woodland and farming would have been impossible,” he said.
Dr Anne Teather, also a director at Past Participate, added: “This incredible discovery represents the research value that community heritage projects can bring.
“We are grateful for the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme for funding that stimulated these investigations into the Valley of Stones, and Historic England and local landowners for their support.
“We hope to secure further funding that will enable us to continue our work in this landscape with our committed team of volunteers.”
Historic England
This is a hugely exciting and rare discovery in this little understood historic landscape, which is giving us an opportunity to explore the use of the stone, and the communities who were using it. Our scientists and landscape investigators are providing specialist expertise and advice to get a better understanding and record of this unique site and its wider archaeological setting ~ Sasha Chapman, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic England
Following the discovery, the immediate area around the stone has been excavated for specialist analysis to see if any traces of the makers of the stone axes are still present.
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Rylatt expressed his fascination with contemplating the ancient work that had taken place at the site so long ago. “While there are more imposing stones around, this particular one resonated with them. It is evident that countless hours, possibly thousands, were spent polishing tools here.”
It is plausible that this location served as a designated work area rather than a living space. “It’s possible that other activities occurred in this vicinity, such as processing animal skins or preparing meals by butchering meat.”
Axes
Teather noted that the polissoir was situated near an ancient routeway. “One can envision people coming to this stone to sharpen their axes. It likely wasn’t a settlement but rather a destination that people visited as they traveled through.”
In a playful manner, she mentioned that she had jokingly promised to buy a bottle of whisky for anyone who discovered a polissoir. “I must admit that Jim reached the spot before me because he has longer legs.”
As a celebratory gesture for the find, she has indeed purchased a bottle of Scottish single malt for him, we don’t know if Jim has finished off the bottle celebrating such a significant find.
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This incredible discovery represents the research value that community heritage projects can bring. We are grateful for the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme for funding that stimulated these investigations into the Valley of Stones, and Historic England and local landowners for their support. We ope to secure further funding that will enable us to continue our work in this landscape with our committed team of volunteers ~ Dr Anne Teather, Director, Past Participate
During the Neolithic period, early farming communities utilised stone axes for a variety of purposes, including clearing woodlands, constructing houses, and erecting monuments.
These axes were crafted from different raw materials such as flint, volcanic tuff, and granite.
Analysis
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There is evidence suggesting that many stone axes were extensively moved during prehistoric times. They were possibly traded as part of exchange systems or carried by individuals from distant sources where the stones were quarried.
Following the discovery of the polissoir, the surrounding area has undergone excavation and specialised analysis to determine if any traces of the stone axe makers still remain.
Sasha Chapman, the inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, expressed enthusiasm regarding this highly exceptional and rare find in a historically enigmatic landscape. The discovery provides an opportunity to delve into the utilisation of the stone and gain insights into the communities that employed it.
Polissoirs can be classified as either “earthfast” or portable, with many examples found in France, hence the name’s origin.
What is a Polissoir?
A polissoir is a specialised type of stone tool or artifact that was used during the Neolithic period for polishing or honing other stone implements, particularly axes. It is also known as a polishing stone.
A polissoir typically consists of a smooth, elongated stone with a rounded or concave surface.
To use it, the Neolithic people would rub or grind the surface of their stone axes against the polissoir, which helped to refine and sharpen the cutting edge of the axes.
Polissoirs were often made from hard and abrasive rocks, such as sandstone, basalt, or granite, which were able to effectively grind and shape the edges of stone tools.
They were valuable tools for the early farming communities, allowing them to maintain the functionality and effectiveness of their stone axes, which were essential for clearing land, building houses, and other activities.
These artifacts provide insights into the technological advancements and craftsmanship of Neolithic societies. The discovery of a polissoir at an archaeological site can offer valuable information about the tools, techniques, and skills employed by ancient communities.
Who Are Past Participate
We are a small organisation of three, each of whom brings experience of community involvement and public engagement with archaeological research.
The two founders, Jim Rylatt and Anne Teather, have collectively over 50 years’ experience in archaeology that encompasses fieldwork, commercial archaeology, academic research and teaching, and museum archives.
We have worked together on large research excavations, training students and volunteers of all ages and abilities for over two decades. Jim is trained to Master’s level in Landscape Archaeology and Anne holds a PhD in British prehistoric archaeology and has taught formally in Higher Education.
With our collaboration with Dr Hayley Roberts whose expertise is in community archaeology practices, we have the ideal team to take community archaeology forward.
Our combined skill set, and wide contacts within the archaeological profession, mean that we have the experience and aptitude to develop engaging community archaeology that is of outstanding quality.
A very worthy organisation and if you have the time then why not join them! You can find out more here Past Participate
