Britain’s LOST Prehistoric Wonder of the World? – Shap Megalithic Avenue

There was once a monument so large, so incredible, it attracted travellers, archaeologists, and tourists from across the Isles to admire its fragments, several times described as "pyramids". Paintings of this mysterious monument survive, but what exactly was it? And what can archaeology tell us about its origins? Destroyed in the 18th and 19th centuries – Shap Avenue – was once Britian’s largest megalithic monument, stretching several miles through the landscape. Bigger than Stonehenge and Avebury, should we instead be analysing the importance of SHAP AVENUE.
#stonehenge #prehistory #megalthic #megaliths #mysterious #mystery #avebury #standingstones #archaeology

Twitter (or X if you’re ill):
Instagram
Sources:
Clare, T., 1978, Recent Work on the Shap "Avenue"
Ibbotson, A., 2023, Cumbria’s Prehistoric Monuments

[DanDavisHistory]

Lovely video, Adam. Heart breaking that so many monuments were intentionally destroyed for the stone or just to make way for industry and farming. But thanks for putting this information together and sharing with us.

[davidsmith]

If you are thinking that it was irresponsible to destroy such a monument and that it would never happen today, THINK AGAIN. Look at the Rotherwas Ribbon, just outside Hereford. A new road was being built to bypass some of Hereford and they found a track. They unearthed this spiraling pathway which was believed to be ceremonial. It turned out that it was the only one ever found IN THE WORLD. Nothing else like it anywhere. What did they do with it???? They buried it under the road, despite a neighbouring farmer offering them an alternative route. To bury a world treasure from public view was a crime, and if handled properly, would have brought much needed money to the counties meager economy. The local council didn't care. They just pushed on with their agenda and ignored our cultural heritage. Power corrupts.

[BelgianDoomer]

Thank you so much for this video, i'm belgian and i came over to the Lake District in 2018 during the heatwave to visit a friend in Kendall, had an absolute blast! The north is so stunning!! I knew about the Roman stuff up there but i had no idea about all of this stone age magnificence. This warrants another trip methinks!

[yazlikes_oldstuff]

The hours of work to make this is greatly appreciated

[rocktapperrobin]

This came up in my feed, fascinating.

I was particularly interested because as a geology student in 1972 I spent some weeks in Shap doing the compulsory geology map for the exams. Walking back from the fell one evening I met a farmer and pointed out a standing stone in his field. He told there used to be more, they made very good ‘yetstoups’ (gateposts), the farmers split them with fire and water and wooden wedges, which sounds like an ancient technique. He said the stone posts of the gate I was leaning on came from an old stone. But until I saw your video I had no idea there had been such an impressive monument, perhaps memory of it had been lost. I wonder how many more isolated stones one sees about the countryside used to part of something more.

Have subscribed.

[Tom_Quixote]

These are great little documentaries. Never heard of the Shap stones before. What a pity that they are lost.

[vanbalzup]

The infamous traintrack. Destroyer of archaeology worldwide. Here is Spain we have Los Millares, the oldest metal melting site in the world built around 5000BC. Spanish not only didn’t care what it was, or find out what it was, they just plowed their high speed rail directly through the MIDDLE of it.

[DavePocklington]

Never even knew it was there. I used to stare at the remains of the stone circle from the train when going to Penrith., and always thought how careless to destroy our history. Your right. This needs a proper survey to find the holes where the stones originally stood.

[sparkleypegs]

This is incredible. Really surprised this hasn't been talked about more.

[PaIaeoCIive]

If you've ever visited the humungous stone rows at Carnac -- some of which were tragically removed recently too! -- or the equally atmospheric rows on Dartmoor which incorporate small stone cysts along their courses, these are special places. It's a disappointing remnant of what must've been there in the Neolithic to Bronze Ages but still worth a visit.
Shap was particularly bleak when I visited in the 90s but it was also a fascinating ancient landscape. The cairns and ritual stone 'circle' looming in the mist that day. Yes, I found the cup and ring mark you mentioned too. I recall visiting a cluster of prehistoric sites on the moor on the other side of the road from the Shap landscape (interesting, but not as good) which you've probably seen too. Think I'll get Aubrey Burl's classic book From Carnac to Callanish off the shelf and have a browse as your video's reminded me of these curiosities. Love me a bit of megalithic magic. Nice!

[pwhitewick]

What a treat, really well told and a fantastic edit

[yanavillae]

Hiding in secret, Remakeble! ghost painting, time traveling True Art in a mystery of Hidden Historical significant! It's tragic that Stone Rose was so deeply hidden away ! This needs to be preserved!

[stconstable]

Was in Wales last month and walked for EVER to some remote circles.

[NobleTruths]

Fascinating!! So sad that these amazing structures were destroyed to make way for "progress"

[mirandamom]

Really, it’s a shame so many of our ancestors went and plonked their monuments on future farmland. Appalling lack of foresight.

[brucebell]

Hadrian's wall provided useful, ready mined stonework for centuries after its abandonment. Saved the locals much labour when they set to and built homes, farm buildings, and places of worship nearby.
Many other ancient buildings suffered similarly.

[deborahdanhauer]

This is a new site for me! Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I love it that you in Great Britain have preserved so much of your ancient heritage. Even if you do lose a few now and then. Over here in the states, most of ours were lost to farming long ago.😞💔🐝

[richardlilley]

Thanks for sharing Adam much appreciated

[davidaspinall]

The stones are still being destroyed. Even now. I've found the remains of four stone rows at Slaggyford - a few miles into Northumberland - but nothing like Shap. Tiddlers. Also found a couple of henges at Alston from LiDAR image but nobody seems interested. The larger henge has two opposed entrances, with the Alston-Brampton main road running through. Double-entrance henges have a curious association with both an ancient trackway and a Roman road and this Alston henge fits that pattern. The trackway was called the Maiden Way but this part is now better known as the Pennine Way. There's so much we don't know or understand about our distant ancestors - boy, were they strong!

[BasilSimon]

Hey Adam, that was really very well made. Your choice of content was very compelling. It is incredible that as far back as 6000 yrs ago people were taking the time to move these gigantic stones across the land. It would have been good it you could have found out where the stones likely came from. Your voice, personality and style is all absolutely perfect. You are quite nqturally a great presenter. You have that star quality! In fact, if you would ever value a channel intro jingle complete with variouw fill in stings, let me know and Il compose something very British and magnificent for you! (On the house). Subscribed, keep it coming my dear Morgan!!! Basil Simon.