<< Our Photo Pages >> The Bearstone - Standing Stone (Menhir) in England in Dorset
Submitted by BigBear on Friday, 22 August 2008 Page Views: 8127
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The Bearstone Alternative Name: The Bear Stone, Monolith at Bear MeadCountry: England
NOTE: This site is 1.202 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Dorset Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Wimborne Nearest Village: Stour
Map Ref: SY986993
Latitude: 50.793264N Longitude: 2.02123W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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We managed to get this fine limestone monolith raised on the 7th Aug 2008. We found it fallen and under vegetation, excavated, measured it and calculated the weight (about 1,000 kg).
It has a flat bottom and pointed apex, like a thick triangle, sits very comfortably. The county archeologist came to see it and gave me permission to lift it.
We dug a descent pit, talked to a friendly local farmer, and it was pulled vertical with strap + digger, no problem. Underneath was trapped quarter-inch single-strand wire, seen a lot of it locally, believe it was used for Inclosure Act around 1815, so it probably fell 190 years ago.
I searched old maps in the County Records office, several "stones" mentioned, but not this monolith. Possible stone circle 570 metres NE, now vanished. Several other large stones (limestone or ironstone) within 2 miles, all smaller. Christened monolith "Bear Stone" because the area is Bear Mead (from old maps). It sits on a floodplain, 10 metres from Dorset's largest river, floods perhaps once per winter.
The nearest source of fine limestone is Purbeck, could have been brought by raft along coast and up the River Stour. There are unusual "smooth holes" in the surface, two on the flat bottom. We placed a small time capsule in one of these holes. I found a nice flint thumbnail scraper while digging descent pit. I have made a notice board with full details and pictures. The land is private, email me to come and see the Bearstone. Anyone with info about this monolith, please please contact me.
More details, photos and my email address are on my web site.
John Palmer
Read about the discovery of this stone on this page.
Note: Unrecorded fallen monolith excavated and raised, near Stour at Wimborne
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