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A mysterious 5-foot stone, hidden for generations, has been raised once more in one of England’s most extraordinary prehistoric landscapes.

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The rock, which has been named the Bride Stone, was brought back into view at the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve (NNR), thanks to a joint effort by Natural England, community archaeology company Past Participate, and local volunteers.

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The stone emerged during scrub clearance carried out as part of the management of the reserve. Standing 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.

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Raising the sarsen stone (credit Catherine Roberts)

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Rob Beard, reserve manager for Natural England, said:

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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.

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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.

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Dr Anne Teather, director of Past Participate, said:

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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.

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The extraordinary scattering of large blocks of silicified sandstone, known as sarsen boulders, were shaped by Ice Age weathering. Some of these ancient stones are thought to have been used by people in Neolithic times to create monuments such as standing stones and stone circles.

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National Nature Reserves protect England’s most important habitats, species, and geology, delivering nature recovery at a landscape scale. That’s why Natural England is delivering the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will create or extend 25 NNRs by 2027, leaving a legacy for people and nature.

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Background:

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Contact Natural England South and South West press office on 0800 028 2484 or email: communications_sw@environment-agency.gov.uk .

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