The Longstone at Mottistone

 

At over 4m high and 2m wide, this was a mighty feat indeed. The Devil’s smaller stone (a mere 2.9m high and 1.2m wide) fell short and he lost the wager. The final resting place of the stones – St Catherine’s dominating the recumbent smaller stone – is said to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.

 

 

It has now been shown that the stones are what remains of a 6,000-year-old Neolithic communal long barrow for burying the dead: 31m long, 9m wide and 2m high. Long barrows in this part of England that aren't on chalk or limestone are rare. It is thought that bodies were laid out for birds and animals to feed, then the bones were buried in chambers and the soil heaped up into a mound.

 

In Neolithic times the mound was likely to have been higher. People probably worshipped the sun and moon; this may be the reason why the Longstone barrow is aligned west–east.

 

 

 

The burial mound has been damaged over the years and the stones themselves may have been moved in Saxon times. They were certainly dislodged in the 19th century by Lord Dillon, a local squire who was curious to see what lay beneath them. He unearthed nothing for his efforts.

 

1956 excavations revealed kerb stones and part of the ditch which had run around the mound. 

 

 

Ancient burial places frequently retain their cultural and mystical significance for thousands of years. In Saxon times - 4,000 years after the Neolithic long barrow was built - the Longstone is thought to have been used as a meeting place where judicial and administrative affairs were carried out.

 

'Moot' is Saxon for meeting place and it is possible that the name of the village – Mottistone – is a corruption of 'moot stone'.

 

People still celebrate the solstices and equinoxes at the Longstone to this day. You can discover the Longstone for yourself on our downloadable walk.