Archaeologists excavating a site in Alderney have uncovered a Bronze Age standing stone bearing what appears to be a carved face. The stone, known as a menhir, was discovered at Longis Common by researchers from Dig Alderney, which has been carrying out investigations at the site since 2024.
Dig Alderney secretary Dr Jason Monaghan stated the upright slab may date to the European Middle Bronze Age and could have been used either as a boundary marker or for ritual purposes. The rough grey stone was standing upright in the ground when it was uncovered.
Archaeologists believe the base may have been shaped into a rectangular form so it could be fixed securely into the earth. Dr Monaghan said the top of the stone appeared to have been chosen because of its resemblance to a human face.
“It may look like a figure, we don’t know, but from certain lights it does look like it’s got a face on it,” he said.
The surface of the stone is weathered and uneven, with pits and cracks across it. Researchers are still trying to determine whether the face-like appearance was intentionally carved or whether natural erosion helped create the effect over time. Standing stones can be found throughout Britain and parts of Europe, usually linked to ceremonial sites or ancient land boundaries.
Some examples have carvings or human features, but many are plain stones. The find is the latest in a series of finds at Longis Common. Archaeologists last year uncovered Iron Age pottery, as well as ammunition from the German Occupation of Alderney during World War Two. The Channel Islands were occupied by German forces during the war, and Alderney contains traces of military activity from that time.
Dr Monaghan said the new discovery showed the area had been used by people for thousands of years before the modern era. Excavations are ongoing at Longis Common and other nearby sites at Whitegates and Paddock.
Volunteers and experts from Dig Alderney have been carrying out archaeological investigations throughout the island. It hopes the standing stone will reveal more about prehistoric life in Alderney and links with nearby regions of Europe, including Brittany and northern France, where similar stones have been found.
Researchers are expected to examine the stone more closely in the coming months, including looking for signs of tool marks and carrying out dating work. The discovery has already attracted attention on the island, with the face-like stone offering a rare glimpse into Alderney’s prehistoric past.
Souces : Dig Alderney
