Neolithic Polishing Stones (Polissoirs)

Polishing Stones (Polissoirs) are stones that were used for shaping, whetting and polishing stone axes by the Neolithic people. These stones usually contain a polishing bowl and grooves. It's believed that they were used flat so that the water could be kept in the bowl to help with the polishing process.

Three examples of these stones can be found in the county of Wiltshire in England.

The most famous one is the Fyfield Down Polishing Stone. It's a recumbent sarsen stone believed to be 5,000 years old. The stone contains a polishing bowl and grooves.

Not very far from there stands another polishing stone which is part of the West Kennet Avenue. It's believed that this stone was raised at a later date to become part of the avenue of standing stones. This stone also contains a polishing bowl and small grooves.

The third polishing stone is a sarsen stone with grooved markings, located in West Woods near the market town of Marlborough. But unlike the others, this stone doesn't contain a polishing bowl.

These polishing stones are impressive ancient monuments and visiting them is an opportunity to connect with the past and understand the history that they hold.




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