Hawk Stone facts for kids
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 Location in Oxfordshire
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| Location | Dean, Oxfordshire |
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| Coordinates | 51°54′32″N 1°30′31″W / 51.90901°N 1.50861°W |
| Type | Standing stone |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
The Hawk Stone is a very old stone monument. It stands tall near a small village called Dean, Oxfordshire in England. People from the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, likely put it there. A standing stone is a large stone that was placed upright by people long ago.
What's in a Name?
The Hawk Stone got its name for a couple of reasons. Some people think it looks like a hawk. Others believe the name comes from an old word, 'hoar,' which means 'old.' This makes sense because the stone is very ancient!
What Does It Look Like?
The Hawk Stone is located on a place called Spelsbury Down. It's about 900 meters west of Spelsburydown Farm. This tall stone stands about 2.6 meters high. That's taller than most basketball hoops! At its base, it's about 1 meter wide and 0.9 meters thick. It gets a bit narrower towards the top.
The stone is made from a type of rock called oolitic limestone. This kind of limestone is made of tiny round grains. On the top of the stone, there's a hollow shape. People think this hollow was made over time by people rubbing the stone for good luck. It might have also been a natural dip in the stone to begin with.
Legends and Stories
Local stories tell a fascinating tale about the Hawk Stone. Some people believe that the hollow at the top of the stone was made by chains. These chains were supposedly used to tie up witches who were then burned at the stone. This is a very old and dramatic legend!
