Standing stones... or just boulders?

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Five mysterious stones are being scrutinised by a top archaeological team from the UK, after being dug up on the planned site for 200 new homes in Jersey.

The stones measure between two to three feet in diameter, and were found on the Samarés Nurseries site in St Clement. A team from the Museum of London Archeology (MOLA) has been in the island to assess them as potential menhirs.

While they do not look like typical standing stones, they could still be of interest. The Samarés site is recorded by the States as one of archeological importance as being the location of large stones of apparent "non-local origin" which were uncovered and re-buried in 1930s.

MOLA wrote: "Although the megalithic stones are not well recorded the site's primary potential relates to the prehistoric period and the possible remains of a megalith or other structure on the site. The site also has potential for evidence of agricultural activity dated to the medieval and post-medieval periods."

In addition, the site is close to four other relevant prehistoric sites and monuments, which include Mont Ubé with its dolmen, around 500m to the east of the proposed development.

Pictured: Heritage Assets around the development site, in red.

The archaeological potential of the site is well recognised, and the Planning department required an evaluation to be undertaken before developers could begin work.  

The team recorded the location of the stones and then they were reburied and the trenches back-filled, while the archeologists have returned to the UK to write a report on their findings. They might decide to recommend a further site investigation which would be undertaken in consultation with Planning, Jersey Heritage and the Archaeology section of the Société Jersiaise.

In the meantime, no work will be undertaken in the area immediately surrounding the stones with the main building work not scheduled to commence until the end of January.