By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Researchers from St Andrews University have revealed that “King Arthur’s Hall,” a rectangular earthwork on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, is not a medieval structure as previously believed, but a Neolithic site dating back over 5,000 years. This discovery makes it a contemporary of Stonehenge and predates any written history of Britain. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating, the team determined the site’s true age, disproving its previous classification as an animal pen. The presence of 56 standing stones, some incorporated into the structure and others moved from their original position, strongly suggests a more complex and ancient purpose. This finding adds to the rich Neolithic landscape of England and sheds light on the site’s true significance.
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A Cornish ruin, known as “King Arthur’s Hall,” has recently been discovered to be far older than initially thought, dating back to the Neolithic period around 3500 BCE. This finding, published in an academic journal, completely contradicts the previously held theory that the site was a medieval animal pen from around 1000 CE.
The discovery was made by a team of researchers from the University of St Andrews using a technique called optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). OSL is similar to radiocarbon dating but specifically analyzes inorganic materials like minerals and sediments that have been buried. It measures the last time these materials were exposed to light, providing a precise age estimation.
This groundbreaking research sheds new light on the history of Britain, placing “King Arthur’s Hall” within the same timeframe as Stonehenge, which began construction around 3100 BCE. The site’s age predates the Roman Empire, the Viking Age, and even the arrival of Indo-European groups in Britain, suggesting that the structure might have been built by an earlier group of people.
This discovery raises intriguing questions about the nature of the site and its purpose. Some speculate that it might have been a defensive fortification constructed by early inhabitants of Britain, possibly as a defense against migrating Indo-European groups who arrived in the region later.
The finding also challenges traditional narratives about the history of Britain, highlighting the presence of a more advanced civilization during the Neolithic period than previously understood. It is a reminder of the vastness of human history and the importance of continued archaeological research to uncover hidden stories of the past.