Arbor Low and Gib Hill Barrow

Arbor Low is a late Neolithic henge monument, located in the Derbyshire Peak District, three miles west of Youlgreave.

It is the best-known prehistoric monument in the Peaks and was part of a wider Neolithic ritual landscape. Often referred to as ‘The Stonehenge of the North’, Arbor Low is described as ‘One of the most important prehistoric monuments in Britain’. Only the most simple tools were used to build the site such as antler picks and bone shovels. The stones lay on the ground, it is claimed they once stood upright and were knocked over by christians. On the south east bank is a later bronze age burial mound. When excavated two urns and a bone pin were found.

The site consists of a 7 foot high bank enclosing a partially silted ditch, which in turn encloses a levelled area. Within this area fifty large limestone blocks lie recumbent surrounding a central group of 4 stones which may have been a cove. Excavations of the site in 1901 - 1902 revealed a human skeleton beside the central stones.

Gib Hill is approx 280 yards from Arbor Low and is another bronze age burial mound. It is built on one end of an earlier Neolithic long barrow which may predate Arbor Low. Gib Hill contained a stone burial chamber and inside were cremated human remains. Animal bones, a food vessel and flint tools were placed in the grave.

Some researchers have suggested that the site is the central site in a network or hub of sites in the surrounding countryside. An alleged ley line has been identified running through the site linking Tuplow to St Bertrams well.