Here is an extract from a leaflet which used to be available from All Saints Church, Rudston. Written by J. D. Purdy, in 1972. (I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. Ed.)

"The Monolith is a huge, roughly-cut block of grit-stone, the nearest source of which seems to be at least 10 miles away in the North Riding and it's removal to it's present position must have been a considerable feat of engineering skill and human effort. It was erected, probably in the late Neolithic period or Bronze Age for some religious or ritual purpose which must have been of the greatest significance. Recent measurements have shown its present height to be 25' 9" , but a fragment appears to have broken off the top and it's original height, if it had been pointed, would have been about 28'. The top of the stone was covered with lead in 1773 to protect it from the weather but this was later removed. The stone extends for many feet below the ground -- according to an experiment conducted by Sir William Strickland in the late 18th century, to a depth as great as its height. A smaller upright slab, about 3' high, now stands in the north-east of the churchyard. Its original position was a little to the east of the monolith and it probably had some connection with it.

The name of the village derives from the monolith. "Rudston" is formed from the old English words "rood" or "cross" and "stan" meaning "stone". The "rood" element suggests that at some time the stone may have had a cross-head fixed to it, possibly by Anglo-Saxon missionaries in the earliest days of Christianity, seeking by this means to Christianise an already sacred object. The adoption, rather than suppression, of the holy places of the indigenous pagan religion was a common and successful strategy of the early Christians and here in Rudston we seem to have an outstanding example of this process. The stone and nearby church thus occupy a site which has been sacred from the prehistoric days to the present time."

Other features:
Rudston is littered with prehistoric evidence, there are square and round barrows with numerous Neolithic and Bronze Age burials. Unfortunately, many of the excavations were carried out in the 19th century and the methods of archaeology were then were pretty amateur to say the least! The main street passing through the village is an ancient track way, which has probably been in use since Neolithic times. To the south of Rudston lies Woldgate, this is a Roman road (originally another ancient track way).

To the north of the village are Argam Dikes, prehistoric earth banks which are quite difficult to spot nowadays. There are also the strange "Cursus", believed to be late Neolithic earth banks which may have been track ways or procession paths. No-one really knows what they were for, but they must have taken considerably time and effort to build. Rudston must have had some real importance as a religious or perhaps trading site in prehistoric times? Also discovered, were many Iron Age graves, some chariot burials, to the north of Rudston towards Burton Fleming, much excavation was carried out during the 1970's.
When I get time… I shall add pictures and maps of the above features. If you can visit, you will find most of the above on an Ordnance Survey map. And there is a big information map near the village shop.

Dinosaur Foot Prints!
Recently a colleague at work, (he's a geologist) informed me that there is a new theory with regard to the Rudston Monolith. The stone has dinosaur footprints on it! If you look closely at it on one side you can see a set of marks that do appear to be diagonally staggered.. It may be that millions of years ago, our monolith was a humble bit of mud on a river bed.. And that a lizard had left it's marks in that mud. Could it also be that the Bronze Age people who selected, shaped and transported the stone did so because of these marks? Who knows, but it's interesting to theorise!
I will try to get a clear photograph taken showing the marks, for those who cannot have a look for themselves.

	Bronze age arrowhead found in Rudston

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