Rocks studied to reveal prehistoric mysteries

Archaeologists from France are going to Jersey to study stones found along the coast

Archaeologists are set to study "mysterious" stones from along Jersey's coast to discover their use in prehistoric times.

Researchers from France are joining a group from Societe Jersiaise to examine the rocks and boulders found along the south-east coast near Seymour Tower and La Rocque.

The group plans to study possible standing stones and collapsed dolmens from the Bronze Age, the location and age of several stones believed to have been used for grinding corn and the function of wall-like features built across large gulleys.

Societe Jersiaise said some of the stones were first found in the Victorian era and the research could unlock a new chapter of history.

The archaeologists from Brest University and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique have previously identified similar stone features on Brittany's coast, Societe Jersiaise added.

It is hoped the team might be able to shed some light on a mystery which had "sparked local debate for over a century".

"We've known about these unusual stones for years," Societe Jersiaise's Bob Tompkins said.

"If they really do date back several thousand years then that will open a breath-taking new chapter in Jersey's prehistoric story."