Archaeologists reveal likely age of the Cerne Abbas Giant - and it's not what anyone expected

It's been a mystery for decades - who carved a picture of a naked man into a Dorset hillside, when did they do it and why? Well we're still not certain about why but thanks to some groundbreaking new archaeological research, we've got a better idea about when. The Cerne Abbas Giant is Britain’s largest, and possibly most recognisable, chalk hill figure, standing at 180ft (55 metres). Generations have speculated about the age and meaning of the club-brandishing giant. Was he a depiction of the legendary demi-god Hercules, an ancient fertility symbol, or even the soldier and statesman Oliver Cromwell? Another legend holds that the figure was carved around the body of a giant who was slain by local people after he terrorised the countryside. The National Trust have been looking after him since 1920 and in 2020, Trust archaeologists, in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, Allen Environmental Archaeology and the Pratt Bequest, used state-of-the art sediment analysis to discover some more of the Giants secrets. You can hear about what they discovered in this video and there's a further update here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england... Find out more about the giant on our website https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visi... We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nationaltrust... Find things to do near you: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sear... Like us on Facebook:   / nationaltrust   Follow us on Instagram:   / nationaltrust   Follow us on Twitter:   / nationaltrust