Avebury- Wall

In mediaeval times the standing stones represented competition for the Church and thus many were rolled over and buried. Later the ones which remained were put to fire, hammer, and chisel to provide building materials. Sarsen stone is so hard that it was not unknown for a chisel to break off when struck; some stones still have remnants of ancient chisels stuck in them. On occasion the chisel would be resisted by the stone and fly back, poleaxing the man wielding the hammer.