Long Man of Wilmington

The Long Man of Wilmington is a large human figure made of chalk, located in the South Downs hillside, near the village of Wilmington, in the county of East Sussex, in southern England. This geoglyph, situated on a slope, is 69 meters long. It depicts a man seen from the front, holding a long stick in both hands.

The origin of the artwork is shrouded in mystery. The oldest sources about the Long Man date back to the eighteenth century. In 1874, the contours, which had been overgrown with grass, were marked with yellow bricks. During this restoration, some claim that the genitalia of the Long Man were removed, but there is no evidence for this.

According to archaeologists from the University of Reading, the work may date from the sixteenth or seventeenth century. However, many see it as a prehistoric idol. Another theory is that it was created to communicate with civilizations on other planets.

Many legends surround the Long Man. It is said that at the site of the image, a shepherd boy killed a giant.

kiglo