Callanish Stones

The Callanish Stones are an arrangement of standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. They were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. Archaeological excavation in the 1980s proved that the main circle was erected 4,500-5,000 years ago, and the chambered tomb a few generations later. The setting has a unique arrangement, with lines of stones radiating in four directions from the ring. It is not fully clear whether the stone alignments were constructed at the same time as the ring, or later. The layout of the site, along with many others across the British Isles, appears to have an association with astronomical events, the precise nature of which cannot be determined.

Numerous other ritual sites lie within a few kilometres. These are mainly more modest rings of standing stones, or single monoliths. The most impressive Cnoc Ceann a' Ghàrraidh and Cnoc Fhillibhir Bheag lie just over a kilometre south-east of the main Calanais ring, and originally consisted of rings of stones at least eight in number.

References:

• Historic Environment Scotland

Address

Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom

Details

Founded: 3000-2500 BC
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom