Stone circle - wikipedia Stone circle This article is about the European Megalithic stone circles. For other uses, see Stone circle ( disambiguation ). Swinside stone circle, in the Lake District, England. Bryn Cader Faner, North Wales. A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed in many parts of the world throughout history for many different reasons. The best known tradition of stone circle construction occurred across the British Isles and Brittany, France in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. More than 1000 examples survive to this day, including such famous examples as Avebury, the Rollright Stones and Stonehenge. Another prehistoric stone circle tradition occurred in southern Scandinavia during the Iron Age, where they were built as mortuary monuments to the dead. Outside Europe, stone circles have also been erected, such as the 6300 -- 6900 BCE Atlit Yam in Israel and 3000 -- 4000 BCE Gilgal Refaim nearby, or the Bronze Age examples from Hong Kong. The size and number of the stones varies from example to example, and the circle shape can be an ellipse. Contents 1 Dates and archaeology of European Megalithic stone circles 2 Variants 2.1 Concentric stone circle 2.2 Recumbent stone circle 2.2. 1 Scottish recumbent circles 2.2. 2 Irish recumbent circles 3 Distribution 3.1 Americas 3.2 British Isles 3.3 Continental Atlantic Europe 3.4 Horn of Africa 4 Post-megalithic and other 5 Further reading 6 See also 7 References 7.1 Footnotes 7.2 Bibliography 7.2. 1 Academic books 8 External links Dates and archaeology of European megalithic stone circles All experts agree that stone circles are of pre-Christian date, but beyond that stone circles have proven difficult to date accurately. Radiocarbon dating has produced a wide range of dates at different sites. This is at least partly due to an inadequacy of materials suitable for radiocarbon dating that can be reliably obtained from the sites. The diversity of radiocarbon evidence may also suggest that stone circles were constructed over a very long period, or were sometimes reconstructed at later dates. It is often not clear when building started. A further obstacle to dating is that there are generally no other archaeological artifacts associated with the stone circles. Traditional archaeological artifacts, such as pottery sherds, bones, etc., are not often found at the sites, and when found are frequently of a later date than the associated stone circle. The sites display no evidence of human dwelling, and rarely encompass graves. This suggests that stone circles were constructed for ceremonies ( perhaps religious ceremonies ) and were in use on ceremonial occasions only. The type of ceremonies ( if any ) is entirely unknown. An alternative hypothesis is that they were a form of amulet or talisman, i.e., an entity acknowledging and appeasing supposed spirits dwelling in nature, meaning that their ceremonial use was secondary to their talismanic value, or equal to it. The crudeness and variety of the stones excludes the possibility that they had astronomical observation purposes of any precision. Sometimes a stone circle is found in association with a burial pit or burial chamber, but the great majority of these monuments have no such association. A stone circle is an entirely different entity from a henge, and different also from an isolated monolith, yet sometimes these other types of ancient stone monuments are found in close proximity. The earliest known circles were apparently erected around five thousand years ago during the Neolithic period and may have evolved from earlier burial mounds which often covered timber or stone mortuary houses. The suggestion that they may have evolved from earlier burial mounds is undercut by the fact that, of the hundreds of Neolithic and Bronze Age circles that have been identified, none are provably centered on a burial. That suggests religious context, the details of which are still obscure. During the Middle Neolithic ( c. 3700 -- 2500 BCE ) stone circles began to appear in coastal and lowland areas towards the north of the United Kingdom. The Langdale axe industry in the Lake District appears to have been an important early centre for circle building, perhaps because of its economic power. Many had closely set stones, perhaps similar to the earth banks of henges, others were made from unfounded boulders rather than standing stones. By the later Neolithic, stone circle construction had attained a greater precision and popularity. Rather than being limited to coastal areas, they were constructed by peoples inland, and their builders grew more ambitious, producing examples of up to 400 m diameter in the case of the Outer Circle at Avebury. Most circles, however, measured around 25 m in diameter. Designs became more complex, with double and triple ring designs appearing along with significant regional variation. These monuments are often classed separately as concentric stone circles. The final phase of stone circle construction took place in the early to middle Bronze Age ( c. 2200 -- 1500 BCE ), during which numerous small circles were constructed. Some archeologists suggest that these were built by individual family groups rather than the large numbers of workers required to erect monuments such as Avebury. By 1500 BCE stone circle construction had all but ceased. It is thought that changing weather patterns led people away from upland areas and that new religious thinking led to different ways of marking life and death. Variants This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2011 ) Concentric stone circle A concentric stone circle is a type of prehistoric monument consisting of a circular or oval arrangement of two or more stone circles set within one another. They were in use from the late Neolithic to the end of the early Bronze Age, and are found in England and Scotland. Cobble pavements have been found in the centre of many examples. Connected features at some sites include central mounds, outlying standing stones, and avenues or circular banks on which the stones are set. Alternatively, they may be replicas of earlier timber circles rebuilt in stone, especially the examples in Wessex. A funerary purpose is thought likely, especially by Burl who sees sites in Cumbria as being analogous to the kerbs that surround some chamber tombs. Burials have been found at all excavated concentric stone circles : both inhumations and cremations, with the burnt remains either within an urn or placed directly in the earth. Recumbent stone circle Easter Aquhorthies recumbent stone circle near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Dunnideer recumbent stone circle near Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Recumbent stone circles are a variation of the types of circle found throughout the British Isles and Brittany with the recumbent type being peculiar to the north east of Scotland, where there are 71 examples, and south west Ireland ( at least 20 examples, including Drombeg stone circle near Glandore and Rosscarbery, Co. Cork ). Recumbent stone circles date back to approx 3000 BCE. A recumbent circle is formed principally of a ring of stones, like all other stone circles ; however, there is one, large recumbent stone laid on its side. Recumbent circles can be divided into two distinct groups : Scottish and Irish. Scottish recumbent circles In these, the recumbent stone is usually flanked by the two largest of the standing stones immediately on either side. These are known as ' flankers '. The stones are commonly graded in height with the lowest stones being diametrically opposite to the tall flankers. It is fairly common for the circle to contain a ring cairn and cremation remains. The recumbent stone typically lies between the SSE and SW points of the circle. It is thought that this configuration was used for lunar observations ; however such an alignment also coincides with the Winter solstice sunset. These circles are usually in good farmland, near hill - tops. Irish recumbent circles These circles are found in the counties of Cork and Kerry in the southwest of Ireland. There are no tall flanking stones on either side of the recumbent stone. Instead, there are two tall stones at the side of the circle opposite the recumbent stone. These are known as ' portals ' as they form an entrance into the circle. Often the portals are turned so that their flat sides face each other, rather than facing into the centre of the circle. The stones of the circle are often ordered by height, with the tallest being the portals, with gradually reducing heights around each side of the circle, down to the recumbent stone, which is the lowest. Distribution Further information : List of stone circles Megalithic monuments are found in especially great number on the European Atlantic fringe, with stone circles particularly common in the British Isles. Americas Archaeology of the Americas shows a stone circle on Burnt Hill, in Heath, Massachusetts in the US. British Isles Main article : Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany Drombeg stone circle - County Cork, Ireland. Stone circle at the Carrigagulla complex, County Cork, Ireland There are approximately 1,300 stone circles in Britain and Ireland. The French archaeologist Jean - Pierre Mohen in his book Le Monde des Megalithes says : British Isles megalithism is outstanding in the abundance of standing stones, and the variety of circular architectural complexes of which they formed a part... strikingly original, they have no equivalent elsewhere in Europe -- strongly supporting the argument that the builders were independent. Often oriented on sight lines for the rising or setting sun, it is possible that, for their builders, the cycle of seasons was very important. The largest stone circle in Britain is at Avebury, the second largest stone circle is the Great Circle at Stanton Drew stone circles, and the Ring of Brodgar contains the third largest stone circle in Britain. Continental Atlantic Europe On the European continent, there are several examples in Brittany : two on the island of Er Lannic and two more suggested at Carnac. The Petit Saint Bernard circle lies further afield, in the French Alps. They are also known as harrespil in the Basque country, where villagers call them mairu - baratz or jentil - baratz that means `` pagan garden ( cemetery ) '', referring to mythologic giants of the pre-Christian era. Horn of Africa Ancient stone circles are found throughout the Horn of Africa. Booco in northeastern Somalia contains a number of such old structures. Small stone circles here surround two enclosed platform monuments, which are set together. The circles of stone are believed to mark associated graves. At Emba Darho in the Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands, two kinds of megalithic circles are found. The first type consists of single stone circles, whereas the second type comprises an inner circle enclosed within a larger circle ( i.e. double stone circles ). Post-megalithic and other Further information : Stone circle ( disambiguation ) In Scandinavia a tradition existed of making stone circles during the Iron Age. Characteristic especially of Götaland, the appearance of these circles in northern Poland is traditionally taken as evidence of the Goths ' migration ( see Stone Circle ( Iron Age ) and Wielbark Culture ). There was a separate period of stone circle building from the eighth to the twelfth century in West Africa. The best known are the Senegambian stone circles, built as funerary monuments, with more than a thousand known. Other stone circles can be found on the Adrar Plateau in Mauritania. A stone semicircle, comprising seven 600 - kilogram megaliths, has been discovered in the drowned neolithic village of Atlit Yam in the Mediterranean Sea about 1 kilometre off the shore of the Israeli city of Haifa. The stones had cupmarks carved into them and were arranged around a freshwater spring, which suggests they may have been used for a water ritual. `` Megalithic '' stone circles are also found in Hong Kong ; see Stone Circles ( Hong Kong ). `` Megalithic '' stone circles have also been discovered in the village of Shewa, Swabi in Pakistan. `` Megalithic '' stone circles are also seen in the city of Kazuno, Akita Prefecture. The larger circle has a diameter of 46 meters, and is the largest stone circle found in Japan. Further reading Joanne Parker, ed. ( 2009 ). Written On Stone : The Cultural Reception of British Prehistoric Monuments. Cambridge Scholars. ISBN 1 - 4438 - 1338 - 9. Ronald E. Hicks ( 1981 ). `` Henges and stone circles, ritual and archaeoastronomy : archaeological research in Ireland and Great Britain ''. See also The Castlerigg stone circle is thought to date from the Bronze Age. Megalith Megalithic architectural elements List of megalithic sites List of Stone Age art List of stone circles Standing stone Stone row Stone circle ( Iron Age ) Aboriginal stone arrangement References Footnotes Jump up ^ Welfare, Adam ( 2011 ). Great Crowns of Stone : The Recumbent Stone Circles of Scotland ( PDF ). Edinburgh : Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. p. 271. Jump up ^ Alex Whitaker. `` Recumbent Stone Circles ''. Ancient-wisdom.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2014. Jump up ^ Burl, Aubrey ( 1995 ). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. Yale University Press. Jump up ^ Aubrey Burl. `` The Megalith Map ''. Archived from the original on 2006 - 09 - 28. Retrieved 2006 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ Burl, Aubrey ( 2000 ). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven : Yale University Press. p. 5. Jump up ^ Hussein Mohamed Adam ( 1992 ). Charles Lee Geshekter, ed. The Proceedings of the First International Congress of Somali Studies -- Somali Studies International Association. Scholars Press. pp. 37, 40. ISBN 0891306587. Retrieved 9 November 2014. Jump up ^ Institut für Afrikanistik und Aẗhiopistik -- Universität Hamburg ( 2004 ). Aethiopica : International Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 7 -- 8. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 27. Retrieved 1 January 2015. Jump up ^ Marchant, Jo ( 25 November 2009 ). `` Deep Secrets : Atlit - Yam, Israel ''. New Scientist. Reed Business Information Ltd. ( 2736 ) : 40, 41. ISSN 0262 - 4079. Retrieved 28 November 2009. Jump up ^ `` 大湯 環状 列石 周辺 遺跡 分布 調査 概 報 ''. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 02. Bibliography Academic books Burl, Aubrey ( 2000 ). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven and London : Yale University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 300 - 08347 - 7. Bradley, Richard ( 1998 ). The Significance of Monuments : On the Shaping of Human Experience in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe. London : Routledge. ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 15204 - 4. Childe, V. Gordon ( 1947 ). Prehistoric Communities of the British Isles ( second edition ). Glasgow and London : Gilmour & Dean Ltd. Thomas, Julian ( 1999 ). Understanding the Neolithic. London : Routledge. ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 20767 - 6. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stone circles. Wikisource has the text of The New Student 's Reference Work article Stone - Circles. Beagmore Stone Circles, Sperrin Mountains, Ireland Cairnpapple, West Lothian, Scotland Dark Isle - Stone Circles and Cairns of Scotland Drombeg Stone Circle in Ireland Interactive map of megalithic monuments in Europe. The Megalith Map Dolmens, Menhirs & Stone Circles in the South of France Stone Circles in the South of France Pretanic World - Megaliths and Monuments Stone circles of The Gambia Shap stone circles and standing stones Standingwithstones.com Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan European megaliths Armenia Metsamor Zorats Karer Azerbaijan Gobustan Rocks Bulgaria Beglik Tash Garlo England Arbor Low Avebury Barbrook One Birkrigg Boscawen - Un Boskednan Brown Willy Cairns The Bull Ring Burnmoor stone circles Castlerigg Craddock Moor Devil 's Arrows Doll Tor Drizzlecombe Duloe Fernacre Gardom 's Edge Goodaver Grey Wethers Hoarstones Hordron Edge Hurlers Leper Stone Long Meg and Her Daughters Mên - an - Tol The Merry Maidens Mitchell 's Fold Nine Ladies Nine Stones, Altarnun Pipers Rollright Rudston Monolith Scorhill Stannon Stanton Drew Stonehenge Stripple Swinside Trippet France Barnenez Tumulus of Bougon Caixa de Rotllan Carnac Menhir de Champ - Dolent Dolmen de Bagneux Broken Menhir of Er Grah Filitosa Gallardet Dolmen Gavrinis Harrespil Kerzerho Locmariaquer megaliths Mane Braz Paddaghju Peyre - Brune Tremeca Verziau of Gargantua Germany Altendorf Denghoog Fraubillen cross Harhoog Lancken - Granitz dolmens Lohra Megaliths in Mecklenburg - Vorpommern Niedertiefenbach Oldendorfer Totenstatt Riesenstein Route of Megalithic Culture Sieben Steinhäuser Wotanstein Züschen Ireland Ardgroom Beltany stone circle Bohonagh Brownshill Dolmen Brú na Bóinne Carrigagulla Carrowmore Castlestrange stone Creevykeel Court Tomb Drombeg Gaulstown Portal Tomb Glantane East Grange stone circle High cross Knocknakilla Meehambee Dolmen Piper 's Stones Poulnabrone dolmen Reask Templebryan Stone Circle Turoe stone Uragh Stone Circle Jersey Jersey Dolmens La Hougue Bie Malta Megalithic Temples ( Borġ l - Imramma Borġ in - Nadur Buġibba Debdieba Ġgantija Ħaġar Qim Ħal - Ġinwi Kordin Mnajdra Qortin l - Imdawwar Santa Verna Skorba Ta ' Ħaġrat Ta ' Marżiena Ta ' Raddiena Tal - Qadi Tarxien Tas - Silġ Xemxija Xrobb l - Għaġin ) Hypogeum of Ħal - Saflieni Xagħra Stone Circle Netherlands Hunebed Northern Ireland Aughlish Ballynoe Beaghmore Corick Drumskinny Legananny Giant 's Ring Poland Brąchnówko Grzybnica Odry Węsiory Portugal Almendres Cromlech Anta Grande do Zambujeiro Cunha Baixa Dolmen Russia Dolmens of North Caucasus Thunder Stone Megaliths in the Urals Russian Geoglyph Scandinavia Picture stones Runestones Stone circles Stone ships Scotland Balquhain Callanish II III IV VIII X Carlin Cat Stane Clach an Trushal Colmeallie Drybridge Easter Aquhorthies Lochmaben Stone Pictish Ring of Brodgar Sheldon Stenness Steinacleit Strichen Yonder Bognie Ukraine Boundary stones Wales Barclodiad y Gawres Bedd Arthur Bedd Taliesin Bodowyr Bryn Cader Faner Bryn Celli Ddu Bryn Gwyn stones Capel Garmon Carreg Coetan Arthur Carreg Samson Coetan Arthur Foel Chwern Llanfechell Lligwy Burial Chamber Maen Llia Maen Madoc Meini Hirion Moel Tŷ Uchaf Parc Cwm long cairn Penrhos Feilw Pentre Ifan St Lythans burial chamber Trefignath Tinkinswood Tŷ Newydd Burial Chamber Whetstones General articles Standing stone Dolmen Henge Menhir Stone circle Stone row Concentric stone circle Recumbent stone circle Chambered cairn Harrespil Photographs of stone circles Middle Eastern megaliths Neolithic Europe ( including the Chalcolithic ) ↑ Mesolithic Europe ↑ Horizons Cardium pottery Corded Ware culture First Temperate Neolithic Linear Pottery culture ( LBK ) Cultures Baden Beaker Boian Cernavodă Cerny Chasséen Cortaillod Coțofeni Cucuteni - Trypillian Decea Mureşului Dudești Funnelbeaker Gaudo Globular Amphora Gorneşti Gumelnița -- Karanovo Hamangia Horgen Karanovo Lengyel Narva Petreşti Pit -- Comb Ware Pitted Ware Pfyn Rössen Seine - Oise - Marne Sesklo Sredny Stog Starčevo -- Kőrös -- Criș Starčevo Körös Criş Tisza Tiszapolgár Varna Vinča Vučedol Wartberg Windmill Hill Monumental architecture Bank barrow Causewayed enclosure Cist Cursus Dolmen Great dolmen Guardian stones Henge Long barrow Megalith Megalithic entrance Menhir Passage grave Polygonal dolmen Rectangular dolmen Rondel Round barrow Simple dolmen Statue menhir Stone circle Stone row Timber circle Tor enclosure Unchambered long barrow Technology Grooved ware Lithic industries Metallurgy Neolithic long house Unstan ware Concepts Danubian culture Secondary products revolution Old Europe Proto - Indo - Europeans ↓ Bronze Age Europe ↓ Prehistoric technology Prehistory timeline outline Stone Age subdivisions New Stone Age Technology history Tools Farming Neolithic Revolution founder crops New World crops Ard / plough Celt Digging stick Domestication Goad Irrigation Secondary products Sickle Terracing Food processing Fire Basket Cooking Earth oven Granaries Grinding slab Ground stone Hearth Aşıklı Höyük Qesem Cave Manos Metate Mortar and pestle Pottery Quern - stone Storage pit Hunting Arrow Boomerang throwing stick Bow and arrow history Nets Spear Spear - thrower baton harpoon woomera Schöningen Spears Projectile points Arrowhead Bare Island Cascade Clovis Cresswell Cumberland Eden Folsom Lamoka Manis Site Plano Transverse arrowhead Systems Game drive system Buffalo jump Toolmaking Earliest toolmaking Oldowan Acheulean Mousterian Clovis culture Cupstone Fire hardening Gravettian culture Hafting Hand axe Grooves Langdale axe industry Levallois technique Lithic core Lithic reduction analysis debitage flake Lithic technology Magdalenian culture Metallurgy Microblade technology Mining Prepared - core technique Solutrean industry Striking platform Tool stone Uniface Yubetsu technique Other tools Adze Awl bone Axe Bannerstone Blade prismatic Bone tool Bow drill Burin Canoe Oar Pesse canoe Chopper tool Cleaver Denticulate tool Fire plough Fire - saw Hammerstone Knife Microlith Quern - stone Racloir Rope Scraper side Stone tool Tally stick Weapons Wheel illustration Architecture Ceremonial Göbekli Tepe Kiva Standing stones megalith row Stonehenge Pyramid Dwellings Neolithic architecture British megalith architecture Nordic megalith architecture Burdei Cave Cliff dwelling Dugout Hut Quiggly hole Jacal Longhouse Mud brick Mehrgarh Neolithic long house Pit - house Pueblitos Pueblo Rock shelter Blombos Cave Abri de la Madeleine Sibudu Cave Stone roof Roundhouse Stilt house Alp pile dwellings Wattle and daub Water management Check dam Cistern Flush toilet Reservoir Water well Other architecture Archaeological features Broch Burnt mound fulacht fiadh Causewayed enclosure Tor enclosure Circular enclosure Goseck Cursus Henge Thornborough Oldest buildings Megalithic architectural elements Midden Timber circle Timber trackway Sweet Track Arts and culture Material goods Baskets Beadwork Beds Chalcolithic Clothing / textiles timeline Cosmetics Glue Hides shoes Ötzi Jewelry amber use Mirrors Pottery Cardium Grooved ware Linear Jōmon Unstan ware Sewing needle Weaving Wine Winery wine press Prehist Art Art of the Upper Paleolithic Art of the Middle Paleolithic Blombos Cave List of Stone Age art Bird stone Bradshaw rock paintings Cairn Carved Stone Balls Cave paintings painting pigment Cup and ring mark Geoglyph Golden hats Guardian stones Megalithic art Petroform Petroglyph Petrosomatoglyph Pictogram Rock art Stone carving Sculpture Statue menhir Stone circle list British Isles and Brittany Venus figurines Burial Burial mounds Bowl barrow Round barrow Mound Builders culture U.S. sites Chamber tomb Severn - Cotswold Cist Dartmoor kistvaens Clava cairn Court tomb Cremation Dolmen Great dolmen Funeral pyre Gallery grave transepted wedge - shaped Grave goods Jar burial Long barrow unchambered Grønsalen Megalithic tomb Mummy Passage grave Rectangular dolmen Ring cairn Simple dolmen Stone box grave Tor cairn Tumulus Unchambered long cairn Other cultural Astronomy sites lunar calendar Behavioral modernity Origin of language trepanning Prehistoric medicine Evolutionary musicology music archaeology Prehistoric music Alligator drum flutes Divje Babe flute gudi Prehistoric numerals Origin of religion Paleolithic religion Prehistoric religion Spiritual drug use Prehistoric warfare Symbols symbolism NDL : 01075419 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_circle&oldid=830977250 '' Categories : Stone circles Megalithic monuments Monument types Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2013 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009 All articles with specifically marked weasel - 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Question: stone monuments often collective tombs from europe's neolithic period are often referred to as
Answer: stone circle