Orkney Archaeologists may have discovered one of the largest stone circles in Britain.

A large stone circle may lay under the waters of the Loch of Stenness

A report in the New Scotsman on 9th October announced findings from Seismic images taken in the Loch of Stenness, which appear to show a large circular feature in the water south of the Ring of Brodgar.

Archaeologists are now planning to send a diving team into the area to investigate the findings.

Similar in size to the Ring of Brodgar, which to date is the third largest in Britain, Archaeologists are excited about discovering a much earlier structure.

Read more…Similar Posts:

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• Ness of Brodgar Neolithic figurine
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The Ring of Brodgar in Orkney is one of the largest neolithic stone circles and henges in Britain.

Stall standing majestic over 4000 years later

Thought to have been built in the late Neolithic period, around 2500BC (a hundred years after the great pyramid of Cheops), The Ring of Brodgar was originally a near perfect circle of about 60 standing stones, measuring 104 metres in diameter.

Only 36 of the original 60 stones stand today and thirteen of these were re-erected shortly after the monument came into state ownership in 1906.

The stone circle is surrounded by a 10 meter wide ditch or henge with two opposing causeways running across it.

Many of the stones have succumbed to the Orkney elements over the years, some fallen, some cracked but still an imposing feature on the landscape.

The Ring of Brodgar is situated in a natural amphitheatre, surrounded by gently rolling hills and flanked on either side by the waters of Harry and Stennes Lochs.  This gives weight to the suggestion that the stone circle was used as a communal meeting and ceremonial place.

Where are the Brodgar stones from?

Close inspection of the monoliths, reveal that they are made from different types of red sandstone, suggesting that they have been

A commanding view over the Orkney landscape

quarried from many parts of Orkney.

To the north of Skara Brae are the remains of a prehistoric quarry with several large, work in progress monoliths still in situ.

Brodgar Archaeology

The fields that surround the ring of Brodgar are rich in archaeology but most is hidden from view.

Geophysicial surveys over recent years, reveal a prehistoric field system and settlement remains, which suggest that people may have been living in the area when the stone circle was built.

More information

Orkneyjar - Ring o’ Brodgar article

Historic Scotland – The ring of Brodgar circle and henge

Ring of Brodgar gallery

• Standing stones of Stenness
• Skara Brae, Orkney
• Ness of Brodgar Neolithic figurine
• Stenness reveals new archaeology
• Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement

The imposing neolithic standing stones of Stenness in Orkney are thought to have been erected between 3000 and 2500 BC.

Twelve standing stones originally formed the stone circle at Stenness but only four remain today, the tallest of which is over 5.5 metres high.

Henge

The Stenness stone circle in Orkney’s west mainland was surrounded by a ditch 6 m wide and 2.3m deep and outside of this, a similar bank. Archaeologists refer to this type of structure as a “henge“.

The ditches and banks have been eroded by ploughing activity and are no longer visible.

During excavations, features discovered in the centre of the ring suggested that a wooden post was situated centrally, later followed by a 2m square setting of stone slabs with 2 larger stones set to the north.

Standing stones Stenness rebuilt

The three large slab structure to the north, has been rebuilt twice over the years and is comparable to structures in other great stone circles.  All of the features lie on a line due north from the centre.

In 1906AD, a fallen stone was re-erected taking only 8 men and a timber framework ramp, leading to calculations that it took over 5000 man days to build Stenness, with most of this time spent digging the ditches and building the bank.  50 men could have built the henge over a single summer or 10 – 20 men over a few seasons.

Archaeologists discovered “grooved ware” pottery, bones of animals and one human finger along with evidence of a fire in the small central setting.  Signs of much later iron age activity was also noted, showing that the henge stayed in use for many years following it’s build.

Further information

Orkneyjar – The heritage of the Orkney islands; Standing Stones o’ Stenness article

Stonehenge – Probably the best known prehistoric stone circle.

Stone Circles .org – List of British Prehistoric sites and stone circles.Similar Posts:

• Ring of Brodgar
• Stenness reveals new archaeology
• Neolithic Bodies in Orkney Garden
• Banks Tomb Video Diary
• Haltwhistle – 290 miles from north Orkney