Mastodawn

The Neolithic Henges of Orkney

Having worked out from the evidence that the Stones of Stenness might not have been completed, the available facts for the Ring of Brodgar suggest the same thing, that the landscape of monuments was abandoned before the henges were fully constructed.

#Brodgar #Henges #Neolithic #prehistory #Orkney

https://orkneyriddler.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-ring-of-brodgar.html

The Ring of Brodgar

Series Title:- Orkney Riddle 14/29 Blog Title:- The Ring of Brodgar " The monument (Ring of Brodgar) comprises a massive ceremonial enclos...

JanPV Nov 17, 2025

First two images: Roman fort, Caer Lêb, Anglesey.

Second two: Castell Bryngwyn, a Bronze Age henge that saw use in the Roman and Mediaeval period, 840m to the SW of Caer Lêb.

Both sites imaged this morning (photos my (C)).

#roman #romans #archaeology #history #cymru #wales #heritage #bronzeage #henges #forts

Chris Bond Nov 16, 2025

#1114 Geoffrey Wainwright - The Henge Monuments: Ceremony and Society in Prehistoric Britain. Thames & Hudson Ltd, London, 1989, 1st edition.

#GeoffreyWainwright #ThamesAndHudson #Henges #StoneCircles #Archaeology #StandingStoneSunday #BookOfTheDay

Orkney Riddler Jul 17, 2025

A traveller in 18th century Orkney describes the fun and games of love and marriage in the Brodgar henges.

https://orkneyriddler.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-custom-among-lower-class-of-people.html

#Orkney #matrimony #marraige #history #Brodgar #henges #neolithic #Stenness #prehistory

A Custom Among the Lower Class of People

"A Custom Among the Lower Class of People" George Low, describing the Orkney Isles, in his travels, tells of the customs that local peopl...

Orkney Riddler Jul 15, 2025

The Stones of Stenness are part of the Brodgar group of monuments in the Orkney World Heritage Site. They consist of a group of standing stones within a circular ditch. The entrance to the ditch enclosure is oriented to the north pole. Owing partially to human interference, only four of the original twelve stones placements still contain a stone. Six more stone positions are marked by broken off stones or evidence that a stone has been removed somehow. Two positions suggest that although holes were dug, no stones were raised in them.
Does this mean that the Stones of Stenness were never really finished?
Why?
What happened? Why was the construction abandoned?

https://orkneyriddler.blogspot.com/2025/06/stones-of-stenness-graham-ritchies.html

#Brodgar #Stenness #Orkney #henges #archaeology #neolithic

Stones of Stenness, Graham Ritchie's Excavation

Series Title:- Orkney Riddle 13/27 Blog Title:- Stones of Stenness, Graham Ritchie's Excavation Plan, indicating locations of Stones of St...

Orkney Riddler Apr 19, 2025

The Ring of Brodgar is one of the two famous henges at Brodgar, and a major monument of the World Heritage Site.
“The original number of stones is uncertain. At the present time the position of at least forty can be identified, and there are spaces for twenty more, if it is assumed that they were erected at approximately equal distances apart. This would bring the total in the original plan to sixty.” (RCAHMS)
Today, the stone circle comprises 21 erect monoliths. The position of a further ten is represented by either stumps or packing stones projecting through the turf. Two more stones lie prone just inside each causeway respectively. Of the c. 60 stones only 13 remained standing. (Downes) “
#Orkney #Neolithic #prehistory #Brodgar #henges #archaeology

Chris Bond Apr 13, 2025

Printed monochrome postcard showing the Giant's Ring near Belfast. Published by Lawrence of Dublin. Not numbered. Postally unused, but is c.1910. #Belfast #Antrim #Dolmens #Henges #Postcards #StandingStoneSunday