Everyone loves a mystery, right?
And what is more mysterious than a 5,000 year old structure, built by our neolithic ancestors?
There are hundreds of stone circles, cairns, standing stones and structures around. Most are in Northern Europe, but they are found all over the world. No one is certain why they were built, though there is approximately one theory for every person who thinks about it.
A celestial calendar. An altar for sacrifice. A meeting place. A ceremonial center. I’ve even seen the theory of a marketplace. Sure, why not? Where else would you sell your veggies but the stone lintels of Stonehenge?
I’ve been lucky enough to travel and visit over 40 different neolithic stone structures, and hope to see more. Each one has it’s own feel, personality, and energy. If you’re truly lucky, you can find one when there is no one else about, and feel the stones themselves, listen to what they say.
Stone is enduring. It is almost eternal. It has seen civilizations rise, fall, and more rise from the ashes. The stories these stones could tell!
Here are some photos I’ve taken from stone circles and standing stones in Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland. enjoy!
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Nice series of photos, are they all yours?
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Yes, all photos I’ve taken on various trips.
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Reblogged this on jaxlb.
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Great pictures!! I would like to know where are the monuments… I would like to visit them in my next trip to UK! It would be great to know the places 🙂
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They are everywhere! Most of these photos I took in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most of the Scottish ones were in the islands – Orkney, Isle of Lewis, etc.
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While studying in England, I went to the Glastonbury Tor, to several stone circles and to Shetland. If you enjoy these, you should really go there. Shetland has more ruins per square mile than any other place: Bronze Age, Viking, etc. And the trip there is half the fun. I wrote about it at a nonprofit lit-travel magazine, https://outsideinmagazine.com/issue-seventeen/nonfiction/in-the-company-of-forever-lucie-smoker/. It’s like so hard to get there but SO worth it.
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These are so beautiful. I think the stone cairnes are most definitely filled with the spirit, if not the spirits of the past. Great site. I should pick up your book before going to Scotland again.
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I’m so glad you’re enjoying my site 🙂 Scotland is so magical, there is no way to truly portray it without actually experiencing it!
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