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Stone Circles - Megalithic Monuments

Mysterious stone arrangements (generally circular) that may have had religious or astronomic uses, thought to date from the mid-Neolithic Period to the late Bronze Age, about 3500 to 1000 B.C. There are about 900 in the United Kingdom.

Standing Stones of Callanish
A popular attraction, the Standing Stones of Callanish are probably from the Bronze Age and used for some sort of calendar purpose.

Uaimh na Gréine (Cave of the Sun)
The Solstice view from the neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange in Ireland.

Prehistoric Passage
In Ireland, at Newgrange, lies a passage that is lit only at the summer solstice. The purpose of the monument is a mystery, but guides over theories.

Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site
About.com's Guide to travel in the UK brings us photos of Orkney -- the Egypt of the North, which includes The Standing Stones of Stenness and The Ring of Brodgar.

Controversy at Stonehenge
From the About.com Guide to Archaeology. At least 5-16 known monuments and unknown numbers of still buried ones will be destroyed if current plans go through to provide better access to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge Bibliography
From the About Guide to Archaeology, a list of sites on Stonehenge including information on recent controversies over a through road.

Stone Pages
Photos and descriptions of standing stones in Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, and England. Quicktime movies let you explore sites.

The Megalith Map
Gridded map of the British Isles and Ireland. Click on an area to see the location of stone circles or other monuments. Most have photos on the Web.

Stonehenge
Stonehenge was probably created 1500 years before the Druids. It was built in four periods from 3100-1550 B.C. There is no proof that it was a temple.

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