This Prehistoric Stone Circle In England May Have Been Created About 700 Years Before Stonehenge

littleny - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
littleny - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

In England, an ancient stone circle may have been created about 700 years before the Stonehenge monument.

There are hundreds of examples across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, but the Castlerigg stone circle is thought to be one of the oldest constructions ever discovered.

The Castlerigg stone circle is located in the northwestern county of Cumbria in the Lake District National Park.

It was one of the first prehistoric monuments in the country to receive protection under the state, which occurred in 1883.

The Lake District National Park and the surrounding area in Cumbria have been known for containing over 80 stone circles.

Previous research has found that the Castlerigg stone circle was built around 3000 B.C. or slightly earlier.

However, an archaeologist named Steve Dickinson recently was able to shed new light on the monument’s age. He believes that part of the stone circle called the “Sanctuary,” was constructed around 3700 B.C.

The Sanctuary consists of a rectangle of large boulders that measure approximately 23 feet by 15 feet.

The northern side of the rectangle has an entrance that is roughly six feet in width. The Sanctuary’s purpose is unclear, but it is very similar to many small timber structures from the early Neolithic period that were uncovered in Ireland.

littleny – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

An analysis of the timber structures showed that their construction began around 3730 to 3660 B.C., and they stopped being used around 3640 to 3600 B.C.

Since the Castlerigg stone circle resembles many of the Irish examples, Dickinson estimates that its construction falls somewhere during an early Neolithic date.

If his theory is correct, it would mean that the Sanctuary was erected around 700 years before the first parts of Stonehenge were built, which took place around 3000 to 2900 B.C.

The early works at Stonehenge included the digging of a circular ditch and banks, as well as some strategic stacking of small stones.

The purpose of stone circles in Britain and Ireland is a subject that is often debated among researchers, but most seem to think that the structures were used in rituals or ceremonies.

Some believe Castlerigg is linked to the creation and distribution of stone axes since three of them were found in or near the stone circle.

Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.

Emily  Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a ... More about Emily Chan

More About: