| Revision as of 21:33, 27 April 2008 editHighKing (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers27,852 edits Undid revision 208605541 by 86.27.230.177 (talk) Revert← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:44, 27 April 2008 edit undo86.27.230.177 (talk) Undid revision 208611962 by Bardcom (talk)No discussin or consensus on this change - again, please take it to TalkNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The '''Ring of Brodgar''' (or '''Brogar''') is a ] ] and ] in ], ]. The ring of stones stands on a small ] between the ] and ]. The centre of the circle has never been excavated by ] and scientifically dated, |
The '''Ring of Brodgar''' (or '''Brogar''') is a ] ] and ] in ], ]. The ring of stones stands on a small ] between the ] and ]. The centre of the circle has never been excavated by ] and scientifically dated, but by comparison with ] and many other ancient sites in the ], it is considered broadly contemporary, constructed around ]. | ||
| The circle is 104 metres in diameter, and the third largest in the ]. The henge originally comprised 60 stones, of which only 27 remained standing at the end of the ]. The stones are set within a circular ditch up to 3 metres deep and 9 metres wide that was carved out of the solid bedrock by the ancient residents. | The circle is 104 metres in diameter, and the third largest in the ]. The henge originally comprised 60 stones, of which only 27 remained standing at the end of the ]. The stones are set within a circular ditch up to 3 metres deep and 9 metres wide that was carved out of the solid bedrock by the ancient residents. | ||
Revision as of 21:44, 27 April 2008
The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a Neolithic henge and stone circle in Orkney, Scotland. The ring of stones stands on a small isthmus between the Lochs of Stenness and Harray. The centre of the circle has never been excavated by archaeologists and scientifically dated, but by comparison with Stonehenge and many other ancient sites in the British Isles, it is considered broadly contemporary, constructed around 2500 BC.
The circle is 104 metres in diameter, and the third largest in the United Kingdom. The henge originally comprised 60 stones, of which only 27 remained standing at the end of the 20th century. The stones are set within a circular ditch up to 3 metres deep and 9 metres wide that was carved out of the solid bedrock by the ancient residents.
The surrounding area is full of other standing stones and round piles of earth atop prehistoric tombs, making a significant ritual landscape. Although its exact purpose is not known, the proximity of the Standing Stones of Stenness and its Maeshowe tomb make the Ring of Brodgar a site of major importance.
Excavations by Orkney College at the nearby Ness of Brodgar site between the Ring and the Stones of Stenness have uncovered several buildings, both ritual and domestic and the works suggest there are likely to be more in the vicinity. Pottery, bones, stone tools and a polished stone mace head have also been discovered. Perhaps the most important find is the remains of a large stone wall which may have been 100 metres long and up to 6 metres high. It appears to traverse the entire peninsula the site is on and may have been a symbolic barrier between the ritual landscape of the Ring and the mundane world around it.
See also
References
- Ross, John (14 August 2007) "Experts uncover Orkney's new Skara Brae and the great wall that separated living from dead". Edinburgh. The Scotsman.
External links
  | This Scottish history-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |