Castlerigg Stone Circle, Castlerigg, Cumbria
Castlerigg stone circle is possibly one of the earliest stone circles in the British Isles. It may have been built c3000 BC. There are 38 stones ranging in height from around 0.5m to over 2m, originally there were 42 stones. A wide gap at the exact north, flanked by 2 tall stones probably indicates an entrance. In the 1720s the antiquarian William Stukeley noted a second stone circle in the field immediately to the west. However, by the mid-19th century there was no trace of such a feature. The only finds from within the circle are a "stone club", perhaps an axe rough-out, and a greenstone axe. Both were referred to by Stukeley. An excavation in 1882 only found a 1m deep pit with traces of charcoal near its base. No pottery has been found to help date the circle. However excavations of other stone circles would suggest it dates from the Middle Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (c3000-1000 BC). This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2010). Read detailed archaeological description.
Location
Cumbria CastleriggPeriod
Prehistoric (to AD42)Themes
