What are Standing Stones?
Across the world there have been found various large quarried and cut or rough boulders staged up as a “standing stone” in fields, lots, forests, and hilltops. They are most notable in European countries, in particular Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. They are an integral part of the human subconscious and are tied to astrological phenomena, religion, and folklore. You can find them at most religious sites, with stone altars, circles, monuments, and markers. In some uses, they have similarities to Cairns but are solitary, larger, and more monumental. The most famous are associated with other standing stones, in a circle, ring, or ceremonial site such as those found at Stonehenge.
Tied deeply to folklore, many myths and legends have claimed they are the petrified remnants of Gods, Men, and Monsters. Often, those cursed or punished for their crimes turned to stone. This became commonplace mythology as early as 1680. The early antiquarian Martin Martin claimed in 1695 that at least the British standing stones were remains of a “heathen temple with Druids worshipping there.”
Technically, these “standing stones,” also known as “menhirs” in European study, are simply stones set into the ground vertically. They were most notably placed during the Neolithic within the British Isles and Britanny. Modern society still erects and places them in the practice of Earth-based spirituality, Christianity, and as memorials. They can be solitary, formed in a circle or line, or within groupings. The prehistoric standing stones notably date from approximately 4,000 B.C.E. to about 1,500 B.C.E. As we have no written histories of Neolithic peoples, we don’t know their purposes or why they were erected. Archaeologists hypothesize them for religion, ceremonies, astrological observations, monuments, and graves. The prime interpretation is often for ceremonial or religious uses. In Europe, many standing stones have associated artifacts. In Europe, pottery found near some standing stones suggests that at least those belong to the so-called “Beaker culture.”
The shape of the stones are often found roughly hewn, uneven, and squared, often thinner towards their tops. These stones ae found primarily in Europe, but also Africa and Asia. Within the British Isles of Europe (Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany) there have been recorded upwards of 50,000 megaliths.
When grouped, they are often in the shape of a circle, oval, henge, or horseshoe formation. These are often called “megalithic monuments” and associated with religion, ceremonial, or burial sites. Some burial chambers have been found associated or underneath them. From artifacts found associated with them, modern Archaeology has been successful in dating them using radiocarbon dating or tree-ring calibration when wood remains associated found. There have been associated wooden henges found near some as well. Stonehenge itself has an associated woodhenge consisting of a henge and timber circle 2 miles northeast of the stone circle. While no written history found those standing the stones upright has been found, some standing stones have been marked with simples, ogham, runes, and/or symbols.
We’ll be adding numerous standing stones linked here as articles are written from our travels:
The Ogham Stone (ring of Beara), Co. Cork/Co. Kerry Ireland: https://technotink.net/photography/ballycrovane-ogham-stone-of-beara/; https://archaeologyfinds.com/?p=271; https://technotink.net/lore/?p=4234
