Callanish III

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Callanish III
Cnoc Filibhir Bheag
Calanais Stones III - geograph.org.uk - 1259561.jpg
Callanish III
Outer Hebrides UK location map.svg
Archaeological site icon (red).svg
Shown within Outer Hebrides
Location Lewis
Coordinates 58°11′44″N6°43′27″W / 58.19555°N 6.72416°W / 58.19555; -6.72416
Type Stone circle
History
Periods Neolithic, Bronze Age

The Callanish III stone circle (Scottish Gaelic : Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag [1] ) is one of many megalithic structures around the better-known (and larger) Calanais I on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Stone circle monument of standing stones arranged in a circle

A stone circle is a circular alignment of standing stones. They are commonly found across Northern Europe and Great Britain and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age eras, with most concentrations appearing from 3000 BC. The best known examples include those at the henge monument at Avebury, the Rollright Stones and elements within the ring of standing stones at Stonehenge.

Callanish Stones neolithic standing stones near Callanish, Scotland

The Callanish Stones are an arrangement of standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. They were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. They are near the village of Callanish on the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Isle of Lewis northern part of the Scottish island Lewis and Harris

Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. It is also known as the Isle of Lewis, as the two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The total area of Lewis is 683 square miles (1,770 km2).

Contents

Description

The stone circle consists of two concentric ellipses. [2] The outer ring measures about 13.7 by 13.1 metres. [2] It contains 13 stones, of which eight are still standing and five have fallen. [1] The inner ring is a pronounced oval measuring 10.5 by 6.6 metres. [2] Only four stones remain in the inner circle, the tallest of which measures 2.1 metres. [1] There is no sign of a central mound or cairn. [2]

It is just a few hundred metres from the Callanish II stone circle. See also Callanish IV, Callanish VIII and Callanish X for other minor sites.

Callanish II

The Callanish II stone circle is one of many megalithic structures around the better-known Calanais I on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Callanish IV

The Callanish IV stone circle is one of many megalithic structures around the better-known Calanais I on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Callanish VIII

The Callanish VIII stone setting is one of many megalithic structures around the better-known Calanais I on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is also known locally as Tursachan.

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The Callanish X stone circle is one of many megalithic structures around the more well-known and larger Calanais I on the west coast of the isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Site Record for Lewis, Callanish, Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag, 'Tursachan' Callanish Iii; Calanais". RCAHMS . Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. Yale University Press. p. 152. ISBN   0300114060.

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Coordinates: 58°11′44″N6°43′27″W / 58.19556°N 6.72417°W / 58.19556; -6.72417

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.


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