Grey Croft stone circle

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Grey Croft stone circle
Cumbria UK location map.svg
Archaeological site icon (red).svg
Shown within Cumbria
Location Cumbria
Coordinates 54°24′27″N3°29′27″W / 54.4076°N 3.4908°W / 54.4076; -3.4908
Type Stone circle
History
Periods Neolithic / Bronze Age

Grey Croft stone circle is a restored stone circle near Seascale in Cumbria, England (grid reference NY03340238 ). It is situated near the site of the former nuclear-power stations at Sellafield.

Contents

Description

Grey Croft stone circle is a circle of 12 stones situated south of the Sellafield nuclear site. [1] The circle is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the sea. Only 10 of the original 12 stones are currently standing. [2] There is a small outlying stone 21 metres (69 ft) to the north. [2]

History

The stones in the circle were toppled over and buried in 1820 by a tenant farmer, with the exception of one stone. [1] In 1949 the site was excavated and nine of the stones were located, and replaced as accurately as possible. [1]

The excavations uncovered an oval stone cairn situated in the circle centre. [1] Trenching under the cairn revealed charcoal traces, calcined bones, a broken early Bronze Age jet or lignite ring, and flint flakes and scraper. [1] A Great Langdale Late-Neolithic stone axe was found near to the eastern stone of the circle. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 GREY CROFT STONE CIRCLE, Pastscape, retrieved 13 November 2013
  2. 1 2 3 Aubrey Burl (2005), A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, page 44. Yale University Press. ISBN   0300114060