Long Meg And Her Daughters Stone Circle

Long Meg And Her Daughters Stone Circle is in The Lake District National Park in England.

Long Meg and Her Daughters, located near the River Eden, stands as one of the most intriguing Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in Britain. The complex comprises a notable stone circle, a cursus (or linear earthwork), and a prehistoric enclosure, providing a glimpse into prehistoric ceremonial practices.

The stone circle itself is primarily made up of 69 large stones—granitic glacial erratics arranged in a slight oval shape, with a flattened northern edge. These stones vary between standing and fallen positions, enclosing an area roughly 109 meters east-west by 94 meters north-south. This arrangement suggests a deliberate architectural choice, possibly to align with certain celestial events or other ritualistic purposes.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this site is Long Meg, an outlying monolith of red sandstone positioned southwest of the main circle. Standing at 3.4 meters, Long Meg is aligned from the centre of the circle to capture the mid-winter sunset, a feature that underscores its ceremonial significance. The stone is intricately decorated with cup and ring marks, spirals, concentric circles, and other motifs, which are thought to hold religious or symbolic meanings.

The cursus adjacent to the stone circle is visible only through aerial photography, revealing two parallel, infilled ditches that stretch approximately 600 meters from a cliff above the River Eden to the stone circle’s southwestern entrance. The precise function of the cursus is not clear, but its orientation and design suggest it played a significant role in the rituals performed at the stone circle.

Furthermore, aerial photographs have disclosed a prehistoric enclosure immediately north of the stone circle, partially overlain by modern developments. This enclosure, roughly circular and about 210 meters in diameter, appears to have existed before the stone circle was erected, as indicated by the slightly altered shape of the stone circle where it meets the enclosure.

Historical accounts from the 17th century mention the presence of two round cairns within the stone circle, and local tradition recalls the discovery of bones, hinting at the site’s use as a burial ground or for funerary rituals.

Long Meg and Her Daughters serve as a testament to the complex spiritual and community life of the people from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, roughly 2400 to 1000 BC. The site’s layout and artifacts suggest it was a focal point for religious gatherings, possibly linked to the cycles of the sun and seasons, which were critical for agricultural societies of the time. This historic site not only offers insights into the ceremonial practices of ancient peoples but also highlights the intricate relationship between their cultural practices and the landscape they inhabited.

Created: 11  April  2024  Edited: 10  June  2024