Stone Circles

By far Stongehenge is the most famous and well known of the stone circles but it is by far not the only one. In fact there are several stone circles scattered all acourss the area which was once known as Gaul. This is the territory that was inhabbited by the Celts and includes: Ireland, Scotland; United Kingdom; Wales; and parts of France.

There is much mystery and speculation revolving around thes monuments, as to whom had built them, when they were built, and what thier purpose was. Though none can no for sure, there is a lot of theroy around the issue.

It was fomerly and most commonly beleived that it was the Druids whom had constrcuted them, though later evidence has shown they were standing long before the first Druids ever arrived. But it is beleived the the Druids did use them as they had used the sacred groves.

According to Celtic myth and legend they were built by the Tuatha De Danann a legendary people said to be the very first people of Ireland from whom the Irish had descended.

There are several aillignments between the stones and the moon and the sun. Including the Midsummer sunrise over the Heel stone and in between the uprights of the Grand Trilithon a singular allignement with the Midwinter sunset, and there are Midsummer moonrise and Midwinter moonset aligenments with the Station stones.

From this information the time of year could be determined, though it is speculated that also solar and lunar eclipses could be predicited.

There is now a most recent theroy in which some suggest that at one time the Stone Circles were used as burrial sites based on artifacts found around and within the areas of the stones.