| Machrie Moor |
Six stone circles of varied structure dating from the Bronze Age, lie in an area of low blanket bog. The circles consist of rounded grey granite boulders, which gleam white in the sun, and tall weathered red sandstone pillars. Cairns, hut enclosures and outlying standing stones can be found elsewhere on the moorland, and the site is well worth a long exploration.
History
The stone circles date from around 1800 to 1600 BC during the Bronze Age period. Evidence suggests an earlier ritual usage of the site, in the form of tall timber circles, which preceded some of the stone circles by about a thousand years.
There are remains of hut circles and a settlement to the West of the stone circles, the stones themselves lying in a sacred area, off limits for mundane purposes. The site is likely to have developed over a large expanse of time. Eventually falling out of use, perhaps with the climate change that led to the development of the blanket bogs.
As with many stone circles in the British Isles, the site has been plundered in the past, and some large stones from the most impressive circle have been turned to millstones, which still remain on site.
The stones have been excavated several times, and one of the smaller circles was only recently discovered during excavation by Aubrey Burl in 1978.
Folklore and Ancient Astronomy
One of the most complete circles within the group is a double circle consisting of two rings of low granite boulders. The circle is called 'Suidhe Choir Fhionn' or Fingal's Cauldron Seat. Fingal is the giant warrior hero of Scottish mythology, derived from the Irish Finn MacCumhail. According to legend Fingal tied his dog Bran to the holed stone in the outer circle while he cooked himself a meal within the inner circle. This is the only circle with a legend attached to it, and it may have served as a site focus.
As with many stone circles they may have served some form of astronomical function, related to the major festivals in the ancient calendar. John Barnatt who surveyed the area in 1978, suggested that the stone circles were in general alignment with a notch on the skyline were Machrie Glen divides into two.
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This notch is intersected by the sun on Midsummer's morning. There may be other alignment features still to be discovered. |
| Map ref: NR 911 324 |
| Directions: North North East of Blackwater foot 2 miles. Along a track from the roadside. The walk is over a mile but well worth it. |
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