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Callanish Public Domain –

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Callanish Standing Stones

The Callanish Stones are aged about 5,000 years since they were first erected by the Neolithic people. The monument has been enchanting and intriguing to visitors for thousands of years given their mystery. They are located close to the village of Callanish on the west coast of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

It appears to have been erected for the purpose of ritual activities during the Bronze Age. There are also other numerous ritual sites that lie just within a few kilometers away. Here are some of the astonishing facts about the mysterious Callanish Stones.

1 Its composed of a stone circle

The Callanish Stones is composed of a stone circle with thirteen stones. The stones have average height of three meters and covers an area of 124 square meters. While it’s a ring, it’s not a perfect circle and has a diameter of 11.4 meters.

There are five rows of standing stones connecting to this circle and two long rows of stones running parallel to each other. It is located to the north-northeast forming a kind of an avenue. To the west-southwest, south and east-northeast there is an addition of shorter stone rows. The stone circle is made up of the same rock type called the Lewisian gneiss.

2. The stone circle was set in the B.C. time period

The stone circle was set up between 2900 and 2600 BC by the Neolithic people. They are thought to have served as a hub for performing ritual practices for at least a millennium. Their exact purpose however, has been lost to history. The site therefore has a lot of theories trying to explain why the stones were erected.

3 .There is a monolith near the middle

Stone cyrcle Callanish Stones near Callanish village, Isle of Lewis By Chmee2 –

Towards the center of the stone circle is a monolith. It’s actually 0.8 meters west of the true center and stands 4.8 meters high. It stretches 1.5 meters across and is 0.3 meters thick. The monolith resembles a ship’s rudder and its weight is somewhere close to seven tones give it size. Its largest sides appear to be well oriented to the north and south.

4. It was modified over time

The monument appears to have been modified overtime. The central standing stone was erected about 2900 BC along with the stone circle. About 400 to 500 years later there was a new use of the monument.

At first there was a timber structure then later a small chambered tomb was erected inside the stone circle used to house the dead. At the same time, the southern, eastern and western rows together with the avenue to the north were also added.

5 .Its managed by Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland was formed in 2015 by the government agency Historic Scotland together with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

It is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment. The Historic Environment Scotland took control of the monument to care for it and ensure it is left unchanged.

6 .There are several theories trying to explain why they were set

Callanish standing stones By Alan Reid, – Wikimedia Commons

Given the age of the stone circle, there are many theories trying to explain why they were erected. It has been suggested by Alexander Thom and Gerald Hawkins that the stones were a prehistoric lunar observatory. There is also a claim according to one tradition stating that the stones were petrified giants who would not convert to Christianity.

Another legend has it that early on midsummer morning an entity known as the “Shining One” walks the length of the avenue, his coming heralded by the call of the cuckoo. Critics of these theories reason that the several alignments of the stones are likely to have existed purely by chance. They also add that many factors such as the weathering and displacement of the stones over the millennia mean there can be no certainty of any alignments, original or otherwise.

7. There is a small chambered tomb on the site

View of the Callanish Stones, facing East By JacquiFerguson – 

There is a chambered tomb about 6.4 meters long which is located between the central and the eastern monolith. The chamber was made after the stones circle was erected and it appears to have been rebuilt.

This may have been done for domestic purposes as there is no evidence of any later use for rituals at the monument. There were fragments of pots found at the tomb including the local Hebridean pots, indicating that it must have been used for several centuries.

8. limited excavations have been done on the site

In 1980–81 excavations were done on the site which yielded some valid information about how the stones came to be. From it we learn of the first traces of human activity which shown by a broad ditch that cannot now be seen above ground.

It appears to have belonged to some structure or enclosure. This may have been used to perform rituals or could instead have had a domestic purpose. Around 3000 BC however, the site was turned over to agriculture and left to grass overtime. This destroyed most of the earlier traces.

9. It has been featured in popular culture

The Callanish Stones have been featured in various popular culture given their mystery and elegance.  In 1974, Gerald Laing a sculptor made an art work of the Callanish Stones known as Callanish which is popularly referred to as “Steelhenge”. Its dedicated to Strathclyde University’s campus in the center of Glasgow and features 16 abstract steel girders in the ground relating to the configuration of the stones.  

It has also been featured by Joseph McElroy an American author who used the stones as a setting in his novel Lookout Cartridge written in 1974. There is also a CD released by Jon Mark in 1988 called The Standing Stones of Callanish which was intended to evoke Britain’s Celtic legacy.

10. Its open to the public

Callanish stone circle By Chris Coleman –

The Callanish stone are full of wonder and mystery. Surrounded by many theories and claims as to why they were set, their true purpose however, have been lost to history. This draws a lot of people to experience it wonder.

It’s not only open to the public, but visitors can also wander among the stones freely and even touch the towering monoliths. It’s no doubt that visiting the Callanish Stones will provide an enchanting experience regardless of the season.

 These were the top 10 Astonishing Facts about Callanish Standing Stones.