The Orkney complex - (Brodgar, Maes-Howe, Stennes, Skara Brae). The complex of megalithic sites on Mainland Orkney's is now seen as a connected set of structures, with which, we are able to see the landscape through our ancestors eyes. To the modern eye, there seems little reason why anyone would choose such an isolated location for such splendid monuments, but the constant backdrop of the hills of Hoy, and a combination of specific astronomical features, made this the perfect place for Neolithic people to express themselves and communicate their thoughts to the universe. (More about the Orkneys Complex)

 

Recumbent Stone Circles (R.S.C's) - The recumbent stone-circle is a feature almost unique to Scotland. It was used to measure the lunar cycle (Apart from a few examples in Ireland (i.e. Drombeg) which were in fact, solar). The recumbent stone at Old Keig, Aberdeenshire, is the largest in Scotland weighing in at over 50 tons. The top surface of the stone is perfectly horizontal and covers 27˚ of the horizon, enabling viewers to mark both the major standstill of the midsummer full moon setting over the left-hand side of the recumbent and the minor standstill of the midsummer full moon over the right-hand side. In addition to this, the midwinter sun sets over it as seen from the centre of the circle. The stone was quarried from at least ten miles from the site. (More about Recumbent stone circles)

 

Ring of Brodgar: The ring of Brodgar is one of Britain's most spectacular stone circles. It is the biggest stone circle in Scotland, and is 103m in diameter. The original 60 stones were equally spaced apart. Recorded in 1563 as "Broager", it seems likely that the Orcadian pronunciation led to the gradual inclusion of a "d" when the name came to be written. On June 5, 1980, the second highest megalith in the Ring of Brodgar was shattered after being struck by lightning. The Henge, which was there long before the stone-circle was determined to have been cut through solid rock, an accomplishment which has led to the suggestion that the act of henge making might have been brought to the islands from elsewhere. (More about Brodgar)

 

Maes Howe: The entrance to the Maes-Howe passage-mound is orientated towards the setting winter solstice sun behind the prominent Hills of Hoy in the distance. The chamber was placed so that for several days before and after the winter solstice, the sunlight flashes directly into the passage not once, but twice, with a break of several minutes between each illumination. The cruciform chamber in the centre of the mound is vaulted by a corbelled roof, and has three small sub-chambers leading from it. Each of these chambers was sealed with a stone which only covered 2/3rds of the opening, a feature seen at the entrance of the main passage of the mound, where a blocking stone was fitted into a cavity in the wall, which when closed (from inside), is small enough to allow a small amount of sunlight to still pass over the top and into the chamber. This particular astronomical feature is similar to 'light-boxes' found in other passage mounds in Ireland and Wales (Newgrange, Carrowkeel, Bryn Celli Ddu). A similar feature is believed to have been found on the Orkneys at the recently destroyed/restored Crantit Tomb. (More about Maes Howe)   (More about light-boxes)

 

Callanish, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides: The Callanish stone circle on the Isle of Lewis is one of the best known circles in Scotland. The circle is 12m diameter with a huge monolith in the centre and four avenues leading North (double avenue), South, East and West, suggestive of a huge cruciform observatory. Much work has been done on the astronomy of the site with several suspected lunar and solar alignments. A tradition still current in the twentieth century called for all the fires on the island of Lewis to be extinguished on May 1st (Beltane). Priest's then started a new fire and distributed it to any people within the circle. (More about Callanish)