Callanish
The Callanish complexes ( Gäl . Calanais , both from Old Norse Kalas ness , as much as Kalas Peninsula / promontory) are the largest known megalithic stone formation on the British Isles today . Calanais is located at Breasclete on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides . Other names are Callernish and Classerniss . To date, 12 of what were once probably more than 20 stone settings have been excavated from menhirs within a radius of a few kilometers.
The stone setting in which the alignments and stone circles protrude, but later also passage tombs of the Orkney-Cromarty type (OC; i.e. Stalled Cairns ) were added during the Neolithic around 3000 BC. (A plaque on site dates the place to 5000 BC). In the Bronze Age the facilities were looted or abandoned. Since 800 BC In the course of the formation of the raised bog, it was covered by peat, which covered the menhirs up to 4.75 m high in 1857 (year of the first excavation) about 1.5 m high.
As with other megalithic places of worship, the purpose of the formations is unclear and the subject of much speculation. The most likely theory to explain the arrangement of the Caldragh Idols (Callanish 1, the main formation) relates to the moon : every 18.6 years the moon stands over the hills surrounding the formations in such a way that it looks as if it were theirs as it moves Follow silhouette. The spectacle gives the impression that the moon is visiting the earth and dancing with it. The Caldragh Idols allow us to predict this event.
Calanais is less known than the megalithic complexes of Stonehenge or Avebury, mainly because of its geographical remoteness . The granite stones are practically unworked and smaller than the sarsen stones from Stonehenge. The facilities are impressive both in terms of the number of stones used and the number of formations. In addition, they are partially completely preserved, for. B. all 13 stones of the central circle Callanish 1.
The main formations
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Calanais or Caldragh Idols (Callanish 1)
The main system Callanish 1 is laid out in an almost cross-shaped north-south orientation. The intersection consists of a stone circle with a central monolith and a small cairn .
The stone circle is not an exact circle , but has a slight egg shape. However, it is symmetrical , with the axis of symmetry running exactly from east to west. The western side of the stone circle is a real semicircle, the eastern half is slightly flattened and gives the impression of facing the sunrise at the spring equinox .
The southern row of stones runs almost exactly south. The menhirs are not in line, however, and two stones are offset to the right and left. The “arms” of the cross thus only roughly form a geometric figure. The eastern arm consists of five menhirs that are arranged in a slight arc and deviate slightly north from the east-west line. The western arm is a little straighter and quite parallel to the exact east-west direction.
The northern part of the cross is formed by an avenue of stones that narrows towards the stone circle. Perhaps the avenue was used to approach the stone circle with the altar stone in rituals, but it could also have served another purpose.
Other names for this formation are: Classerniss, Callernish, Callanish, Tursachan Callernish, The Standing Stones of Callanish.
Cnoc Ceann a'Ghàrraidh (Callanish 2)
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A stone circle probably originally composed of nine stones, five of which are upright and three have fallen over. The menhirs are between 2.4 and 3.5 meters tall.
Callanish II was cleared of peat in 1858. In addition to the eight visible stones, another was found, as well as a roughly worked cairn in which some metal objects were located.
During the excavation, five holes were found inside the circle, which were filled with pebbles and shells from the beach. There were remains of charcoal in the holes. It is believed that Callanish 2 was used for cremations or ritual burns. The relationship between Callanish 2 and the main Callanish 1 system is unclear.
Other names for this formation are: Hillock at the end of the wall , Knock Ceann a Garie, Cnoc Ceann, Loch Roag, Cnoc Ceann a'Gharaidh.
Cnoc Fillibhir Beag (Callanish 3)
Callanish 3 is a double stone ring with eight menhirs up to three meters high in the outer ring and four inside. Callanish 3 can either be interpreted as two nested ellipses or as a large, egg-shaped stone ring with four menhirs inside. It is believed that the four stones inside are more recent than the outer ring.
Other names for this formation are: Little fillibhir hillock , Knock Mhelivir, Cnoc Fillibhir.
Ceann Thulabhaig (Callanish 4)
A stone circle with five standing and one fallen menhir. In the center there is a small cairn that was built around another menhir. Callanish 4 was excavated around 1946. The menhirs are the remains of an oval ring and are up to 2.7 meters high.
Other names for this formation are: Head of Hula bay , Ceann Hulivig, Ceann Hulavig, Cean Thulabig Tursachan, Ceann Thulabhig, Ceann Thulabeg, Garynahine, Loch Roag.
Airigh nam Bidearan (Callanish 5)
A stone arch of which three stones still stand today. Presumably they were part of a menhir field that marked the northernmost point that the moon could reach on its course.
Other names for this formation are: Shieling of the pinnacles , Airidh nam Bideran, Tursachan Airidh nam Bidearan.
Cùl a'Chleit (Callanish 6)
Most of this formation consists of a settlement. Two menhirs found were either part of this settlement or part of a prehistoric cairn or a lost stone complex.
Other names are: Rocky cliff at the back , Cul a'Chleit.
Cnoc Dubh (Callanish 7)
A ruin that was originally believed to be a prehistoric site. However, recent studies have shown that it was a relatively young building. Callanish 7 does not really belong to the Calanais systems.
Other names are: Black hillock , Chnoc Dhubh, Cnoc a botha.
Cleitir (Callanish 8)
Four standing stones on a cliff above the channel that separates the Great Bernera Peninsula from the main island of Lewis.
Other names are: Cliffs , Tursachan Barraglom, Great Berneray, Bernera Bridge, Cleiter.
Druim nam Bidearan (Callanish 9)
Two fallen menhirs. The purpose of Callanish 9 is completely unclear.
Na Dromannan (Callanish 10)
Eleven fallen menhirs, which presumably formed a stone circle. They come from a nearby rock.
Additional names: the Ridges , the Backs .
Airigh na Beinne Bige (Callanish 11)
A single menhir. He could have been part of a larger formation, for which there is no further evidence. Callanish 11 is directly across from Callanish 8.
Alternative names: Shieling of the little hill .
Stonefield (Callanish 12)
A single menhir near the main Callanish 1 formation. Callanish 12 was not discovered until 1923.
Additional name: Blair .
literature
- Frank Teichmann: Man and his temple. Megalithic culture in Ireland, England and Brittany. 3. Edition. Urachhaus, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-87838-378-9 .
- Aubrey Burl: From Carnac to Callanish. The prehistoric stone rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. Yale University Press, New Haven CT et al. 1993, ISBN 0-300-05575-7 .
Web links
Coordinates: 58 ° 11 ′ 51.2 " N , 6 ° 44 ′ 42.7" W.