Clach to Trushal
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Clach an Trushal ( Scottish Gaelic : Clach an Truiseil - German "Stone of Compassion" , also called Trushal Stone ) is the tallest menhir ( English Standing Stone ) in Scotland at 5.8 m (before the Lundin Links ) . It is about 20 km north of Stornoway , west of the A857 , near the village of Baile an Truseil (Ballantrushal) on the west side of the Isle of Lewis , an island in the Outer Hebrides .
The stone, inclined slightly to the south, is around 1.8 m wide and 1.1 m thick at the bottom. It tapers about halfway up. The long side of the stone at the top is slightly convex. Above, the lichen-covered stone is very fissured, probably from a lightning strike. The area on the stone is relatively flat. This indicates a modification of the natural surface of the terrain to an almost horizontal platform in order to make a stone circle possible. Such platforms are also found at other stone circles in the Outer Hebrides. In fact, the lone upright stone is believed to be the remainder of a stone circle built about 5,000 years ago. The penultimate menhir of this circle was removed in 1914 and used as a lintel . Traces of other menhirs can be found in the nearby field walls. Steinacleit is clearly visible in the northeast .
As with other menhirs, the Clach an Trushal is said to mark the site of a great battle fought between the warring clans of the MacAulay (recorded on Lewis since 1610) and the Morrison (MacGilleMhoire). Archaeologists consider it prehistoric because a thick layer of peat, which was only removed in the 19th century, attests to its great age.
literature
- Richard William Feachem: A guide to prehistoric Scotland , London 1963 ( limited preview in Google book search).
- Martin Martin: A description of the Western Islands of Scotland . Circa 1695 ( full text of the 1703 edition in the Google book search).
Web links
- Entry on Clach an Trushal in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- Description Engl. + Pictures
Coordinates: 58 ° 23 '36.4 " N , 6 ° 29' 34.3" W.