Ballinaby menhirs
The two menhirs of Ballinaby (NR26NW 13 and NR26NW 14) are located northeast of Saligo Bay on the west side of the Scottish island of Islay , which belongs to the Inner Hebrides .
The taller of the two menhirs ( English standing stones ) measures about five meters and is one of the tallest standing menhirs in Scotland. At the base the needle-shaped menhir has a cross-section of 1.1 × 0.3 m. About 220 m away is the second menhir, which is now only about two meters high. Perhaps this is the result of an attempt to destroy it. According to a report by Thomas Pennant (1726–1798) from 1772, there was originally a third menhir.
Burial sites and artefacts ( needle , drinking horn ) of the Vikings have been found nearby . Among them are two oval brooches and a sword , which Pennant writes that they were found under one of the menhirs in 1788. In 1932 a Viking Age burial box with an iron ax was discovered.
See also
literature
- Thomas Pennant : A Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides. MDCCLXXII. Monk, Chester 1774.
Web links
- Entry on Ballinaby Menhirs in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- The tallest menhir on Islay
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry on Ballinaby Menhirs in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
Coordinates: 55 ° 49 '4.3 " N , 6 ° 26" 22.7 " W.