There are many fine examples of Megalithic structures in Scotland today, particularly in the north where for reasons of history and geography they were not destroyed en masse. Granted, time and weather may have taken their toll, but in northern Scotland today you can find some of the best examples of megaliths next to Stonehenge.

While the stones' original purpose remains somewhat of a mystery, we know that later peoples adopted megaliths as part of a cult of stone worship. We also know that Druids worshipped at megalithic sites and still do. In the fifth century AD there were attempts by Christian authorities to destroy the pagan stone cults. Their monuments were deliberately targetted and knocked down, but many survived intact into the 21st century and can be seen today in their original location.

What follows is just a partial list and a brief description of some of Scotland's megalithic stone circles and standing stones. All of these fascinating stone monuments can be found through the links at the bottom of this article:

Calanais (Callanish I)
Stone circle and rows, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
• Called Scotland's Stonehenge, Callanais dates to 1800 BC. It contains some wonderful stone circles, but it is unknown whether they are related or were built at a different time. Callanais I consists of stone circles and rows. Excavation has found remains of a neolithic type, but archaeologists are unsure whether this was built before or after the stones.

Cnoc Ceann a' Gharaidh (Callanish II)
Stone Circle, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

Cnoc Filibhir Bheag (Callanish III)
Stone Circle, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

Ceann Hulavig (Callanish IV)
Stone Circle, Outer Hebrides

The Twelve Apostles
Stone Circle, Dumfries
• a flattened ring 87.8 x 73.8 meters. Consists of eleven stones

Machrie Moor
Stone Circles, Isle of Arran
• a group of eight identifiable small stone circles ranging in size from 16.4 to 19.2 meters across.

Midmar Kirk
Stone Circle, Aberdeenshire
• a ring 17.4 meters across. Located in Aberdeenshire next to a church cemetary.

Cullerlie Stone Circle
Gordon, Grampian
• Bronze Age, excavation found remains of corpses

Easter Aquhorthies
Stone Circle, Gordon, Grampian
• unexcavated, origins unknown

Loanhead of Daviot
Recumbant Stone Circle, Gordon, Grampian
• 44 centuries old, one of more than 15 megalithic sites in the area, excavated in 1934, cemetery found nearby

Ring of Brogdar
Stone Circle and Henge, Mainland, Orkney
• estimated Early Bronze Age, approximately 2500 BC, impressive stone circle, contains carvings and runes, in 18th century was called the Temple of the Sun

Sunhoney
Recumbent Stone Circle, Gordon Grampian
• contains cup marks which indicate certain positions of the moon, much speculation cup marks are for collecting blood from sacrifices

Temple Wood
Stone Circle, Argyll, Strathclyde
• an almost perfect stone circle, excavated 1929, 1974-79 and restored. In the 18th century a hoarde of medieval coins were found at centre of circle

Achavanich
Standing Stones, Caithness, Highland
• Bronze Age, unusual horseshoe shaped arrangement of standing stones, region one of ritual importance over the ages

Clach an Trushal
Standing Stone, Isle of Hebrides
• Tallest standing stone in Scotland, reputed to mark the site of an ancient battle

Comet Stone
Standing Stones, Mainland, Orkney
• so-called in the 18th century because it was located near the other standing stones Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Sun

Hill o' Many Stones
Stone Rows, Caithness, Highlands
• as its name suggests, 200 small stones arranged in fan shaped, parallel rows. It is estimated that Hill o' Many Stones was built in 1900 BC. Local tradition says it marks the site of a battle between the Gunns and the Keiths.

Nether Largie
Standing Stones, Argyll, Strathclyde
• odd gatherings of stones running in a straight line

Stones of Stenness
Standing Stones and Henge, Mainland, Orkney
• Site dates back to nearly 3000 BC, once known as the Temple of the Moon. Much local tradition related to the Stones which were almost destroyed in 1814

Watch Stone
Standing Stone, Mainland, Orkney
• impressive, lies near the Stones of Stenness

For further information about the Megaliths of Scotland, check out the links below.

MMJ, October, 1999

MORE articles about Megalithic Stone Circles on the Gathering of the Clans

From Stone Henge to the Stones of Stenness: Megaliths in Scotland Part One

Links:

Encarta Encylopedia Definition of Stonehenge

Great pictures from The Stonehenge Organization

Leon Fitt's Stone Circles

Literary Sources on Megaliths from "Heathen Monuments"

Discover Scottish Megaliths on The Stone Pages

The Megalith Map

Stones of Callanish

Time line from the Megalithic Pages