Oblique aerial view of Callanish.

Description Oblique aerial view of Callanish.

Date 1973

Collection John Dewar

Catalogue Number SC 1783286

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of RC 2645 CN

Scope and Content Callanish stone circle, Lewis, Western Isles Callanish stone circle stands on a hillock called 'Cnoc an Tursa' - 'Hill of Sorrow' overlooking Loch Roag, Lewis. The monument was built around 2900-2600BC during the Neolithic Period (c4000-2000BC) and comprises a stone circle with arms radiating roughly towards the cardinal points. A double row of stones runs from the circle to the north forming an avenue. This view from the north-east shows the stone circle (centre left). The tallest stone stands in the centre of the circle where, later on in the Neolithic, a burial cairn was built. There are the remains of peat cuttings in the foreground and part of Loch Roag can be seen in the background. Analysis of pollen from Callanish has revealed that there was a very different environment during the Neolithic. The stone circle was built on farmland and the peat that now covers the ancient soils had yet to form. It is also likely that the waters of Loch Roag now occupy the site of early cultivation fields. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference 6756/CN/A8

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1783286

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap