Stone Circles and Standing Stones
There are more than 900 stone circles in Britain all of which are between 2000 and 5000 years old. Many of these have been subject to vandalism and other natural damage over the years so not all the stones remain and little is known about the purpose of the circles so long after their construction. A religious or ceremonial function is generally accepted and many of the stones are worth a visit for the sense of mystery alone which pervades them.

Following lengthy investigation, Professor Alexander Thom was the first to put forward an astronomical explanation for the stones. He believed that the purpose of the sites was to observe the movements of the sun, moon and planets so that lunar and solar eclipses could be predicted. Anyone interested in this should read 'Megalithic Sites in Britain' (1967), 'Megalithic Lunar Observatories' (1971) and 'Megalithic Remains in Britain and Brittany' (1978), all by Thom.

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Burial Chambers
The earliest tombs found in Britain date from around 3500 BC. Some are associated with local legends, most are impressive to visit, especially those chambered burial chambers and cairns which still have their roof in place. These are made from a structure of large stones that has been covered by a mound of earth. Where the mound has eroded over time the skeletal stone remains are known as a cromlech or dolmen.

One of the most impressive is at Newgrange, Ireland, built around 3000 BC. This includes carvings which have so far proved indecipherable. Even more impressively, just after sunrise at the winter solstice, (and at no other time), a sunbeam shines through the tomb opening and illuminates a basin (which may once have held the ashes of the dead) lying over 60 feet down the chamber. After about a quarter of an hour the sunlight then leaves this inner sanctum and will not return for another 12 months.