Callanish Standing Stones
Location
About
A remote standing stone complex on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Callanish (Calanais) was erected between 2900 and 2600 BCE — contemporaneous with Stonehenge's first sarsen phase. The site features a central circle of 13 stones with a burial cairn at its center, from which four stone avenues radiate to the north, south, east, and west, creating a cross-like pattern unique in British prehistory.
Significance
Callanish's cruciform plan, far larger lunar alignment, and remote dramatic setting on the Hebridean coast make it one of the most atmospherically extraordinary prehistoric sites in Britain. The major lunar standstill cycle (every 18.6 years) aligns so that the moon appears to skim along the horizon and 'land' in the central circle — an alignment discovered in the 1980s. Local Gaelic tradition called it Tursachan Chalanais (the Standing Stones of Callanish) and connected them to giants turned to stone by Saint Kieran.
History & Historical Arc
The site was built in multiple phases beginning around 2900 BCE. It was in use for approximately 1,500-2,000 years. Arou…
Archaeological Notes
Excavations in 1980-1981 (Gerald and Margaret Ponting) recovered cremated human bone from the central cairn and establis…
Key Features & Structures
- Central stone circle (13 stones)
- Cruciform avenue layout
Visitor Information
Open year-round. Free access to stones. Visitor centre small museum. Remote — fly to Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) or ferry …
Related Figures
Source References
- Ponting & Ponting, New Light on the Stones of Callanish (1984)
- Martin Martin, A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland (1703)