Beltany Stone Circle, 20 Nov 2022, DSC_0244-2
Features:
The stone circle is 44.2m in diameter and contains 64 stones which have an average height of 1.8m, though there were probably 15-20 more stones originally. These orthostats encircle a low tumulus composed of enough stones to indicate that it may have been a burial cairn. About 21 meters to the southeast is a solitary standing stone approximately 1.9 meters tall. At the ENE is a triangular slab whose inner face toward the base is decorated with a number of cupmarks. The site was disturbed at the beginning of the century causing many of the stones, to lean outward at precarious angles.
The circle features a number of truly monumental stones. One of the stones has quite a number of cupmarks and several have worn to interesting shapes. The circle is filled with many large stones along with earth and many stones lay scattered outside the circle as well.
History:
This megalithic monument may date from the later Bronze Age, about 1400 to 800 BC. The name Beltany is derived from the spring festival of Beltane which is associated with the lighting of hilltop fires in a rekindling of the sun.
A carved stone head found at this site probably dates from the pre-Christian Iron Age which may indicate that this site was in use for many centuries after it was built. It has been said that lining up the outlier with the triangular cupmarked stone may have a solar alignment on a distant hill. When Oliver Davies visited the site in the late 1930s, he reported that 'The platform had been recently and unscientifically excavated, and had been left in dreadful confusion'.
Directions:
Its about 2.5km (1.5miles) to the circle from the Diamond in Raphoe (town square), take the Guesthouse End road that runs past Raphoe Libary (on your right) head south, follow the brown heritage "Beltany Stone Circle" signs after about 300m take a left at the Y-junction onto the Raphoe Townsparks road. After about 1.97km (1 mile), you come to another Y-junction take the right to the Department of Agriculture Food and Fuel Development Potato Center. Park here, there's tree lined boreen (towpath). Follow the path up a gentle incline about 400 meters. At the top there's and a kissing gate which provides access into a field along with a heritage information signage, to the left is the stone circle.
Beltany Stone Circle, 20 Nov 2022, DSC_0244-2
Features:
The stone circle is 44.2m in diameter and contains 64 stones which have an average height of 1.8m, though there were probably 15-20 more stones originally. These orthostats encircle a low tumulus composed of enough stones to indicate that it may have been a burial cairn. About 21 meters to the southeast is a solitary standing stone approximately 1.9 meters tall. At the ENE is a triangular slab whose inner face toward the base is decorated with a number of cupmarks. The site was disturbed at the beginning of the century causing many of the stones, to lean outward at precarious angles.
The circle features a number of truly monumental stones. One of the stones has quite a number of cupmarks and several have worn to interesting shapes. The circle is filled with many large stones along with earth and many stones lay scattered outside the circle as well.
History:
This megalithic monument may date from the later Bronze Age, about 1400 to 800 BC. The name Beltany is derived from the spring festival of Beltane which is associated with the lighting of hilltop fires in a rekindling of the sun.
A carved stone head found at this site probably dates from the pre-Christian Iron Age which may indicate that this site was in use for many centuries after it was built. It has been said that lining up the outlier with the triangular cupmarked stone may have a solar alignment on a distant hill. When Oliver Davies visited the site in the late 1930s, he reported that 'The platform had been recently and unscientifically excavated, and had been left in dreadful confusion'.
Directions:
Its about 2.5km (1.5miles) to the circle from the Diamond in Raphoe (town square), take the Guesthouse End road that runs past Raphoe Libary (on your right) head south, follow the brown heritage "Beltany Stone Circle" signs after about 300m take a left at the Y-junction onto the Raphoe Townsparks road. After about 1.97km (1 mile), you come to another Y-junction take the right to the Department of Agriculture Food and Fuel Development Potato Center. Park here, there's tree lined boreen (towpath). Follow the path up a gentle incline about 400 meters. At the top there's and a kissing gate which provides access into a field along with a heritage information signage, to the left is the stone circle.