Achavanich facts for kids
Achavanich (pronounced ak-ə-VAN-ik) is a very old and unusual stone structure in Caithness, Scotland. It's a bit like a giant horseshoe made of large stones, called megaliths. The name "Achavanich" means "field of the stones."
Originally, there might have been about 54 stones, but today only 36 remain. Most of these are on the western side of the structure. What makes Achavanich special is how the stones are placed. Unlike most stone circles where stones stand side-by-side, here the flat sides of the stones point towards the center of the circle. They are also turned at a 90-degree angle to the row, which is very rare!
The stone circle is shaped like a letter "U" and seems to have always been open, never fully closed. The tallest stone is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high, and most are around 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. For a long time, the site was overgrown and hard to visit. But now, it's much easier to access, with clear paths and information boards for visitors.
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Discovering Achavanich's Ancient Stones
Achavanich is located near Loch Stemster in Caithness, Scotland. The stones here are not as tall as some other famous stone circles. The tallest stone is about 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) high. Some stones might have been taller in the past, but time and weather have caused them to crack and break.
Most stone circles have stones with their flat faces following the curve of the circle. But at Achavanich, the flat faces of the stones are turned sideways. It looks like the stone slabs were placed into a low mound of earth and smaller stones. This might have been done to level the ground in the middle of the circle.
What Was Achavanich Used For?
The exact reason why Achavanich was built is still a mystery. We also don't know its exact age, but experts believe it was built during the Bronze Age. This means it could be around 4,000 years old. That's quite old, but still younger than some 5,000-year-old burial mounds found nearby.
The stones used to build Achavanich came from the local Caithness flagstone rock. Some bones have been found at the site. These discoveries suggest that Achavanich might have been a special place for rituals or ceremonies long ago.
Similar Stone Structures in Scotland
Achavanich is very unique, but there is one other place with a similar stone arrangement. This site is called Broubster, and it's about 23 kilometers (14 miles) away. At Broubster, 9 stones remain from what was once a 32-stone setting.
Like Achavanich, the Broubster site is also open-ended. The open part of the Broubster setting faces the south-south-west. At Achavanich, the open end faces the south-east. This similarity between the two sites is very interesting to archaeologists.
Images for kids
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Achavanich Stone Setting from the nearby Achkinloch Chambered Cairn
