Ballochroy facts for kids
Ballochroy is an amazing ancient site in Scotland. It's found in a place called Kintyre, on the Argyll peninsula. This special spot has three tall stones standing side by side. These stones are aligned with faraway mountains and other natural features.
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What Are the Ballochroy Stones?
These three stones are a type of megalith, which means "large stone." They are considered some of the most impressive ancient stone monuments in southern Argyll. The stones are made of a type of rock called mica schist.
How Big Are the Stones?
The stones are quite tall! They measure about 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches), 3.0 meters (9 feet 10 inches), and 2.0 meters (6 feet 7 inches) in height. The shortest stone might have had its top broken off a long time ago. The line of stones points from the northeast to the southwest.
Ancient Calendar and Sky Gazing
Many experts believe these stones were used like an ancient calendar. A famous researcher named Alexander Thom studied sites like Stonehenge and Ballochroy. He thought that the long distance between the stones and the distant mountains helped ancient people accurately mark important times of the year.
Marking the Solstices
The stones at Ballochroy seem to be set up to watch the sun. The flat side of the middle stone points directly to a mountain called Cora Bheinn. This mountain is on the island of Jura, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away! The shortest stone also points towards the Paps of Jura, specifically to Beinn a' Chaolais. When the sun set over this mountain, it would have been a warning that the solstice was coming. The solstices are the longest and shortest days of the year.
What Were They Used For?
Just like with many ancient stone sites, people still debate the exact purpose of the Ballochroy stones. However, the idea that they were used for watching the sky and marking dates is very popular. They show how clever ancient people were at understanding the movements of the sun and stars.
