Beltany stone circle facts for kids
Beltany is an ancient stone circle located near Raphoe town in County Donegal, Ireland. It was built during the Bronze Age, a time when people started using bronze tools, roughly between 2100 BC and 700 BC. This special place might have also been used by people even earlier, during the Neolithic period, possibly for passage tombs. Beltany sits on Tops Hill and looks out over the area.
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What is Beltany Like Today?
Today, Beltany has 64 stones that stand in a circle. These stones are different sizes and surround a raised area of earth. The middle of the circle looks quite messy. This is probably because people dug there in the 1700s. They were looking for loose stones to build their farms and fences.
Old Stories and Clues
Stories from the 1830s say that local people remembered taking away many stones. They also found old graves with bones. A wall made of large rocks near the circle might be a clue that these stories are true. Old maps also show a place called 'Tops Village' at the bottom of the hill. The name "Tops Hill" comes from an old Gaelic word meaning 'the lighting of a ceremonial torch'.
Special Stone Markings
Some of the stones at Beltany have special marks called "cupmarks." These are small, round holes carved into the stone. One triangle-shaped stone has many of these circular marks. Other stones seem to have patterns that look like star groups. Some of the heavy stones on the northwest side lean outwards. This might be from the ground settling or from stones being removed long ago.
A Place for Ancient Rituals
Beltany was likely a very important place for ancient ceremonies. People probably used it to mark the changing seasons, especially for farming. These events were part of the Celtic calendar, which had four main festivals:
- Beltaine (May)
- Samhain (November)
- Imbolg (February)
- Lughnasa (August)
Beltany may have been used to watch the sunrise and sunset during these important times of the year. It might also have been used to track the moon's movements, but this is still being studied.
The Outlier Stone
Outside the main circle, to the southeast, there is a single tall stone about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. This "outlier" stone probably had a special role in the rituals or ceremonies held at the circle. It could also be one of several standing stones found on the hillsides around Tops Hill.
The Carved Stone Head
A carved stone head was found near Beltany. It is flat on the back and might have been used as a mask. Or, it could have been a mold to make ceremonial masks out of bronze or even gold. This stone head is now kept at the National Museum in Dublin. These ancient objects show that the Beltany area has been a sacred and important place for thousands of years.
What Does the Name "Beltany" Mean?
Many people think the name "Beltany" is connected to an old Celtic festival called 'Beltane'. This festival was a celebration of fertility and the start of summer. It was usually held on May 1st and was very important in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In the Irish language, the festival is called Lá Bealtaine. In Scottish Gaelic, it's Là Bealltainn, and in Manx Gaelic, it's Laa Boaltinn/Boaldyn.
