Callanish II facts for kids
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Cnoc Ceann a' Gharaidh
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Callanish II seen from the west
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 Location in Outer Hebrides
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| Location | Lewis |
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| Coordinates | 58°11′40″N 6°43′44″W / 58.19444°N 6.72888°W |
| Type | Stone circle |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic, Bronze Age |
Callanish II is an ancient stone circle found on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. It's also known by its Scottish Gaelic name, Cnoc Ceann a' Gharaidh. This special place is part of a group of very old stone structures, including the famous Calanais I. These stones were built a long, long time ago by people from the Stone Age and Bronze Age.
Where is Callanish II Located?
Callanish II stands on a small hill, very close to the water. It's only about 90 metres from Loch Roag. This stone circle is also just a short walk from another stone circle called Callanish III. There are other smaller stone sites nearby too, like Callanish IV, Callanish VIII, and Callanish X.
What Does Callanish II Look Like?
The Callanish II stone circle is shaped like an oval. It measures about 21.6 metres long and 18.9 metres wide.
- Five of the stones are still standing tall.
- Two other stones have fallen over.
- The stones are quite big, ranging from 2 to 3.3 metres in height.
- In front of the western stone, there's a flat stone slab. It's 1.4 metres long and points towards the middle of the circle.
- In the very centre of the stone circle, there is a cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones, often used as a burial mound. This one is 8.5 metres wide.
What Was Found at Callanish II?
In 1848, people removed about 1 metre of peat from the site. Peat is a type of soil made from old, decayed plants. When the peat was cleared, four holes were discovered.
- Three holes were grouped together in a curve on the northwest side.
- The fourth hole was found on the southwest side.
Inside these holes, scientists found wood charcoal. This suggests that the holes once held wooden posts. These posts might have formed an even older wooden circle, about 10 metres across, before the stone circle was built.
