Clach an Trushal facts for kids
Clach an Trushal is a very tall standing stone located in Scotland. Its name, Clach an Truiseil, comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "Stone of Compassion." This ancient stone stands in the village of Ballantrushal, which is on the west side of the Isle of Lewis. It is believed to be the tallest standing stone in all of Scotland.
About the Stone
Above the ground, Clach an Trushal stands about 5.8 meters (or 19 feet) tall. It is also quite wide, measuring about 1.83 meters (6 feet) across, and its thickest part is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) thick. At its base, the stone has a measurement around it of about 4.75 meters (15 feet 7 inches).
Local stories say that Clach an Trushal marks the spot of a big battle. This battle was supposedly the last fight between two rival Scottish families, the Macaulays and the Morrisons. However, experts believe the stone is actually much older. It is the only stone left from a stone circle that was built around 5,000 years ago! This means it was part of a larger ancient monument. While it was part of the circle, it wasn't placed exactly in the middle. Another stone from this ancient circle was removed in 1914 and used as a lintel, which is a support beam above a doorway or window.
Nearby Ancient Sites
From the base of Clach an Trushal, you can clearly see another old stone circle called Steinacleit. This archaeological site is located to the northeast. The famous Callanish Stones, which are another group of ancient standing stones, are about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Clach an Trushal.
See also
In Spanish: Menhir Clach an Trushal para niños
