Girdle Stanes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Girdle Stanes |
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| Official name: Girdlestanes, stone circle | |
| Reference no. | SM634 |
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The Girdle Stanes is an ancient stone circle located near Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Imagine a giant ring of standing stones! This special place was once a complete circle, but over time, parts of it have been changed by nature.
The Girdle Stanes: An Ancient Stone Circle
The Girdle Stanes is a fascinating stone circle that stands proudly in the Scottish landscape. Originally, it had about 40 to 45 large stones arranged in a perfect circle. If you were to measure it, the circle would have been about 39 meters (or about 128 feet) wide! That's almost as long as a basketball court.
However, the White Esk river, which flows nearby, has slowly worn away the western side of the circle. Because of this, only 26 stones remain today, forming a crescent shape rather than a full circle. What makes the Girdle Stanes unique is that it truly forms a round circle, unlike many other stone circles in the Dumfriesshire area, which are often oval-shaped.
What Makes This Stone Circle Special?
The Girdle Stanes shares some cool secrets with other ancient stone circles, especially those found in the Cumbrian region to the south, like the Swinside circle in the Lake District. These similarities suggest they might have been built by people with similar ideas or traditions.
- Tallest Stones: Just like at Swinside, the tallest stones at the Girdle Stanes are placed on the northern side of the circle.
- Entrance: Both circles seem to have an entrance on their south-east side. This might have been a special way to enter the sacred space.
- Sun Alignment: Perhaps the most interesting similarity is how both circles are lined up with the sun. This is called a "solar alignment." The Swinside circle is aligned with the midwinter sunrise, which is the shortest day of the year. The Girdle Stanes, however, is aligned with the sun's southernmost rising around the beginning of November. This time of year connects with an ancient festival called Samhain, which was a very important celebration for early communities.
A Possible Ancient Pathway
If you look closely, you might notice a line of stones stretching north from the Girdle Stanes towards another stone circle called the Loupin Stanes. Some experts believe this line of stones could be what's left of an ancient pathway or "avenue" that once connected the two circles. Imagine walking along this path thousands of years ago, moving between these mysterious stone monuments!
