Grange stone circle facts for kids
|
Lios na Gráinsí
|
|
Grange stone circle, Ireland
|
|
 Location in Ireland
|
|
| Alternative name | Fort of the Grange |
|---|---|
| Location | Lough Gur, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°30′51″N 8°32′31″W / 52.514238°N 8.5418895°W |
| Height | 4 metres (13 ft) (highest stone) |
| Management | National Monument Service |
| Reference no. | 247 |
The Grange stone circle (also known as Lios na Gráinsí or Fort of the Grange) is a very old and important stone circle in County Limerick, Ireland. It is located close to Lough Gur, about 4 kilometers north of Bruff. This ancient site is a fascinating place to learn about people who lived thousands of years ago.
Contents
What is the Grange Stone Circle?
The Grange stone circle is the largest stone circle in Ireland. It is made up of 113 tall stones that form a complete circle. These stones can be as high as 2.8 meters (about 9 feet). The circle itself is very wide, measuring 45 meters (about 148 feet) across.
Around the stones, there is an earthen bank. This bank is like a low wall made of earth. It is about 9 meters wide and 1.2 meters tall. This makes the site look a bit like a "henge" monument. A henge is a special type of ancient earthwork.
How Was It Built?
Archaeologists have studied the Grange stone circle. They found that the builders were very clever. They likely used a rope and a central stake to measure out the perfect circle. This helped them make sure the stones were placed exactly where they wanted them.
The entrance to the circle is on the eastern side. It has a paved path and is guarded by two large stones. Inside the circle, the ground was packed down with clay. This made a smooth, solid surface.
Special Stones and Their Purpose
There are twelve very large stones, called orthostats, placed around the circle. These stones are arranged in a special way, directly opposite each other. The stones are close together, not standing far apart.
The biggest stone is called Rannach Chruim Duibh. This name means "Crom Dubh's Division." It is over 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall and weighs a huge 40 tonnes!
The entrance of the stone circle is aligned with the rising sun during the Summer Solstice. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. This suggests the circle was used for important ceremonies related to the sun and seasons.
What Was Found Inside?
When archaeologists dug at the site, they found many interesting things. They discovered pieces of pottery from the late Neolithic period. The Neolithic period was a time when people started farming. This pottery belonged to a group called the Beaker culture. It looked like the pottery had been broken on purpose.
They also found two hearths, which are old fireplaces. A few un-burnt human bones and some animal bones (mostly cattle) were also discovered. Some bronze materials were found too. These discoveries help us understand how people lived and what they did at this ancient site.
Other Circles Nearby
A short distance north of the main Grange stone circle, there is another smaller stone circle. This one is also built with large stones. Even further north, there is a large standing stone that leans to one side. These smaller sites show that the area around Lough Gur was very important to ancient people.
