List of axial five-stone circles facts for kids
An axial five-stone circle is a special kind of ancient stone circle found mostly in southwest Ireland. These circles are made of five large stones, usually set up in a way that creates a line of symmetry. This line, or "axis," usually points from the northeast to the southwest. The most unique stone is the "axial stone." Instead of standing upright like the others, it lies flat on the ground at the southwest side of the circle. It's often thin and placed along the edge of the circle.
These circles were built a very long time ago, during the Bronze Age (around 2400 to 500 BC). They always had an odd number of stones. Two other important stones, called "portal stones," were placed on either side of where the axis crosses the northeast part of the circle. You can find these fascinating stone circles mainly in County Cork and County Kerry.
For a while, these circles were called "recumbent stone circles" because they seemed similar to some in Scotland. But later, experts realized they were different. So, they started calling them "Cork–Kerry stone circles." Eventually, the name "axial stone circle" became the most common term.
Ireland's National Monuments Service describes these circles as a unique type found only in Cork and Kerry. They are a ring of five stones arranged symmetrically. The axial stone is always on the southwest side, directly opposite two taller stones that act like an entrance. The stones usually get shorter as you move towards the axial stone. Experts believe these circles were used for special ceremonies or rituals during the Bronze Age.
There are 56 known axial five-stone circles in County Cork and three in County Kerry.
Discovering Axial Five-Stone Circles
The map above shows you where many of these ancient sites are located across County Cork and County Kerry. You can even explore their exact locations using online maps like OpenStreetMap.
While there are many of these circles, some are in better condition than others. Some still have all five stones standing, while others are now just ruins with only a few stones left, or have even disappeared completely over time. Each circle is a unique piece of history, giving us clues about how people lived and what was important to them thousands of years ago in Ireland.
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