Mutiny Stones facts for kids
The Mutiny Stones are an ancient and mysterious stone monument in the Lammermuir Hills of Scotland. These large stones have stood for thousands of years, holding secrets from a time long ago. They are a special type of monument called a megalith, meaning "big stone."
Contents
The Mutiny Stones: Ancient Mystery
This monument is a fascinating link to people who lived in Scotland long, long ago. It helps us understand how ancient communities used to build and what was important to them.
Where Are These Stones?
You can find the Mutiny Stones on a place called Byrecleugh Rig. This spot is in the beautiful Lammermuir Hills in Scotland. The closest village is Longformacus, which is about four miles away. So, the stones are in a quiet, open area.
What Kind of Monument Are They?
The Mutiny Stones are built like a long cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built as a monument or a landmark. Experts believe these stones were first put in place around 3,000 BC. That means they are about 5,000 years old! Imagine how much history these stones have seen.
How Did They Get Their Name?
The name "Mutiny Stones" is quite interesting. It actually comes from an old Scottish phrase: mittenfu' o stones. This phrase means "a handful of stones."
There's a local story about how the stones got their name. The legend says that a powerful being was flying overhead and dropped a handful of boulders at this very spot. Over time, the name mittenfu' o stones slowly changed. First, it became "Meeting stones," and then finally, "Mutiny Stones."
Why Are They Smaller Now?
Sadly, the Mutiny Stones are not as big as they used to be. Over many years, shepherds in the area took stones from the monument. They used these stones to build stells, which are shelters for sheep. They also used them to create dry stone walls to mark their land.
Today, the highest part of the monument is about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall. But people who lived long ago remembered it being much taller. They said it was once around 18 feet (5.5 m) high! It's a reminder of how human activity can change ancient sites over time.
