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Orkney Islands
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Some Orkney's largest megaliths stand on the south-eastern shore of the Stenness Loch, in the monument simply known as the Stones o' Stenness.
Originally a stone circle, set up in an ellipse, only four of the Stenness ring's original 12 stones remain. The tallest megalith towers six metres (around 19 feet) high and making the monument clearly visible from miles around.
In the centre of the ring is a large stone setting that mirrors the hearths found in Skara Brae and other contemporary Neolithic settlements. This hearth was constructed from four large stone slabs laid flat and forming a rectangle. Close to this are two angular slabs standing side by side, with a large prone stone beside it.
The Standing Stones megaliths are considerably larger than those found in the Ring o' Brodgar, approximately one mile to the north-west, but the site is generally thought to be older - dating from at least 3000BC.
This early date means the Stenness complex is one of the earliest stone circles in Britain.
Like the famous Ring o' Brodgar, the Stones o' Stenness is classed as a henge monument. The stone ring was surrounded by a deep rock-cut ditch 6 metres across and 2.4 metres deep) and substantial earth bank.
With an approximate diameter of 44 metres (144 feet), the earth bank had a single entrance causeway on the north side, facing the Neolithic Barnhouse settlement, on the shores of the Harray Loch. Cultivation over the years has left little of this ditch and bank, but traces are remain clearly visible around the stone circle.
Although only four megaliths remain today, eighteenth century records show that at the time there were four stones standing and the stump of a fifth. A large stone slab also lay on the ground, not quite in the centre of the ring, and traces of a bank still surrounded the monument. |
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- MvS
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 772 W: 53 N: 835]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4155) - [2005-01-25 4:17]
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Stephane,
Very nice shot. Colours, sharpness and composition is great.
On my screen the picture I believe the picture would gain to have slightly more brightness.
Well done!
Regards,
Magnus
I think this is one of these pictures that could have done with either being brighter, or with the sun setting and the stones more a silhouete!
Absolutely brilliant note Stephane!
![Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 16]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/n-n-s.gif){kind=small}
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 40 W: 4 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
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