Birkrigg stone circle
 Birkrigg stone circle | |
  Birkrigg stone circle Location in South Lakeland  Birkrigg stone circle Location in Cumbria | |
| Location | Ulverston grid reference SD292739 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°09′23″N 3°05′06″W / 54.15647°N 3.08489°W |
| Type | Stone circle |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic / Bronze Age |
The Birkrigg stone circle (also known as the Druid's Temple or Druids' Circle) is a Bronze Age stone circle on Birkrigg Common, two miles south of Ulverston in the English county of Cumbria. It dates to between 1700 and 1400 BC.
Description[edit]
The circle consists of two rings of stones, the outer measuring 26 m and consisting of 15 stones and the inner being 9 m wide and consisting of 10 stones. None of the stones is more than 0.6m tall.
Limited excavation within the inner circle in 1911 found an upper and lower pavement of cobbles.[1] Below the lower layer of cobbles five cremations were uncovered, three in pits, one on a layer of cobbles and one covered by an inverted urn.[1] A second excavation in 1921 produced a few small stone implements which the excavator thought might be a pestle, a palate and a piece of red ochre, and which might therefore have had a ceremonial use.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Historic England. "Druid's Circle (38039)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 12 August 2014.
External links[edit]
- "Birkrigg stone circle". Visitor Attractions. The Cumbria Directory.
- Historic England. "Concentric stone circle on Birkrigg Common (1013501)". National Heritage List for England.