The Enduring Mystery of the Callanish Stones: Scotland’s Neolithic Marvel

The Standing Stones of Callanish, majestically situated on the windswept Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, have captivated the imagination of onlookers for thousands of years. This ancient site, rich in history and mystery, offers a fascinating window into our Neolithic past, inspiring everything from historical research to modern-day fantasy.

These stones are so iconic that they served as a key inspiration for the fictional Craigh na Dun stone circle in the popular television series Outlander. This connection has brought renewed global attention to Callanish, drawing fans and history buffs alike to its mystical allure. This article revisits the deep history of this remarkable site, exploring everything we know about these ancient monuments.

The Dawn of Callanish: From Timber to Stone

The first traces of human activity at this iconic stone circle date back more than 5,000 years, to approximately 3000 BCE. Initial evidence points to a broad ditch that once belonged to an early structure or enclosure. While this ditch is no longer visible above ground, its presence marks the beginning of a long history of ritual and construction at the site.

Before the great stones were erected, a different kind of circle stood here. Archaeological evidence, specifically postholes containing wood charcoal, reveals that a timber circle once occupied the same site. This discovery aligns with a common pattern seen at many prehistoric stone circles across Britain.

It’s understood that many of these monumental sites began with wooden structures. These timber circles were likely used for generations, being rebuilt and maintained over time before the eventual transition to stone.

After several hundred years, the descendants of the original Woodhenge builders undertook a monumental task: they replaced the perishable timber with durable local stone, creating the lasting monument we see today. This transition from wood to stone was a significant step, ensuring the site’s permanence and eliminating the need for constant rebuilding. Stone, unlike wood, could withstand the harsh Scottish elements for millennia.

Building the Monument: Rings, Alignments, and Tombs

While we can date the placement of many henge monuments by analyzing the stones themselves, this method isn’t always foolproof for determining the original creation date. The central stone and ring at Callanish are believed to have been erected between 2900 and 2600 BCE.

The main monument is laid out in a cross shape with a central circle. It features a north-facing avenue and several other stone rows, often referred to as alignments. However, it remains unclear whether these alignments were constructed at the same time as the central ring.

Researchers believe that, like the original central circle, the avenue and alignments were also first constructed with timber before being rebuilt with stone around 2560 BCE. This phased construction suggests a long-term, evolving vision for the site.

Sometime after the stones were erected, around 2500 BCE, a significant addition was made. A small chambered tomb was inserted into the eastern part of the stone circle.

This addition is quite unique. While chambered tombs are common Neolithic structures, their placement within the center of a pre-existing henge monument is rare, raising questions about the site’s changing purpose. Was it a ritualistic addition, or did it serve a new religious function? The exact reasons remain a compelling mystery.

Clues from the Earth: Pottery, Tools, and Ancient Cultures

Excavations within the tomb have unearthed numerous pottery fragments, indicating that it was in use for several centuries. These fragments represent a fascinating timeline of cultural presence, including early and middle Neolithic pottery, a Grooved Ware vessel, Beaker pottery, and food vessels.

Alongside the pottery, archaeologists have discovered tools from the early to middle Neolithic era, such as arrowheads, cores, and scrapers. While these artifacts confirm prolonged activity, they don’t fully explain the tomb’s specific purpose or the rituals performed there.

Grooved Ware is a distinct style of pottery that originated in Orkney around the 3rd millennium BCE. Its presence at Callanish suggests cultural connections and trade or influence spreading across ancient Scotland.

The discovery of Beaker pottery is also significant. The Beaker culture, named for its distinctive drinking vessels, was an archaeological phenomenon that spread across Western Europe. It lasted notably longer in Britain, from roughly 2800 to 1800 BCE, than on the mainland, and its artifacts at Callanish point to another layer of the site’s complex history.

Rediscovery and Interpretation

Between 1500 and 1000 BCE, the Callanish complex gradually fell out of use. Over the following centuries, the harsh elements took their toll, and the site was slowly engulfed by nature.

The ground became covered by a thick layer of turf and eventually a 1.5-meter-deep layer of peat, which preserved the lower portions of the stones while hiding them from view for nearly three millennia.

The main stone setting at Callanish was brought back to public attention in the early 18th century when Martin Martin published his book, A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland, in 1703. Despite this, the site remained largely unstudied for another century, though it was certainly not forgotten.

The mysterious nature of the stones has always invited speculation. The freethinker John Toland proposed an astronomical theory, suggesting the twelve stones of the ring represented the signs of the zodiac, the four outer rows symbolized the principal winds, and the nineteen stones of the avenue corresponded to the 19-year solar cycle. While imaginative, this marked the beginning of a long tradition of basing far-reaching conclusions on what was often faulty or incomplete evidence.

A more practical account came from geologist John MacCulloch, who believed Callanish was a Norse creation. He discussed the possibility of the stones being used for Druid worship or as funerary memorials.

MacCulloch even drew a plan of what he imagined the stone layout to be beneath the peat. Unsurprisingly, his plan contained several inaccuracies, such as showing 14 stones in the central ring instead of the actual 13. Given that most of the site was still buried, these imperfections were to be expected.

Excavation and Conservation

The historical importance of Callanish was officially recognized in 1882 when it was listed on the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. The site was subsequently sold to the state, paving the way for its protection and study. In 1857, the peat was finally cleared away, revealing the stones once more. Since then, any damage to the site has been met with careful repairs and conservation measures.

Excavations in 1980 and 1981 were crucial for preserving archaeological evidence that might have been lost during repairs. These digs revealed that the chambered tomb had been robbed in antiquity and partially rebuilt. During the peat removal in 1857, Sir James Matheson found fragments of what appeared to be bones. Professor Anderson of Glasgow University later confirmed them to be human remains that had been subjected to fire, suggesting a cremation burial.

One of the most significant conservation efforts was the re-erection of Stone 33A in July 1982. Extensive research and careful measurements ensured that the monolith was placed back into its original socket, in the exact three-dimensional position and orientation it had occupied for millennia. This act honored the incredible feat of engineering achieved by its Neolithic builders thousands of years ago.

Beyond Callanish I: A Landscape of Stones

What many people don’t realize is that the famous stone circle is just one part of a much larger complex. The site we’ve discussed is known as Callanish I, but there are numerous other, smaller megalithic sites scattered across the surrounding landscape.

• Callanish II: An elliptical setting of stones with a ruined tomb inside.
• Callanish III: A complex site with two concentric circles of stones.
• Callanish IV: An oval-shaped ring of five standing stones.
• Callanish V: A stone row that may have once contained as many as 30 stones, now mostly hidden by peat.

There are at least nineteen recognized sites in the Callanish complex, from Callanish I to Callanish XIX. While less is known about these smaller arrangements, they underscore that Callanish was not just a single monument but a vast ritual landscape, its full meaning and purpose still holding many secrets. The sheer scale of Callanish I continues to inspire awe, a powerful testament to the ambition, beliefs, and enduring legacy of its ancient creators.

• Tags:
• Callanish Stones
• Standing Stones of Callanish
• Isle of Lewis
• Outer Hebrides
• Neolithic Stone Circle