Girdle Stanes
| The Girdle Stanes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 55°15′14″N 3°10′33″W / 55.253879°N 3.17593°W |
| Official name | Girdlestanes, stone circle |
| Reference no. | SM634 |
  Location of The Girdle Stanes in Dumfries and Galloway | |
The Girdle Stanes (
White Esk, leaving 26 of an original 40 to 45 stones in a crescent.[1][2][3] Unlike the majority of such sites in Dumfriesshire, the Girdle Stanes forms a true circle rather than an oval.[2] When complete, its diameter would have been 39m.[1][2]
Its situation, shape and construction link it to the Cumbrian circles to the south.[2] In particular, it has a number of similarities with the Swinside circle in the south-west of the Lake District.[1] Like Swinside, the tallest stones are positioned at the north of the circle, and there is an apparent entrance in the south-east.[1] Both circles have a solar alignment. However, while Swinside is aligned to the midwinter sunrise,[4] the Girdle Stanes is aligned to the sun's southernmost rising at the beginning of November, which correlates with the festival of Samhain.[2][5]
A line of stones leads north to the Loupin Stanes; it is possible that this is the remains of an avenue linking the two circles.[5][6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 121.
- ^ a b c d e Burl, Aubrey (2000). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 194.
- ^ Christison, David (1897). "'The Girdlestanes,' and a Neighbouring Stone Circle, in the Parish of Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: 285.
- ^ Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 49.
- ^ a b Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 122.
- ^ Hyslop, John; Hyslop, Robert (1912). Langholm as it was: A History of Langholm and Eskdale from the Earliest Time. Sunderland: Hills and Company. p. 42.