New evidence reveals what inspired ancient stone circles on Isle of Lewis

The Scotsman, tall and handsome built ^ | Monday, December 23, 2019 | Scotsman Reporter

[SunkenCiv]

A massive lightning strike which hit the Isle of Lewis more than 3,000 years ago may have inspired ancient civilisations to build stone circles, academics believe.

Scientists studying a prehistoric stone circle on the Outer Hebrides island discovered evidence of a lightning strike on a nearby site where a circle had been hidden beneath a peat bog.

Just one stone remained standing at the site, known as Site XI or Airigh na Beinne Bige, which overlooks the main stone circle, Tursachan Chalanais, at Calanais on the Isle of Lewis.

But it is believed that the single stone was once part of a circle of standing stones, and that a massive star-shaped 'magnetic anomaly' in the centre signified where it had been struck by lightning...

Professor Vincent Gaffney of the School Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bradford, said: "The dramatic results of survey on Lewis demonstrate that we have to understand the landscapes that surrounds these ritual monuments and the role that nature and natural events, including lightning, played in creating the rituals and beliefs of people many thousands of years ago."

[SunkenCiv]

The Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis. Picture: Contributed

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

[Robert A Cook PE]

Could be. Bunch of guys talking and arguing about “Hey, where are we gonna put the next one of these circles?”

WAMMMMM!

“Oh. Ok. Over there. “ In very subdued voices.

[dp0622]

They probably went through a dozen kegs a day easy erecting those things

[trebb]

They had to do that before they discovered how to build pyramids and pyramid-shaped hats to channel all that energy...

[NativeSon]

Orgonon.

[centurion316]

The ancients were keen observers of nature, attributing much of what they saw to the spirits or the supernatural forces. I haven’t heard about a connection to lightning, but it makes sense that Borg would conclude that a lightning strike would indicate special powers at work

[sheana]

Come on! Anyone who has watched Outlander knows these are for transporting yourself back and forth in time. 🤦‍♀️

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Thanks, SunkenCiv.

[jpsb]

The pyramids were built 4,500 years ago. First one in 2,600 BC.

[SunkenCiv]

The lack of pyramids to keep their stainless steel razors sharp is the real reason they kept using obsidian for so long.

[SunkenCiv]

Building stone circles were really all about a pretext to go through a dozen kegs per day.

[SunkenCiv]

I wholeheartedly agree.

[a fool in paradise]

Massive lightning strike inspired locals.

Who got the Zot?

[SunkenCiv]

Well, we know the ancestors of Iranians never successfully settled northern Britain...

[Bob Ireland]

***Massive lightning strike inspired locals ... Who got the Zot?***

Well, I was hit by lightning in '87 and it motivated me to stay indoors during storms... unhappily, though, I was indoors when I got hit. Oh well, I am motivated to do something ... something ...

[a fool in paradise]

I’ve been near lightning strikes (one right over my head once) but I’ve never been hit. I’ve never won the lottery either.

[Bob Ireland]

***I’ve never been hit. I’ve never won the lottery either***

I am not sure I can compare the two favorably.

[Graybeard58]

I read most of your posts but stopped reading the replies long ago. Wading through dozens of sophomoric replies to find one or two serious ones is just not worth my time. Thanks for the posts though.