The Stenness Watch Stone stands next to the modern bridge leading to the Ring of Brodgar.

The surviving Stones of Stenness[1] form an impressive Neolithic monument on the mainland of Orkney, Scotland, sited on a promontory at the south bank of the stream that joins the southern ends of the sea loch Loch of Stenness and the freshwater loch Loch of Harray. The name, pronounced stane-is, comes from Old Norse meaning stone headland. The stream is now bridged, but at one time was crossed by a stepping stone causeway, and the Ring of Brodgar lies about 1.2 km (3/4 mile) away to the north-west, across the stream and near the tip of the isthmus formed between the two lochs. Maeshowe chambered cairn is about 1.2 km (3/4 mile) to the east of the Stones of Stenness and several other Neolithic monuments also lie in the vicinity, suggesting that this area had particular importance. The Watch Stone at Stones of Stenness, photograph taken in 1983 by User:Dave souza File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Watch Stone at Stones of Stenness, photograph taken in 1983 by User:Dave souza File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Ring of Brodgar The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a neolithic henge and stone circle a little like Stonehenge in England. ... The Neolithic, (Greek neos = new, lithos = stone, or New Stone Age) was a period in the development of human technology that is traditionally the last part of the Stone Age. ... The Orkney Islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and are a Lieutenancy Area. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Ring of Brodgar The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a neolithic henge and stone circle a little like Stonehenge in England. ... Maeshowe Maeshowe Entrance Maeshowe (or Maes Howe) is a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave situated on Mainland Orkney, Scotland. ...

The stones are thin slabs, approximately 300 mm (1 ft) thick. Four, up to about 5 m (16 ft) high, were originally elements of an elliptical shaped stone circle of 12 stones, about 32 m (104 ft) diameter, on a levelled platform of 44 m (144 ft) diameter surrounded by a ditch. The ditch is cut into rock by as much as 2 m (7 ft) depth and is 7 m (23 ft) wide, surrounded by an earth bank, with a single entrance causeway on the north side. The entrance faces towards the Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement which has been found adjacent to the Loch of Harray. The Watch Stone stands outside the circle to the north-west and is 5.6 m (18 ft) high. Other smaller stones include a square stone setting in the centre of the circle platform where cremated bone, charcoal and pottery were found, and animal bones were found in the ditch. The pottery links the monument to Skara Brae and Maeshowe, and the site is thought to date from at least 3000 BC. The Neolithic, (Greek neos = new, lithos = stone, or New Stone Age) was a period in the development of human technology that is traditionally the last part of the Stone Age. ... The recently found Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement is sited by the shore of Loch of Harray, Orkney Mainland not far from the Stones of Stenness. ... Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located in the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney (off northern Scotland). ... (31st century BC - 30th century BC - 29th century BC - other centuries) (4th millennium BC - 3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC) Events 2925 - 2776 BC - First Dynasty wars in Egypt 2900 BC - Beginning of the Early Dynastic Period I in Mesopotamia. ...

Even in the 18th century the site was still associated with traditions and rituals, by then relating to Norse gods. It was visited by Walter Scott in 1814, but then a (non local) farmer decided to remove the stones. This caused outrage and he was stopped after destroying one stone and toppling another, which was re-erected in 1906 along with some inaccurate reconstruction inside the circle. The nearby Odin Stone which had become legendary was also destroyed. However, even the few stones that have survived create a powerful atmosphere hinting at the distant past. Portrait of Sir Walter Scott, by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (14 August 1771–21 September 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

References

• Scotland Before History - Stuart Piggott, Edinburgh University Press 1982, ISBN -07524-1400-3
• Scotland's Hidden History - Ian Armit, Tempus (in association with Historic Scotland) 1998, ISBN 0-7486-6067-4
• Guide to Prehistoric Scotland - Richard Feachem, B.T.Batsford Ltd. 1977, ISBN 0-7134-3264-0
• Scotland, Archaeology and Early History - Graham and Anna Ritchie, Edinburgh University Press 1997, ISBN 0-7486-0291-7

External links

• grid reference HY307125
• Orkneyjar - The Standing Stones of Stenness
• Stones of Scotland - Stones of Stenness Standing Stones
• Stones of Stenness, Standing Stones - Megalithic Mysteries
• Standing Stones of Stenness, Orkney - Neolithic stone circle
• Stones Of Stenness - Stone Circle and Henge - Ancient Sites Directory