Stone circles are among the most iconic monuments of prehistoric Britain and Ireland. Erected primarily during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age — roughly 3000 to 1500 BCE — these rings of upright stones appear across the landscapes of the Atlantic fringe, from the Outer Hebrides to Cornwall. Their precise purpose remains debated, but their enduring presence speaks to something fundamental in the human relationship with place, sky, and community.
The sheer variety of stone circles defies easy generalisation. Some, like Stonehenge, involve enormous dressed stones hauled across great distances. Others, like the Merry Maidens in west Cornwall, are modest rings of local granite no taller than a person. What unites them is intentionality — each stone was chosen, transported, and erected according to a plan that mattered deeply to its builders.
For the modern visitor, stone circles offer a rare chance to stand inside a space that was sacred thousands of years before any surviving written record. They invite slowness, attention, and a willingness to listen to the land. This course will equip you with the archaeological knowledge to appreciate what you see and the sensitivity to honour what you cannot.