Standing Stones & Stone Circles
Standing Stones and Stone Circles
The Isle of Mull has many free standing stones and several stone circles. Their origin and history are uncertain. However, it is believed that many of the stones of the west coast, such as the Calanish Stones on Lewis, were erected in the late Neolithic and Bronze Age. The Neolithic (new Stone Age) spans the years 4,000 to 2,500 BCE and the Bronze Age 2,500 to 800 BCE.
The following is a list of the sites on Mull with grid references. Where the name is highlighted, more detailed information is available, sometimes including images. Click to go to the link. Please check back for further information as the Society has an ongoing updating programme.
Achaban House NM 313 233; Ardalanish NM 378 188; Ardnacross NM 542 491; Baliscate NM 499 541; Barr Leathan NM 726 342; Catchean (exact location not known); Cillchriosd NM 377 534; Cragaig, Ulva NM 402 390; Dervaig NM 435 531, 439 520 & 438 516; Dishig NM 496 357; Druim Fan NM391 196; Frachadil NM 384 523; Glengorm NM 434 571; Gruline NM 545 396 & 543 397; Killichronan NM 540 419; Lag NM 362 535; Lochbuie stone circle NM 617 251; Lochbuie standing stones NM 617 250, 616 250 & 616 254; Mingary NM 413 552; Poit na h-I NM 325 221; Rossal NM 544 293; Scallastle NM 699 382; Scoor NM 419 189; Suie NM 371 219; Taoslin NM 397 223; Tenga NM 504 463; Tirghoil NM 353 224; Tostarie NM 391 456; Uluvalt NM 547 299; Ulva NM 425 392; Uisken NM 392 197
Dr Robert Pollock of Otaga University in New Zealand has published a web site called ‘Stones of Wonder‘. In his words this ‘is a Web guidebook to prehistoric monuments in Scotland dating to the Neolithic or the Bronze Age, which have orientations to the sun, moon or stars. It gives the background to the archaeology of the sites, to archaeoastronomy and to previous work. The main part of the guidebook is a listing of the monuments that can be visited, and the best time of year to see them and observe for yourself the sunrises, sunsets, moon rises and moon sets. The work is based on original surveys, of which full details are given.’
Dr Pollock has described the following sites: Ardalanish, Ardnacross, Balisgate, Cillchriosd, Dervaig, Lochbuie standing stones, Lochbuie stone circle, Uisken
There are also several locally published printed works about the Stones of Mull.