STONE BOTHERING

Chun Castle and Chun Quoit are two of the most impressive ancient landmarks in Cornwall, England. Located near the village of Pendeen, they offer visitors a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the region. Chun Castle is a large Iron Age hillfort, built around 2,500 years ago. It is situated on a prominent hilltop, affording stunning views of the surrounding countryside and coastline. The fort is surrounded by two massive stone walls, with the inner wall enclosing an area of around 10 acres. The interior of the fort contains the remains of several roundhouses, which would have been the homes of the people who lived and worked there. Chun Castle is thought to have had a defensive purpose, given its strategic location and the presence of the two stone walls. However, it is also likely that the fort was a center for trade and social activity. The proximity of the fort to the much older Chun Quoit suggests that the two sites may have been connected in some way. Chun Quoit is a Neol...

The Inca Ruins of Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley of Peru, are one of the most impressive and well-preserved Inca sites in the country. The ruins are a testament to the ingenuity and engineering skills of the Incas, and offer visitors a glimpse into their culture and way of life. Ollantaytambo was an important religious, administrative, and agricultural center for the Incas. The ruins include a series of temples, palaces, and terraces, as well as a sophisticated irrigation system. The most impressive structure at Ollantaytambo is the Temple of the Sun, a massive unfinished temple complex that is thought to have been dedicated to the Inca sun god, Inti. Another highlight of the Ollantaytambo ruins is the Intihuatana stone, a sacred stone that was used by the Incas for astronomical observations. The Intihuatana stone is located on a hilltop overlooking the ruins, and offers stunning views of the surrounding valley. In addition to the ruins themselves, the town of Ollantaytamb...

The Peak District became the first of the national parks in England and Wales in 1951. The prehistoric landscape attracts thousands of visitors every year. Here we list places that are worth a visit in this amazing national park. THE ROACHES The Roaches is a prominent rocky ridge formed from a thick bed of coarse sandstone of Namurian age, which occurs widely across the Peak District. The gritstone escarpment consists of amazing rock formations which are very popular with hikers and rock climbers. The most famous rock formations are Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks. DOVEDALE Dovedale is a limestone valley famous for its interesting rock formations. The rock formations are the result of fossilised remains of sea creatures that lived in a shallow sea over the area during the Carboniferous period, about 350 million years ago. The rocks were cut into craggy shapes by glacial meltwater during the two ice ages and formed the landscape we see in these days. The caves in the area were also formed d...

Gloucestershire is a historic county in England, that comprises part of the Cotswolds Hills, part of the valley of the River Severn and the Forest of Dean. The county contains many ancient sites and here we list 5 places that are worth a visit. BELLAS KNAP LONG BARROW Belas Knap Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered tomb, trapezoidal in plan and it consists of a false entrance and four burial chambers. It's believed that it was constructed around 3000 BC by the Neolithic people as a place to bury their dead. The barrow was excavated twice revealing the remains of human skeletons together with animal bones and fragments of pottery. The excavators also reported finding a circle of flat stones beneath the centre of the mound. Unfortunately, these stones were later removed. MINCHINHAMPTON LONGSTONE The Longstone of Minchinhampton also known as the Holey Stone is a single standing stone with natural holes in it. It's believed that the monolith is about 4,000 years old. Local legend s...

When you think of Wiltshire, the iconic Stonehenge often steals the spotlight, drawing millions of visitors eager to marvel at its prehistoric grandeur. However, this enchanting county is home to a treasure trove of lesser-known ancient sites that are equally steeped in history and mystery. From long barrows to stone circles, these hidden gems offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of our prehistoric past. Let’s embark on a journey to discover some of Wiltshire’s fascinating lesser-known sites. LANHILL LONG BARROW Tucked away near the village of Lanhill, this long barrow dates back to the Neolithic period. Measuring approximately 60 meters long, it features a large earthen mound that likely served as a burial site for early communities. The tranquility of the surrounding countryside adds to the site's allure, making it an ideal spot for contemplation and reflection. While the site may not attract the crowds of its more famous counterparts, its understated beauty and historical sign...

Scotland is well known for its stunning landscape. Mountains, rock formations, caves, cliffs, islands, you name it. The further north you go, the wilder it gets. Here we list 5 impressive geological formations that are worth a visit. THE STORR The Storr is a rocky hill on the Trotternish Peninsula of the Isle of Skye. It's an example of the Trotternish landslide which is the longest such feature in Great Britain. The Storr was formed by underlying sedimentary rocks that collapsed under the weight of the basalt, tipping everything sideways and creating this unique landscape. The area in front of the cliffs known as the Sanctuary, features a number of pinnacles that are the remnants of the ancient landslides. The most iconic geological feature is certainly the Old Man of Storr. KILT ROCK Kilt Rock is a sea cliff so named for the resemblance of a pleated kilt, with vertical basalt columns forming the pleats and intruded sills of dolerite forming the pattern. This beautiful geological ...

Somerset, a picturesque county in the southwest of England, is not only famous for its rolling hills and stunning coastlines but also for its rich prehistoric heritage. Nestled within its landscapes are remarkable sites that offer a glimpse into the lives of our ancient ancestors. In this blog post, we’ll journey through some of Somerset’s most significant prehistoric locations. CHEDDAR GORGE One of the most famous landmarks in Somerset, Cheddar Gorge, is not just a breathtaking natural wonder but also a site of immense archaeological importance. This limestone gorge, carved by glacial meltwater, is home to Cheddar Man, one of the oldest complete human skeletons found in Britain, dating back over 9,000 years. The area features ancient caves that were inhabited by early humans, offering invaluable insights into prehistoric life. Walking through the gorge, visitors can explore the dramatic cliffs while reflecting on the lives of those who once roamed this rugged landscape. BURRINGTON COM...

Argentina is known for its stunning and varied landscape. But in Northern Argentina, the landscape becomes more dramatic and also more colourful. Most of the landscape is composed by desert, valleys, hills and mountains. The colourful landscape is the product of a complex geological activity that started around 600 million years ago when the area was still under water. The different colours of sedimentary layers that compose the mountains and hills have been formed during different time periods. The rocks with shades of green are believed to be the oldest ones. Here we have listed four jaw-dropping places that are unmissable in Northern Argentina. FOURTEEN COLOURED MOUNTAIN (SERRANIA DE HORNOCAL) The Fourteen Coloured Mountain is a limestone formation called Yacoraite which is a largely Mesozoic geologic formation. The mountain is mainly composed of rock outcrops from different time periods and it was created between 130 and 65 million years ago. Dinosaur remains and other fossils have...

Sarsen stones are sedimentary rocks mostly made up of quartz sand cemented by silica. The stones are found mostly across England, being Wiltshire the county with the largest amount of these stones. It's believed that they were moved to the area through glacial action during the ice age, around 5 to 10 million years ago. Sarsen stones were used in the construction of ancient monument such as Stonehenge and Avebury Stone Circles. But they can also be found scattered naturally across fields. In this post we list 5 places with large amounts of sarsen stones that can be visited in the county of Wiltshire. PIGGLEDENE Piggledene is probably the most famous site of its kind, containing a large amount of sarsen stones scattered across a field. This site is a remnant of a much larger landscape of sandstone periglacial deposits. Many of the stones have been removed in the past to provide building materials in the area. It's possible to see where the stones were worked, split and cut. It...

Cornwall is a county in Southwest England and it's known for its beautiful landscape and also for the huge amount of ancient sites. Cornwall is a delight for explorers and people interested in learning more about life in ancient times. Here we list 9 ancient sites that are totally worth a visit. MEN-AN-TOL Men-an-Tol consists of four granite stones: a holed stone with two upright stones to each side arranged in a line and a fallen stone at the foot of one of the upright stones. It's believed that this monument dates to either the late Neolithic or the early Bronze Age period. The real purpose of this arrangement is unknown. It's believed that this site was used for ritual and ceremonial purposes. Legend has it that the holed stone can cure children suffering from rickets if they are passed through the hole nine times. The stone was also believed to increase women's fertility. TRETHEVY QUOIT Trethevy Quoit is an impressive portal dolmen (cromlech) consisting of five stan...

If you are on the lookout for places to bother stones, Wiltshire is certainly one of the best destinations in Great Britain. Wiltshire is a historic county in England known for the stunning prehistoric landscape and the ancient sites. It's a place to wander around and explore England's past. STONEHENGE Stonehenge is an obvious choice for this list. This impressive monument is part of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument consisting of a ring of massive standing stones and horizontal stone lintels capping the outer circle. Two different types of stone (bluestones and sarsens) were used to build it. Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. AVEBURY HENGE AND STONE CIRCLES Avebury is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles. It's believed that the complex was constructed between 2850 BC and 2200 BC. The henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch. Within the h...