Found scattered all over Scotland, but particularly concentrated in Orkney and Shetland, standing stones are ancient structures thought to be erected by the land’s first settlers thousands of years ago.
To this day their purpose sees ongoing debate by historians and archaeologists who reckon they were religious sites, but to the average Outlander fan their purpose is clear as day; time travel.
Like many aspects of ancient civilisations such as the Picts or Nordic settlers we cannot know everything about them and so can only speculate, but what’s for sure is these standing stones serve as majestic monuments worthy of a visit.
Let your mind wander thousands of years back with these 13 Scottish standing stones and stone circles.
Like many aspects of ancient civilisations such as the Picts or Nordic settlers we cannot know everything about them and so can only speculate, but what’s for sure is these standing stones serve as majestic monuments worthy of a visit.
5. Standing Stones of Stenness
Situated less than a mile southeast of the Ring of Brodgar, Stenness is thought to be the oldest henge site in the UK. Pottery discovered on the site links it to the ancient settlement at Skara Brae. Historic Environment Scotland reports: “The Stones of Stenness may be the earliest henge monument in the British Isles, built about 5,400 years ago.” Photo: roderickt-uk on Flickr
Excavated in the late 1970s during the development of a new housing estate, Balfarg consists of two standing stones that were part of an inner circle inside the henge. Archaeologists discovered pottery fragments around the site going back nearly 5000 years. Although others estimate parts of the structure to be closer to 6000 years in age. Photo: via Wikipedia
In the village of Aberlemno, you can find four stones with Pictish carvings that are dated between AD 500 and 800. The Picts were ancient Celts who lived in the region we now call eastern/northeastern Scotland. The Aberlemno Organisation said: “In Aberlemno, there are three roadside stones, two of which bear symbols only, the better one with fine snake, double-disc and z-rod, mirror and comb symbols. The third stone is a Pictish cross slab with a ring cross on the front and a particularly good hunting scene on the back.” Photo: neilsingapore on Flickr
Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle and an example of the kind you can only find in north-east Scotland. It stands on a hilltop approximately one mile away from Tarland village in Aberdeenshire. Experts claim the stone circle surrounds a burial cairn that was dated to 4,500 years ago. Photo: via WikiCommons