A Journey Through Scotland's Ancient Sites.
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Machrie Moor 2 & 3 Standing Stones | Machrie Moor | Isle of Arran | Scotland
Machrie Moor 2
One of the best prehistoric landscapes in Scotland is located on Machrie Moor. Here you will find many stone circles and standing stones which have been left behind from the neolithic and bronze age. A 1.5 mile walk takes us back in time were we can walk in the footsteps of our ancestors and visit a tangible legacy of magical ancient remains.
The last site you come to on the Machrie Moor trail is the standing stones known as Machrie Moor 2. Here are three sandstone megaliths in a 13.5m diameter, that have survived into the present day, originally there were seven or eight. The stones are roughly between 3.5m and 5m high. Two grey millstones can also be found at the circle.
An 1861 excavation revealed two cists in the circles interior, one cist had an Irish tripartite food bowl vessel, a possible inhumation burial and four flint flakes. The second cist was found to be empty.
A personal observation concerning the landscape around Machrie Moor seems to reveal two possible recumbent landscape figures. One being what looks like an infant and another which resembles an adult with a head, neck, torso and legs. These possible landscape features are also found at Callanish with ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and Lundin Links with Largo Law.
Machrie Moor 3
A short distance away and visible from the three stones is Machrie Moor 3. A large 4.5m high Megalith exists from a possible nine. Probing took place in 1963 and located the remainder of stones.
The 1861 excavation uncovered a cist in the central area which held flint flakes and an urn. The urn had burnt bone fragments that disintegrated on removal. A second cist was found that contained a crouched burial along with more flint flakes.
A further alternative view on the four standing stones reveals a similarity to features found at Callanish III circle. These features seems to resemble the triple goddess stones. Maiden, Mother, Crone and Male consort. The Machrie Moor 3 stone resembles a male phalus with the Machrie Moor 2 stones taking on the female triple goddess features.
Perhaps our ancient ancestors deliberately placed the stone circles and standing stones with these landscape features in clear view. Could this landscape have been a fertility, earth mother ritual area? The ceremonial complex is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and a car park is provided near Tormore.
A BIG thanks to our ancient ancestors.
7 сен 2024
