|Coordinates:||54.0741 N 4.7687 W|
|No:||201 (list of all attractions)|
|Category:||Megaliths, Prehistoric and ancient cemeteries, Sites of legends|
|Address:||Europe, United Kingdom, Isle of Man, eastern part of island, parish of Vale|
|Alternate names:||Mull Hill, Lhiaght ny Virragh, erroneously - Rhullick-y-lagg-shliggagh or Lag-ny-Boirey|
|Age:||Around 3 500 BC|
The original Manx name of the amazing Meayll Hill Stone Circle is Lhiaght ny Virragh - "cairn of the pointed rock". According to local stories some people have had strange, unpleasant experiences in this desolate moorland. But - besides the purported paranormal qualities this Neolithic burial complex represents a riddle to scientists as well.
The unusual ring of stones has been well known to local people, but it does not have a good name. People have told stories about sudden disorientation here, weird moving lights, some have heard unexplained sounds - as if galloping invisible horses. Most impressive is the story about a ghostly army of horsemen riding along the stone ring - not unlike the gruesome stories about the Wild Hunt elsewhere in British Isles.
Ring of graves
Despite its name Meayll Hill Stone Circle (Meayll in Manx means "bald") is not a true megalithic stone circle (like Stonehenge) - it is a unique group of passage graves.
We will never know why - but here the Neolithic people placed their graves in a circle. In total there are twelve stone chambers grouped in pairs. Like sunbeams in children painting six passages are leading towards each pair of chambers.
Chambers form a circle with two gaps. Larger gap is in the north-north-west (4.9 m) and smaller - in the south-south-east (5.2 m). These are possible entrances.
In north - south direction the diameter of the ring is 16.2 m, un east - west direction - 15.6 m. The open interior is 13.4 m across.
Passages leading towards the graves are lined with standing stones, the chambers are formed of enormous blocks of crude stone and paved with flat stones. Some of the stones in the western side reach up to 1 m high. Neolithic builders used local slate for construction.
Each of the passage graves of Meayll Hill Stone Circle is rather traditional monument characteristic for Neolithic farmers in British Isles. But the composition of 12 such passage graves in a ring is very unusual.
There are few similar monuments in the world. Distantly similar is Cerrig Y Gof - an oval setting of five burial chambers in Pembrokeshire, Wales. On the Isle of Man are found also traces of so called "disc shaped barrows".
Unique Neolithic burial
People are rather conservative regarding the traditions of burial. Each culture develops its own rituals and traditions to commemorate their deceased ones and in general don't change these traditions in haste. Nevertheless all over the world there are found exceptions to this rule - highly original, elaborate ancient burials which differ from any other monuments nearby.
Meayll Hill Stone Circle is one of such exceptions (Dwarfie Stane in Orkney Islands is one more).
Another amazing feature is a group of stone settings - fundaments of Neolithic huts to the east from passage graves. Most likely the deceased ones lived in this village. There has been found even an ancient path between the village and its magnificent burial complex.
Bones and ceramics
Local historician P.M.C.Kermode and Scottish scientist W.A.Herdman organized first excavations in the mysterious stone circle - one in August - September 1893 (results published in 1904) and next - in 1911 (published in 1914). A.S.Henshall explored the graves in 1971 (published in 1978).
Findings show that Meayll people were skilled potters who produced diverse, richly decorated vessels. There were found many sherds of these vessels. These urns were used to hold the remains of the deceased - in each burial cist were placed several such urns. There were found also cremated bones, flint arrowheads, knives and - rounded white quartz pebbles.
Burial in the centre of the ring
Exploration shows that in the middle of ring was located one more burial - most likely older than the ring of graves around it. The middle part of ring had a more traditional passage grave covered with a heap of rubble. It seems that this central grave later developed into an object of special importance to local community.
Unfortunately this ancient burial has been ransacked well before the first excavations. People have gathered everything what can be easily carried away - even all the capstones of burial chambers. Damage has been done also by the seekers of valuables.
Nothing is forever - even the respect for the dead.
See Meayll Hill Stone Circle on the map of Isle of Man!
- The Isle of Man, Celebrating a Sense of Place, edited by Vaughan Robinson & Danny McCarroll, Liverpool University Press. 1990.
- Aubrey Burl. A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. 1995, 2005 by Yale University.