Castlerigg

Castlerigg
Type:	Stone Circle
Country:	England
County:	Cumbria
Grid Ref:	NY291236
Latitude:	54.602470
Longitude:	-3.097661
Accuracy:	to 70m (NGR derived)
Datum:	OSGB36
Date:	December 1996
local map:	view map
View in Google Earth:	KML file

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Set in an attractive location near Keswick in Cumbria, Castlerigg is a large 30m stone circle made up of 38 stones. It is believed to be very old, built in the mid-Neolithic age around 3000 BC. There is a magnificent view from the site which is set atop a low hill, surrounded by a much larger circle of mountains.

An unusual feature is a rectangular enclosure within the stone circle - the purpose of this is unknown, however. Because of its antiquity, there is little archaeological evidence about Castlerigg. Burl argues that Castlerigg was influential in the Neolithic stone axe trade, and a number of stone axes have been found on the site.