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Anciently sacred because horizon shape & cyclical celestial patterns are in useful harmony at this place.

Orange lines mark the annual solar round. Lunistice positions over the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle are blue. More about the Solar CalendarMore about the Lunar Calendar

mega-what / ancient sacred places / England, South Warwickshire / West Oxfordshire, Chipping Norton

Rollright Stones

NGR: SP 29571 30866 [Googlemap]

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The Rollright Stones consist of three main monuments. They are about 4km north of Chipping Norton and conveniently close to roadside parking. Open to the public but privately owned they are managed by the Rollright Trust.

These sites were visited on 8th February 2018 but not surveyed. The panoramas were assembled by a commercial algorithm but due to cloud there is no absolute reference to reality and orientations are very approximate. Almost certainly wrong in absolute terms but, bearing that in mind, appreciate the overall relationship between site and horizon / sky.

King's Men Stone Circle

NGR: SP 29571 30866 (SP 29580 BNG 30876 / 51.97553, -1.57078) [Googlemap]

Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories c.1800BCE from Rollright Stone Circle, West Oxfordshire, England. Rollright Stone Circle is the east-most stone circle in England and has an estimated late neolithic construction date of c.2500-2000BC. About 70 stones remain today of a possible 100 or so, c.32m in diameter. There is an entrance portal pair (marked by two exterior stones) that are opposite the tallest stone.

Rollright: Whispering Knights

NGR: SP 29930 30840 (SP 29935 BNG 30848 / 51.97526, -1.56562) [Googlemap]

Rollright Whispering Knights, West Oxfordshire, England. Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories c.3500BCE from Rollright Portal Tomb, West Oxfordshire, England. The Whispering Knights are the remains of a Portal Tomb (Portal Dolmen) from the early neolithic c.3800 - 3500BC. This is the most easterly Portal Dolmen in Britain and is about 360m east of the stone circle.

Rollright: King Stone

NGR: SP 29633 30993 (SP 29621 BNG 30958 / 51.97627, -1.57018) [Googlemap]

Rollright King Stone, West Oxfordshire, England. Panoramic view with luni-solar trajectories c.1800BCE from Rollright King Stone, West Oxfordshire, England. The King Stone is a standing stone of the early-mid bronze age c.1800BC and is c.70m north-east of the stone circle, on the other side of the road, in Warwickshire.

In the same area, a round cairn and a ditched round barrow of broadly similar date were excavated in 1982-3. The cairn could be older though as the dated deposits were secondary and the central chamber was not excavated.

This area has the advantage of westerly views of distant landscape rather than the ridge they stand upon, which is all that is visible from the other sites.

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Most archaeological monuments are on private property and where not otherwise indicated those wishing to visit a site should seek permission from the landowner.

© Michael Wilson.