Beaghmore Stone Circles


Beaghmore Stone Circles

Location: Beaghmore, Co. Tyrone

Classification: Stone Circle

Rating:


Beaghmore Stone Circles are located 8.5 miles north-west of Cookstown County Tyrone, on the south-east perimeter of the Sperrin Mountains. The site consists of seven low stone circles of different sizes and ten stone rows. All but one of the stone circles occur in pairs. The singular circle can be distinguished from the paired circles by its slightly larger stones forming the circle. The interior is filled with more than 800 small stones which have been placed upright within the circle and are referred to as 'the dragon's teeth'. Most of the circles have small stone alignments touching them at a tangent. Each of the three pairs of stone circles also has a small cairn placed in between them. The site probably marked a focal point for religious and/or social gatherings. Some archaeologists believe that the circles have been constructed in relation to the rising of the sun at the solstice, or to record the movements of the sun and moon acting as observatories for particular lunar, solar or stellar events. Three of the stone rows point to the sunrise at the time of the solstice and another is aligned towards moonrise at the same period. However, most of the remains at Beaghmore do not indicate very accurate alignments upon specific astronomical features.

Description

Beaghmore Stone Circles are located 8.5 miles north-west of Cookstown County Tyrone, on the south-east perimeter of the Sperrin Mountains. The site consists of seven low stone circles of different sizes and ten stone rows. All but one of the stone circles occur in pairs. The singular circle can be distinguished from the paired circles by its slightly larger stones forming the circle. The interior is filled with more than 800 small stones which have been placed upright within the circle and are referred to as 'the dragon's teeth'. Most of the circles have small stone alignments touching them at a tangent. Each of the three pairs of stone circles also has a small cairn placed in between them. The site probably marked a focal point for religious and/or social gatherings. Some archaeologists believe that the circles have been constructed in relation to the rising of the sun at the solstice, or to record the movements of the sun and moon acting as observatories for particular lunar, solar or stellar events. Three of the stone rows point to the sunrise at the time of the solstice and another is aligned towards moonrise at the same period. However, most of the remains at Beaghmore do not indicate very accurate alignments upon specific astronomical features.

History

While the construction of the circles and rows unquestionably denote considerable organisation and effort, the precise purpose of this complex site at Beaghmore is impossible to ascertain. Investigation of the site and the surrounding bog indicate that the area was occupied since Neolithic times and through the Bronze Age. The Stone Circles and Cairn are attributed to the earlier part of the Bronze Age c. 2500-2000 BC.


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Accessibility Rating: Easy


Accessibility

Accessibility Class: Easy


Facilities

There are no facilities at this site.

Map


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Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise: 07:45

Sunset: 16:37


Directions

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Sunrise/Sunset


Sunrise: 07:45

Sunset: 16:37


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