Absolutely stunning photos of Beltany stone circle and the other cromlechs by Ken Williams. Stone circles are an enigma... if they represent male or female stones does it mean gods or representations of the fertile nature of the earth, why are the earlier great blocking stones of longbarrows such as WKLB or Wayland Smith m/f?
Stone circles sometime replace or went alongside timber circles,( which presumably had to be marked to denote their significance) - so are all circles imitations of others - Stanton Drew following Avebury for instance, with a universal meaning of fertility..... The distinct individuality of the stones at the Rollrights and Beltany circles are formed by the local stone found and used. It blows the mind somewhat the idea of circle builders drawing a plan on the ground and then finding the stones to fit the pattern, but then did'nt the Lough Gur circle have a central post hole so that a "rope" line could denote the extent of the circle.