>> Despite the solsticial alignment at Drombeg, Ruggles conclusion on ASCs was that they
>> "bear no consistent relationship with any specific astronomical body or event"

Was he looking at the same thing that I've been looking at? Axials almost all align to the SW, which says to me "winter solstice sunset"!!!!

ASCs are thought to be more recent than RSCs, although there was a circle in Fermanagh (I forget the townland) which Burl described as being a perfect Aberdeenshire RSC. Unfortunately, the gov't gave a land improvement grant to the farmer who proceded to remove said circle from his field!

One of the Cong stone circles is also a very close relation to the RSCs, but it has the recumbent in the NE quadrant (diametrically opposite the norm).