Friday, June 04, 2010

Friday Field Trip - Giant's Ring

Another blog-clone day. Here at Terry's Place, you're going to Ireland. I'm over at Author Expressions again, with my job interview for the hero of When Danger Calls. Pop over and meet Ryan. These pictures will be here when you get back.

Jessica has returned with some nifty shots of Giant's Ring. I asked her to explain it, and this was her response.

It's a late Neolithic or early Bronze age henge monument. The stones in the center are the remnants of a "passage grave"...the entrance to the center, which was a ceremonial site. It's surrounded by the big earthworks about 3.5m high. There's been some archaeological evidence of cremation pits and 3 rings of timber posts (think Stonehenge & Woodhenge, but smaller). The "grave" in the center would have been originally covered with earth.

If you click on the photo, you should be able to view a larger image. Thanks to Ray for suggesting that, and Jess for re-sending them all in a larger format.

For those who might want to know exactly where this is, you can click here. The circle is clearly visible (or should be--I still don't trust links to open the same way for everyone).
















13 comments:

Mason Canyon said...

Oh, what gorgeous photos. I always look forward to Friday Field Trips wondering where you'll take us. Love Ireland. Thanks.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Unknown said...

glad you like them, Mason!

Wynter said...

Cool pictures and what a beautiful pastoral setting.

Carol Kilgore said...

Beautiful photos. I'm reading a novel now that talks about stone circles in Ireland.

Terry Odell said...

Wynter, make you want to go there, don't they?

Carol - what book?

Cleo Coyle said...

Just lovely - thank you for the *virtual* getaway :) Also have to tell you that I made your frozen key lime pie and it is *fantastic*! A real keeper recipe.

~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com

Terry Stonecrop said...

Love the horses and all that green. Beautiful photos! Nice shots of the monument too. Druids?

Unknown said...

I am sure that there were druids involved, Terry, as they were the priests back then. Henge monuments are thought to be ceremonial, so it's likely it was a local site for the solstices.

Definitely lots of green here now, and the site is surrounded by farmland so the horses were a pleasant surprise as I was walking along the earthworks!

Terry Stonecrop said...

Thanks Jess. I wondered. And gorgeous shot of the horses in all that green. Picture postcard perfect!

Unknown said...

thanks, everyone! it's bedtime here, but I'll pop back in the morning.

misskallie2000 said...

I visited in 2002 and was so quite and peaceful. Was misting rain that day but still would not have missed going..

Jemi Fraser said...

Photos of these places always cover me with chills. So full of magic and potential. Awesome :)

Sheila Deeth said...

What lovely pictures. I must post some of our trip when my husband gets back - he's got the camera.