Standing Stones of Wales

Man through the ages has erected statues, buildings and monuments dedicated to fallen heroes, loved ones long gone loved ones and guardians of belief. Many are standing, some have fallen. The common thread of their existence was simply they were perceived as a place to seek guidance, a place to worship and remember, or just to simply meditate and reflect.

In Wales, standing stones were raised to embody some of these very ideals. These stones, most of which date to the Bronze Age, were often found placed singularly over the landscape. There are however, many place where pairs and even in some case groupings of stones have been found.

It is thought that the stones were originally erected to signify a gathering spot where the people could gather together to share their beliefs and no longer hide away. The stones were freestanding, with no support, other than the ground into which they were placed. These stones were the centerpieces of ceremonial sites.

These stone are found all over the United Kingdom. In many places there are concentrations of the stones and Wales is lucky to have the largest amount of the stones in the country still able to be viewed up close by the curious and interested people of today.

Some stones are still standing, others have tumbled to the ground and still others are somewhere in between. Some have been incorporated into a hedge or fence line, others are partially covered by brush and some still stand to be seen for miles, as though the stand guard over man and beast, earth and sky.

I would like to highlight some of the stones that are found in South Wales. Many of the stones and the surrounding area are caught up in the legends and myths of Wales. In particular, the area of the Gower peninsula in South Wales is rife with stones that lend themselves to King Arthur and his followers. Stones that move and stones that have mystical capabilities abound.

When you talk to some of the people in South Wales, they will tell you standing stones have been around seemingly forever. They dot the countryside, often standing alone or in small groupings, and then in other places have been grouped together to form stone circles.

It is suspected they have been used for many purposes over the years. They were used as monuments and places to pray and meditates many centuries ago. In the last few hundred years, they have been used as boundary markers and building materials.

Erecting these stones have presented a conundrum to scientists and the general population alike. The general consensus is that the stones were retrieved and erected by groups of people working over considerable periods. These stones were moved considerable distances to their standing places.

Author Terry John, in his book Scared Stones, offers up the theory that the stones already had been detached from larger rocks from natural actions of nature and that these detached stones were then moved from the area they were found to the area chosen to erect them. Mr. John also seems to support the idea that archaeologists feel that the stones were moving to their new homes by means of a wooden sledge or wooden rollers. This would seem the most feasible method of transport.

Sites for the stones were prepared for their arrival, the land cleared and a pit dug. Dirt ramparts may have been added also. When the stone was lowered in its pit, and raised to the upright position, it would stand as a testament to the sheer power of the strength of men who raised it. It is difficult to imagine how many people it took to so this, and how many may have been injured or even killed in the process.

Sites for the stones were chosen in all types of areas. Whether for burial, ceremonial or navigational purposed, it is unclear. Studies of some sites have suggested the stones marked burial places, others seem to have ceremonial significance, while others were erected almost willy-nilly.

Groups of stones are the most puzzling, No one can pin down their exact significance. Ideas have ranged from the celebration of man and woman, fertility sites, sites to contemplate death and the afterlife, and even pointing out the concourses of nearby water features.

These stones have long become the stuff of local legend and folklore. A visit to a single or to multiple sites evokes almost surreal feelings. One tries to understand how the stones got to where they are and what they were truly meant to be. It is a trip into the past and indeed a way to let the imagination run free with possibilities.