Doll Tor is an ancient stone circle found on the western flank of Stanton Moor in Derbyshire, England. Dating back to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age between 3300 and 900 BCE, it is part of a tradition of stone circle construction that spread throughout much of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. The site features six upright stones arranged to form a circle with a diameter of 7 metres.
The western side of the circle features stones that are slightly taller and heavier than those on the other sides, giving the impression of a slope from east to west. Drystone walling made of smaller, flat stones was packed between these orthostats. To the east of the circle, a sub-rectangular stone cairn was added, possibly in a second phase of construction.
Archaeological excavations have revealed the cremated human remains of several adults and children buried both within the circle and around the cairn. These remains were often placed in ceramic urns and sometimes deposited alongside flint tools, small pieces of bronze, and faience beads. While the specific purpose of such monuments remains unknown, archaeologists speculate that the stones may have represented supernatural entities for the builders.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.