What was the purpose of the big circles in the Middle East?

What was the purpose of the big circles in the Middle East?

While the purpose of the Big Circles remains unknown, the research by Kennedy and his team shows that the creations were part of a landscape rich in stone structures. His team has found thousands of stone structures in Jordan and the broader Middle East.

Are there stone circles around the world?

RULE BRITANNIA: Although stone circles are found over Europe and the world, the vast majority are to be found in the British Isles, with over 1000 examples surviving from antiquity across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Which countries have stone circles?

A stone circle is a ring of standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe—especially in Britain, Ireland and Brittany—and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being built from 3000 BC.

What do stone circles mean?

Stone Circles Around the World In addition to being solar and lunar observatories, they were likely places of ceremony, worship and healing. In some cases, it’s possible that the stone circle was the local social gathering place.

What are the big circles?

The Big Circles are a collection of 12 giant circular stone structures spread across parts of Jordan and Syria. Despite they being over 2,000 years old, very little archaeological attention has been given to them and they remain largely unknown, even among local experts.

Are there other Stonehenges in the world?

The best known tradition of stone circle construction occurred across the British Isles and Brittany in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with over 1000 surviving examples, including Avebury, the Ring of Brodgar and Stonehenge.

Are there multiple Stonehenges?

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of what they believe was a second Stonehenge located a little more than a mile away from the world-famous prehistoric monument. The new find on the west bank of the river Avon has been called “Bluestonehenge”, after the colour of the 25 Welsh stones of which it was once made up.

What are ancient stone circles called?

1 : Stonehenge One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks.

Are there other henges?

Some of the best-known henges are at: Avebury, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire. Knowlton Circles, henge complex in Dorset. Maumbury Rings in Dorset (later reused as a Roman amphitheatre and then as a Civil War fort)