Grey Croft stone circle
Grey Croft stone circle is a restored stone circle near Seascale on the coast of Cumberland
It is situated near the site of the former nuclear-power stations at Sellafield, at NY03340238.
Description
Grey Croft stone circle is a circle of 12 stones situated south of the Sellafield nuclear site.[1] The circle is about 650 yards from the sea. Only 10 of the original 12 stones are currently standing.[2] There is a small outlying stone 21 metres to the north.[2]
History
The stones in the circle were toppled over and buried in 1820 by a tenant farmer, with the exception of one stone.[1] In 1949 the site was excavated and nine of the stones were located, and replaced as accurately as possible.[1]
The excavations uncovered an oval stone cairn situated in the circle centre.[1] Trenching under the cairn revealed charcoal traces, calcined bones, a broken early Bronze Age jet or lignite ring, and flint flakes and scraper.[1] A Great Langdale Late-Neolithic stone-axe was found near to the eastern stone of the circle.[2]
See also
- Swinside stone circle, 12 miles to the southeast
Outside links
- Location map: 54°24’27"N, 3°29’27"W
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 National Monuments Record: No. 8753 – Grey Croft Stone Circle
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Burl, Aubrey: 'A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany', page 44. (Yale University Press, 2005) ISBN 0300114060
