Beaghmore Stone Circles
Beaghmore stone rows · Beaghmore cairns
Early to Middle Bronze Age·Ulster Early Bronze Age (Beaker influenced)·🇬🇧 County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
About
About Beaghmore Stone Circles
Early Bronze Age ritual complex on southeast edge of Sperrin Mountains, 8.5 mi NW of Cookstown: seven stone circles (diameters 10–20 m) paired with cairns and twelve stone rows (dragon's teeth alignment 800 small stones in one circle). Built c.2000–1500 BCE. Discovered 1945 during peat cutting revealing sealed peat stratigraphy — peat growth after Bronze Age hid site intact. Excavated revealing cremated remains and flint. Interpreted as lunar/solar ritual landscape with bog edge symbolism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01800-stone teeth function — counting or teeth metaphor
Theories
- 01Lunar counting calendar on moorland bog ecotone
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2000–1500 BCE
- Period
- Early to Middle Bronze Age
- Culture
- Ulster Early Bronze Age (Beaker influenced)
- Purpose
- Complex of stone circles, rows and cairns for ritual and burial
- Abandoned
- c.1200 BCE (peat growth)
- Rediscovered
- Discovered 1945 peat cutting; excavated 1965– (A. Pilcher)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2000–1500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1474 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
54.7039° N · 6.9364° W · 200 m · 2 mapped features
Dragon's Teeth circle
stone circleCircle filled with >800 small upright stones (teeth)
54.7039° N · 6.9364° WStone row alignment
stone rowTwelve alignments of paired stones parallel to circles
54.7040° N · 6.9360° W