Birkrigg Stone Circle — Urswick, Cumbria
Druid's Temple Birkrigg · Birkrigg Common circle · SD292739
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (c.2500–1700 BCE)·Cumbrian Late Neolithic–Bronze Age (Beaker)·🇬🇧 England, Cumbria, Furness, Birkrigg Common, Urswick, south of Ulverston, United Kingdom
About
About Birkrigg Stone Circle — Urswick, Cumbria
Birkrigg stone circle (Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age c.2500–1700 BCE), also called the Druid's Temple, is a double concentric circle 26 m outer and 9 m inner on Birkrigg Common limestone moor 2 mi south of Ulverston in Furness. The outer ring of 15 limestone slabs and inner ring of 10 cobbles surround a central pavement; excavations 1911 (Geldard) and 1921 (Dobson) found cremations, Beaker pottery and a greenstone axe. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is Furness's largest Bronze Age ceremony site.
Why it mattersOnly double-concentric circle in Cumbria; Beaker cremation sequence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Inner cobble pavement — excarnation platform?
Theories
- 01Concentric cosmology marking solar/lunar divisions for Bay communities
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 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (c.2500–1700 BCE)
- Culture
- Cumbrian Late Neolithic–Bronze Age (Beaker)
- Builders
- Cumbrian Late Neolithic–Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Concentric ritual circle with cremation cemetery
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2500 BCE
Outer pavement and slabs erected
c.2000–1700 BCE
Cremations with Beaker pottery inserted centrally
1911
Geldard excavates, finds urns and axe
1921
Dobson re-excavates; scheduled protection
On the ground
Structures & features
54.1566° N · 3.0851° W · 90 m · 2 mapped features
Birkrigg Outer Ring — 15 Slabs
stone circle26-m outer limestone slabs 1.2 m high spaced 5 m, enclosing Morecambe Bay vista
54.1567° N · 3.0852° WBirkrigg Inner Pavement — Cobbled Circle
cremation9-m inner cobble kerb surrounding cremation pit with Beaker and greenstone axe findspot
54.1565° N · 3.0850° W