Little Meg Stone Circle, also known as Maughanby Circle, is a small and ancient monument located near the village of Little Salkeld in Cumbria, England. It consists of eleven large kerb stones that probably surrounded a Bronze Age kerb Cairn, a type of burial mound (Visit Cumbria, n.d.). The circle is about 18 feet in diameter and the tallest stone is about 1.3 meters high. One of the stones has some geometrical carvings, including a spiral and five concentric circles, which are rare examples of rock art in Cumbria (Wikipedia, 2021). Another decorated stone was removed from the site in the past. The circle is situated about 650 meters north-east of the more famous Long Meg and Her Daughters, the largest stone circle in Cumbria, and forms part of a complex of stone circles and Cairns in the area (Ancient Scotland, n.d.). The circle was first discovered in the mid-nineteenth century, when a mound covering the stones was partially cleared away. Bones, charcoal and a coarse pot were found buried in a cist at the centre of the circle (Wikipedia, 2021). The original position and function of the stones are unclear, as they may have been disturbed or pushed over before or after the construction of the mound. The circle may have been aligned with other nearby monuments or with astronomical phenomena, but this is also uncertain. Little Meg Stone Circle is an intriguing and mysterious site that offers a glimpse into the prehistoric culture and beliefs of its builders. https://youtu.be/b07SmeVi2AU
Little Meg Stone Circle
- Filed under Burial Mound, Neolithic, Stone Circle
Image credit: Lee Walker
Little Meg Stone Circle, also known as Maughanby Circle, is a small and ancient monument located near the village of Little Salkeld in Cumbria, England. It consists of eleven large kerb stones that probably surrounded a Bronze Age kerb Cairn, a type of burial mound (Visit Cumbria, n.d.). The circle is about 18 feet in diameter and the tallest stone is about 1.3 meters high. One of the stones has some geometrical carvings, including a spiral and five concentric circles, which are rare examples of rock art in Cumbria (Wikipedia, 2021). Another decorated stone was removed from the site in the past. The circle is situated about 650 meters north-east of the more famous Long Meg and Her Daughters, the largest stone circle in Cumbria, and forms part of a complex of stone circles and Cairns in the area (Ancient Scotland, n.d.). The circle was first discovered in the mid-nineteenth century, when a mound covering the stones was partially cleared away. Bones, charcoal and a coarse pot were found buried in a cist at the centre of the circle (Wikipedia, 2021). The original position and function of the stones are unclear, as they may have been disturbed or pushed over before or after the construction of the mound. The circle may have been aligned with other nearby monuments or with astronomical phenomena, but this is also uncertain. Little Meg Stone Circle is an intriguing and mysterious site that offers a glimpse into the prehistoric culture and beliefs of its builders. https://youtu.be/b07SmeVi2AU
Articles
- Bronze Age
- Iron Age
- Roman
- Dark Ages
- Early Christian
- Viking
- Saxon
- Medieval
- Vitrified Fort
- Archaeology Guide
- Guide – Introduction to Critical Thinking in Archaeological Research
- Guide – Challenging Assumptions with Free Thinking
- Guide – Congruence in Archaeological Interpretation: Holistic Analysis
- Guide – Critical Thinking: Lack of Evidence Does Not Mean Evidence of Lack
- Guide – Critical Thinking: The Simple Assumption
- Guide – Applying critical thinking to historic and archaeological research
- Guide – Empathic Archaeology Introduction
- Guide – Landscape Archaeology Introduction
- Guide – What is Landscape Archaeology?
- Guide – Introduction to Glacial Archaeology
- Guide – The Flora and Fauna of Prehistoric Britain
- Guide – Landscape Archaeology: Post-Ice Age Landscape of Thornborough
- Guide – Archaeological Periods in Western Europe
- Guide – Visible Remains
- Guide – Hidden Remains
- Guide – Getting Started
- Guide – Landscape Features
- Guide – Agricultural practices through time
- Guide – Introduction to Glacial Archaeology
- Guide: In Depth – Church Doors and Windows
- Guide – Mining
- Guide – Archaeological Terms
- Guide – Glossary
- Latin Translation – Choosing the meaning of AUG
- Reports
- An introduction to Brigantian Druidry
- Brigantia during the Dark Ages
- Celtic Heads
- Finding Bardon – An Arthurian Quest
- Early Christian syncretism and how the old ones hid amongst the new religion
- Rome: The Emperors Claim to Divinity
- Syncretism through the ages
- The Border Reivers
- The Gallus Frontier – Brigantia against the Romans
- The growth of Christianity 50AD – 1100AD
- The Kingdom of Venutius
- The use of the word Lady in relation to water related structures
- The walled gardens of Brigantia
- Yorkshire’s “Sacred Vale” – The Dawn of Brigantia
- Brigantia Espania
- Iberian Peninsular
- Galicia
- Biefing – The Myth of Breogán and the Tower of Heracles
- Briefing – Galicia’s Political History and Separatist Sentiment
- Briefing – Geography and Geology of Galicia
- Briefing – Design of Galician Hillforts
- Briefing – Roman Interaction with Galicia and the Iberian Peninsula
- Church of Santa María de Cambre, Cambre near A Coruña
Categories
- Agriculture (6)
- Field Systems (1)
- ploughing (2)
- Angle (2)
- Archaeological Periods (312)
- Anglo-saxon (6)
- Bronze Age (52)
- Late Bronze Age (1)
- Dark Ages (24)
- Dark Ages Brigantia (9)
- Early Christian (37)
- Early Medieval (8)
- Georgian (9)
- Gothic (3)
- Ice Age (1)
- Iron Age (133)
- Late Iron Age (5)
- Jacobite (7)
- Medieval (61)
- Medieval Brigantia (9)
- Mesolithic (11)
- Neolithic (45)
- Early Neolithic (5)
- Norman (40)
- Palaeolithic (6)
- Roman (94)
- Saxon (9)
- Stuart (6)
- Suspect (1)
- Tudor (10)
- Undated (7)
- Viking (4)
- Archaeology (93)
- Archaeobotanical (1)
- Empathic Archaeology (11)
- Free Thinking (7)
- Battle (1)
- Brigantia (147)
- Brigantia England (134)
- Brigantia Espania (11)
- Civil Structure (6)
- Defensive Structures (45)
- Castle (5)
- Defensive Dike (2)
- Defensive Walls (1)
- Fort (20)
- Fortified Barn (1)
- Marching Camp (5)
- Motte and Bailey (6)
- Ring Work (1)
- Class A (1)
- Dialects (1)
- Earthworks (51)
- Dike (8)
- Field Systems (26)
- Enclosure (12)
- Enclosure Acts (1)
- Europe (51)
- Festivals (2)
- Finds (42)
- Altar (10)
- Amphora (1)
- Animal Remains (4)
- Auroch (1)
- Hoof marks (1)
- Antler Pick (2)
- Arrowhead (1)
- Leaf-shaped (1)
- Axe (1)
- Bone Comb (1)
- Celtic Head (8)
- Celtic Head (2)
- Clock (1)
- Curse Tablet (1)
- Flint Scatters (4)
- Gaming Pieces (1)
- Hair Braid – Ring (4)
- Human Remains (2)
- Adult (1)
- Couched Burial (1)
- Juvinile (1)
- Mace Head (1)
- S-curved (1)
- Mosaic (1)
- Polished Stone Adze (1)
- Pottery (8)
- Funerary Urns (2)
- Grooved ware (1)
- Peterborough ware (1)
- Mortlake ware (1)
- Planig‑Friedberg ware (1)
- Samian ware (2)
- Vasi a Bocca Quadrata ware (1)
- Quern Stones (1)
- Statue (1)
- Geography (16)
- Maps (7)
- Geology (13)
- Anthracite – Coal (2)
- Geomorphology (2)
- Gods (9)
- Guide (72)
- Critical Thinking (8)
- Socratic Thought (1)
- Glossary (1)
- Hidden Remains (8)
- Geophysics (5)
- LiDAR (1)
- Radiocarbon Dating (1)
- Remote Sensing and Analysis (1)
- Regional Surveys (13)
- Research Tools (4)
- Visible Remains (12)
- Air Mapping (2)
- Air Photography (2)
- Fieldwalking (2)
- Lithics (1)
- Photography (6)
- Critical Thinking (8)
- Henge (18)
- Hill Fort (61)
- Castro Hillfort (3)
- Contour/Plateau Fort (1)
- Multivallete Hillfort (1)
- Oppidum (1)
- Oppidum (1)
- Promontory fort (4)
- Slavic Gord (1)
- Univallet Hillfort (4)
- Vitrified Fort (27)
- Historic Buildings (20)
- Amphitheatre (1)
- Barn (2)
- Beacon (1)
- Broch (1)
- Coaching Inn/Hostelry (1)
- Folly (4)
- Hall (2)
- Hospital (1)
- House (1)
- Tower (7)
- Walled Garden (1)
- Industrial Heritage (9)
- Chimney (1)
- Mining (9)
- Spoil Heap (1)
- Smelting (2)
- Iron-Age (1)
- Landscape Archaeology (38)
- Glacial Archaeology (2)
- Landscape Legislation (1)
- Mining Landscape (1)
- Ritual Landscape (6)
- Landscape feature (49)
- Barrow (18)
- Bell Barrow (2)
- Bowl Barrow (1)
- Cairn (2)
- Disc Barrow (1)
- Long Barrow (5)
- Ring Barrow (1)
- Ring Cairn (1)
- Round Barrow (1)
- Square Barrow (1)
- Steppe Kurgan (1)
- Boundary Marker (2)
- Burial Mound (9)
- Ceremonial Mount (1)
- Cursus (2)
- Hill Figure (5)
- Linear Earthworks (2)
- Mound (6)
- Passage Tomb (1)
- Ring Cairn (2)
- Snake Mound (1)
- Terraces (3)
- Barrow (18)
- Leaders (33)
- Agricola (2)
- Arthur (1)
- Augustus Caesar (2)
- Breogans (3)
- Caratacus (1)
- Cnut (1)
- Julius Caesar (1)
- Petilius Cerialis (1)
- Liminal Spaces (1)
- Market (1)
- Megalithic (10)
- Rock Art (3)
- Stone alignment (1)
- Stone Circle (7)
- stone circles (1)
- Stone Row (2)
- Myth and Legend (5)
- New Sites (23)
- Publications (21)
- Biographies (2)
- Henge Capital of Britain (10)
- News (4)
- Stories of Brigantia (4)
- Walking Guides (1)
- Rabbit Warren (1)
- Religious Structures (31)
- Abbey (3)
- Church (24)
- Crosses (1)
- Memorial Planting (1)
- Priory (2)
- Religious Orders (3)
- Ritual walkway/pilrimage path (1)
- Reports (148)
- Roman Culture (11)
- Roman army (8)
- Roman baths (1)
- Roman City (1)
- Roman Gods (1)
- Mercury (1)
- Roman navy (1)
- Roman pottery (3)
- Samian ware (2)
- Roman Road (1)
- Roman Roads (2)
- Roman Villa (2)
- The Celtic World (35)
- Celtic Gods (1)
- Lugh (1)
- Celtic Industry (1)
- Celtic Life (9)
- Celtic Trade (1)
- Celtic Tribes (27)
- Celtic Gods (1)
- Trade (4)
- Minting (3)
- Coins (1)
- Spoil Heaps (2)
- Minting (3)
- Translation (7)
- Inscription (4)
- Latin (5)
- Uncategorized (24)
- Water Works (13)
Research Links
Heritage Gateway
Announcing: The Brigantian News!
- Roman Road to the West uncovered under Manchester Street 16 July 2025
- What might Stonehenge Mean? Dartmoor and Carnac add to the Picture 3 July 2025
- Megalithic Stone Monuments in France May Be Europe’s Oldest 1 July 2025
- Drumanagh Promontory Fort – First Ever Intact Roman Pot Found in Ireland 5 June 2025
Portable Antiquities News
RSS Error: Retrieved unsupported status code "403"
Recent Articles and Site Pages
- The Story of Boltby Scar
- Swaledale
- Guide: Parliamentary-walls and the Northern Enclosures
- County Durham
- The hero archetype and Lugh
- Head One – St Michaels Church, Kirklington
- Long Meg and her Daughters standing stone and stone circle
- Cana Barn Henge
- Anciens Arsenaux Neolithic Settlement, Sion – Switzerland
- Gnaeus Julius Agricola
- Snake Iconography in the British Isles
- Wiltshire
- Liverpool Street Roman Road, Manchester
- South Street Long Barrow, Avebury
- Mamucium Roman Fort, Manchester
Locations
- Czechia (1)
- England (198)
- Bedfordshire (1)
- Cumbria (13)
- Dorset (2)
- Durham (9)
- East Yorkshire (1)
- Lancashire (7)
- North Derbyshire (8)
- North Yorkshire (118)
- Yorkshire Dales (4)
- Yorkshire Moors (1)
- Northumberland (9)
- Oxfordshire (2)
- Somerset (2)
- South Yorkshire (10)
- Staffordshire (3)
- West Yorkshire (7)
- Wiltshire (4)
- Europe (8)
- France (3)
- Germany (2)
- Global (3)
- Ireland (4)
- County Dublin (1)
- Scotland (21)
- Dumphries and Galloway (3)
- Grampian (4)
- Highlands (8)
- Perthshire (4)
- Tayside (3)
- Spain (4)
- Switzerland (1)
- Wales (4)
Tag Cloud
Age (14)
altar (11)
Archaeology (37)
Archaeology Guide (12)
barrow (12)
Brigantes (29)
Brigantia (77)
britain (29)
Bronze Age (42)
Cartimandua (10)
celt (9)
celtic (22)
Christian (17)
Church (15)
Coverdale (17)
Cumbria (13)
Earthworks (18)
England (12)
Fort (21)
France (9)
Galicia (10)
goddess (9)
guide (30)
Henge (20)
Hill Fort (34)
history (11)
ireland (14)
iron (14)
Iron Age (80)
Medieval (33)
Mesolithic (9)
Mound (9)
Neolithic (34)
Norman (32)
North Yorkshire (63)
Roman (84)
scotland (20)
Spain (9)
Thornborough Henges (10)
Venutius (9)
vitrified (9)
Vitrified Forts (9)
Wensleydale (11)
Yorkshire (20)
Yorkshire Dales (22)













