Peat burial and ground surface changes at Callanish

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Peat burial and ground surface changes at Callanish. Before 1857, visitors walked on ground 5 ft higher than present level Peat began accumulating around beginning of Iron Age due to climate deterioration Peat completely enveloped standing stones and much of Lewis landscape

Before peat accumulated, visitors walked 5 ft higher. Peat engulfed the stones between 1000-500 BC during Iron Age climate deterioration. Peat cutting in 1857 revealed the stones as seen today, with Sir James Matheson overseeing the clearance.

Key Facts

Before 1857, visitors walked on ground 5 ft higher than present level
Peat began accumulating around beginning of Iron Age due to climate deterioration
Peat completely enveloped standing stones and much of Lewis landscape
Peat cleared from main site in 1857, one year after initial clearance plans
Jacob Vorso's 1800s sketches showed stones appearing shorter because he stood on higher ground
Local people traditionally cut peat for fuel

Related site: Callinish Standing Stones [Island of Lewis] - Callanish II — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: Callanish, the Moon & the Sleeping Beauty | Gerald Ponting | Megalithomania 2007 | AUDIO by MegalithomaniaUK