Shap Stone Avenue, Archaeological site in Shap, Great Britain
Shap Stone Avenue is a prehistoric stone setting near Shap village that stretches over 2 miles (3 km) with stone circles, standing stones, and burial mounds arranged along a northwest-facing path. The remaining granite blocks are scattered around the area, with some visible behind the Kings Arms pub and along the walls near Peggy Wood.
The site was built during the Late Neolithic period between 3200 and 2500 BC and formed part of a larger network of ceremonial places across the ancient landscape. The stones suggest that early communities gathered here and used the location for many generations.
The Goggleby Stone bears ancient cup markings that show the skill and creativity of prehistoric communities living in this region. These carved designs tell us how people expressed themselves and marked places that mattered to them.
You can see the remaining granite blocks behind the Kings Arms pub and along the walls near Peggy Wood, where several large stones are still visible. The stones are spread across a wider area, so plan time for a walk through the countryside and watch for sheep grazing on the land.
The stones of the avenue are made of Shap granite containing pink crystals that are rare and geologically unique among British megalithic monuments. This granite type connects the monument to the local rock of the region and makes each stone block distinctive.
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