Ballynoe Stone Circle, Neolithic stone circle in County Down, United Kingdom.
Ballynoe Stone Circle is a ring of about fifty upright megaliths arranged in a large circular pattern in County Down. Inside this stone formation sits an elongated earth mound that contains two burial chambers within it.
This site was built during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, roughly 4,500 to 2,900 years ago. This era marked a shift in how people lived together and how they honored their dead.
The entrance aligns with the setting sun during the March equinox, showing that the builders understood seasonal patterns in the sky. This connection to the sun's yearly movement made the site a place for observing time and natural cycles.
The site is open year-round with no entrance fee, making it accessible to visitors at any time. Parking is available nearby, and the walk to the stone circle is straightforward and easy.
Archaeologists discovered cremated human remains inside the burial chambers within the mound, showing that the site served as a burial ground. These finds offer a rare window into how people honored and laid to rest their dead.
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