This is a photograph of the main tomb of Clava. You can also see the circle of stones surrounding the tomb.
Click on image for full size
Photo courtesy Diego Meozzi/Stone Pages
The Cairns of Clava
Not too far from Loch Ness, where the green highlands of Scotland rise and fall there lies three giant cairns of
stones. They are called the Balnuaran of Clava.
The Balnuaran of Clava, giant tombs encased in stone, can be found close to Inverness in Scotland. Their structure is similar to the Newgrange tomb of Ireland in that stones encase a burial chamber. Human bones were found in two of the cairns. The third had flint flakes inside it. It seems that these weren't a common burial ground for all, but a burial ground for elite male and female members of this Neolithic community.
As with other megalithic sites, this site does have astronomical alignment. Two of the three cairn entrance passages align exactly with the Sun's setting position on the winter solstice. And so this site might have been used at some point for sky observing and astronomical purposes.
As seen from the photograph, each of these giant tombs is encircled by a set of standing stones. While the cairns were built during the Neolithic period, it is thought that the standing stones were added later during the Bronze Age.
You might also be interested in:
Many people are interested in the mysterious megalithic structures that can be found around the world. This page will give you all the ins and outs so these structures aren't such a mystery! First, a megalithic
...more
By 30,000 B.C,. Asian hunter-gatherers had crossed the Bering Strait into North America. These people were the first to inhabit this new land and so they are known as the Native Americans of North America.
...more
"The movements of the heavenly bodies are an admirable thing, well known and manifest to all peoples. There are no people, no matter how barbaric and primitive, that do not raise up their eyes, take note,
...more
The stones of Carnac, France, are probably the most famous stones markings outside of those found at Stonehenge in England. Where Stonehenge is composed of standing stones, the Carnac area has many different
...more
Not too far from Loch Ness, where the green highlands of Scotland rise and fall there lies three giant cairns of stones. They are called the Balnuaran of Clava. The Balnuaran of Clava, giant tombs encased
...more
This is an aerial view of Cuzco. In the center of the picture, the cathedral of Cuzco can be seen. This cathedral was built in the 17th century. Cuzco is located in Southern Peru. It is the ancient capital
...more
The stone structures of England and France are very famous. But, one can also find stone rings, tombs, and dolmen structures in present-day Italy. One such megalithic structure is a site in Fossa, Abruzzo.
...more
