The Nether Largie Standing Stones are to be found in the middle of a field in Kilmartin Glen and to this day theories abound as to their purpose. What is known is that the stones were put in place in the glen some 3,200 years ago, yet from the engravings on them the stones would appear to date back a further 1,500 years!

There are 5 larger stones, with two pairs of them in the north and south of the field with the biggest in the centre standing almost 3 metres high, forming an X shape . The larger stones have ring and cup engravings on them which has led to the belief that they formed a sort of lunar observatory for studying the rising and setting cycles of the moon and other solar alignments.

There is no shortage of Bronze Age and Neolithic remains in this area, such as cairns, forts and standing stones such as these and you have to think they were of great significance to the settlers back then, but they have taken the secret of their purpose to their graves.

Nowadays people believe it is is good luck to camp in the field next to them although touching them brings about bad luck. This makes me wonder how far we have come and if we are not indeed more superstitious than our long ago ancestors

Information from 'Hidden Scotland'

Best viewed large if possible please

As it was though to be a lunar observatory I have added a song by the Waterboys
The Whole of the Moon'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBW8Vnp8BzU