WHILE Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most famous stone circle, Scotland is home to one that is possibly older.
The Stones of Stenness in Orkney date back 5000 years and stand alongside other locations in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, including Skara Brae and The Ring of Brodgar.
At the present time, the stone circle consists of four upright stones of up to 6m tall, but the structure originally had a whopping 12.
According to Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the centeriece of this was a large hearth. The stones themselves were also encircled by a large ditch and bank.
See the ancient site in Scotland dating back 5000 years that is 'older' than Stonehenge
The exact function of the Stones of Stenness remain unclear but it is widely considered to have been involved in ceremonies celebrating the connection between living and past communities, according to the conservation organisation.
The Ness of Brodgar website states that a partial excavation around the standing stones in 1973 and 1974 found a number of pottery sherds as well as the remains of cattle, sheep and dogs, meaning there is a possibility that offerings were laid into the surrounding ditch.
This third-millennium structure, as well as others like the nearby Watch Stone and the Barnhouse Stone, as well as Skara Brae, apparently "speak of an early and sophisticated society in northern Britain."
HES added that this level of architectural sophistication on the Scottish archipelago "matches that of the centres in Mesopotamia and North Africa."
The Stones of Stenness in Scotland dubbed 'fantastic' place to visit
The historic location has received a lot of praise from visitors, with users on Tripadvisor giving it a 4.5/5 out of 540 reviews.
One person dubbed it a "fantastic" place to visit, adding: "Standing Stones of Stenness is a sight that is not to be missed when visiting the Orkney Islands in Scotland.
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"Loved our time here visiting these stones, which are older than Stonehenge!! Beautiful sight to behold in person!"
Another penned: "Although not as large as brodgar it felt more atmospheric at this site and was nice to be amongst the stones. Definitely worth stopping to see."
A third added: "Another 'pinch me' time for me. Just amazing! Older than the Ring of Brodgar, sadly only a few stones still remain but I found it to be fascinating."
