During the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age (3200-1600BC)
a large number of Stone Circles, or henges, throughout Britain
and Ireland. The most famous of these is, of course, Stonehenge
but most of them were much smaller and were simple circles.
The Circles vary in size and shape (they are not always round),.
Their function and construction also seem to be dissimilar.
Some were built as burial sites, and these are quite small. However
not all of the smaller Circles were used for burial, and over
time evidence such as burial mounds found in the centre of Circles
disappears.
The majority of the Circles reveal no evidence of having been
used for burial: they were probably used as meeting places for
trading and ceremonial practices, rituals and festivities.
It has also been suggested that Stone Circles may have been used
as primitive calendars, orientated to the paths of the Sun, Moon
and larger stars. There is some evidence to support this but it
is doubtful if they were built only for this purpose.