Watchstone

The named stone “Watchstone” is a giant (5m 60 top) posed at the edge of the road which connects Stennes and Brodgar, at the entry of the thin strip of land which forms an isthmus between the Lakes Stenness and Harray. (fresh water and salted water lakes). It is included in the category of the petrified giants. A legend tells that it plunges in the lake the evening of the new year to be refreshed.

A long time ago, it had a binocular, with which it formed a door in front of Brodgar and an appendix with Stenness. In 1930, the remainders of this second stone were discovered with approximately 13 meters, on the other side of the road. Of share their positions, it would seem that these two stones belonged to another circle disappeared to date. If the assumption of another circle is not checked, there remains that of the initiatory way connecting by doors Brodgar and Stenness.

With the winter solstice, seen of Watchstone, the sun disappears behind the hill from Hoy during several minutes, and then reappears temporarily in the north of the hill.

Just aprés the winter solstice, the sun clearly assembles in the notch dess the hills of Hoy.  There is also a similar event earlier and later in the year, when the sun “flickers” behind Cuilags and the Kame of Hoy. (study of Charles TAIT). This phenomenon made put forth the assumption that the stone was a marker in the study of the trajectory of the sun and made it possible the observer to measure the approach of the winter solstice. With my opinion, it is much more than celà.

      

Every evening, the swans have just rested close to it…