Goatstones

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The Goatstones stands proudly in Northumberland, UK, as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Bronze-Age civilizations. Believed to be derived from the Saxon phrase "gyet stanes," meaning "wayside stones," this four-poster stone circle is an enigmatic relic shrouded in mystery. The stones themselves reach no higher than 0.8 metres, arranged approximately four metres apart, as if carefully choreographed by some long-forgotten hand. On the upper surface of the easternmost stone lies a stunning array of 13 cup marks, an unmistakable form of prehistoric rock art that has captivated Northumberland's imagination for centuries. A singular distinction sets The Goatstones apart from its peers: it is the sole recorded example of a four-poster stone circle adorned with these intricate markings. Amidst this sacred landscape, faint remnants of a low mound whisper tales of a bygone era. This may be the residual presence of a stone cairn that predated the construction of the stone circle, possibly serving as the final resting place for Bronze-Age ancestors.