![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_610bdd8e745b0.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b361828f1901.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b351b9daa259.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b361b91e5f5d.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b36211069a0f.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b362138330e3.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b361c057358d.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360be89a814.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b362d8eb4aff.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b362d8f71bff.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b362a94ea003.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_610bdd3f56c65.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_610bdd3fd5317.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b351b9c8e96a.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b36240476ba9.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b362404801a0.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3627b1ab0a4.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360dd856144.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360dd629471.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b36133a5fc26.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3613c634854.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b361449216d6.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b36144a08c4b.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3519cead980.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3632a427dd7.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3632a2b8a1e.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360ff3eda10.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360ff53b25f.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b360ff70d0c4.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3610c4dd3da.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b3610c1bceaa.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b36124433fb5.jpg)
![The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5b361242d9577.jpg)
See Also
See Again
The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites - Mystery surrounds most of the UK and Ireland's neolithic monuments, as no one knows how they were built, or exactly what their purpose was. Find out more in the following gallery.
© iStock
0 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - Ballowall Barrow is a unique Bronze Age tomb on a cliff edge near St Just, Penzance. It has a long and complex history as a sacred site.
© Shutterstock
1 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - The barrow was excavated in 1878 and is now managed by the National Trust.
© Shutterstock
2 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - It is one of the largest and most complex of several prehistoric funerary monuments along the West Penwith coastline. They are thought to have been built by local communities to provide striking shrines or tombs for the dead.
© Shutterstock
3 / 33 Fotos
Carn Euny - Carn Euny Ancient Village is another fascinating site in Cornwall. Among the best-preserved ancient villages in South West England, it was occupied from the Iron Age until late Roman times.
© Shutterstock
4 / 33 Fotos
Carn Euny - It includes the foundations of stone houses from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. At the heart of the village is a stone-walled underground passage known as a fogou. This mysterious type of Iron Age monument is found only in the far west of Cornwall.
© Shutterstock
5 / 33 Fotos
Tregiffian Bural Chamber - This early Bronze Age chambered tomb is also close to Ballowall Barrow and the three sites can easily be combined for a fascinating day trip.
© Shutterstock
6 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The Hill of Tara is more than a hill. It is an archaeological complex in County Meath, Ireland, which contains a number of ancient monuments. According to tradition, it was the seat of the High King of Ireland.
© Shutterstock
7 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The site has been in use since the Neolithic era, although it is unclear whether it was continuously used as a sacred or a political centre from the Neolithic period to the 12th century.
© iStock
8 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The site is within an hour's drive of Dublin, making it a fascinating day trip from a longer holiday in Ireland's capital city.
© iStock
9 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar - This Neolithic farmstead on the Scottish island of Papa Westray is thought to be the oldest preserved stone house in northern Europe.
© Shutterstock
10 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar
- Radiocarbon dating has indicated that it was occupied from 3700 to 2800 BC. This means the site is older than the Egyptian pyramids. Archaeological evidence shows that the inhabitants kept cattle, sheep, and pigs, cultivated grains and gathered shellfish and fish.
© Getty Images
11 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar
- The remote Orkney island can be reached by ferry or the world's shortest scheduled flight between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray.
© Getty Images
12 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - This is the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Ireland. It is famous for its strong Irish culture and a wealth of pre-Christian ancient sites.
© Shutterstock
13 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - Dún Aonghasa is the best-known of several prehistoric hill forts on Inishmore, situated at the edge of a 100-metre high cliff.
© Shutterstock
14 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - It is unclear when Dún Aonghasa was built, though it is thought that most of the structures date from the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Today, it is a National Monument of Ireland and a small museum illustrates the history of the fort.
© Shutterstock
15 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - A Neolithic tomb and a small heritage park featuring a traditional thatched cottage and an illegal poteen distillery are other attractions on the island.
© Shutterstock
16 / 33 Fotos
Silbury Hill - This is a prehistoric artificial chalk mound near Avebury, Wiltshire. It is part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site.
© Shutterstock
17 / 33 Fotos
Silbury Hill - At 39.3 metres (129 ft) high, it is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. Consider a holiday in Wiltshire exploring the 160 unique 160 scheduled monuments this area has to offer.
© Shutterstock
18 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Stonehenge itself is a stone circle in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.
© Shutterstock
19 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Archaeologists believe that the circle was constructed from 3000 to 2000 BC and the area appears to be a human burial site.
© Shutterstock
20 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Many aspects of Stonehenge remain unclear. Historians do not know how it was built and its original purpose. A number of myths surround the stones and they have become associated with Pagan beliefs.
© Getty Images
21 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - It is possible to visit the site as a day trip from London or Bath, but access to the monument itself is only permitted by Special Access arrangement outside public opening hours.
© Getty Images
22 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - Poulnabrone dolmen is a neolithic portal tomb in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland.
© Shutterstock
23 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - This kind of single-chamber megalithic tomb is common in Ireland. This site has become a popular tourist attraction, located close to the road between Ballyvaughan and Kilnaboy.
© Shutterstock
24 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - Excavations in the 1980s found the remains of 33 people buried under the monument. Personal items buried with the dead included a polished stone axe, a bone pendant, quartz crystals, weapons, and pottery.
© Shutterstock
25 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - This prehistoric monument is also in Ireland, in County Meath. It was built around 3200 BC and consists of a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and chambers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - The mound is surrounded by a stone circle. It is unclear what the original purpose of the site was, but it is believed to have religious significance. Its entrance is aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, when sunlight shines through a 'roofbox' and floods the inner chamber.
© Shutterstock
27 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre interprets and provides tickets to the Neolithic monuments of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. It is an easy and fascinating day trip from Dublin.
© Shutterstock
28 / 33 Fotos
Swinside - This stone circle is in the Millom area of the Lake District. With no visitor centre and requiring a 2 km hike uphill, this is a quieter option for those wanting some solitude with their history.
© Shutterstock
29 / 33 Fotos
Swinside - Although little-visited, this stone circle has been described as one of the finest in Britain. It has 55 stones, each up to 3 metres high.
© Shutterstock
30 / 33 Fotos
Long Meg and Her Daughters - The Lake District has several other notable examples of stone circles, including those at Castlerigg and Long Meg and Her Daughters.
© Shutterstock
31 / 33 Fotos
Long Meg and Her Daughters - Why not plan a holiday in area and combine your history lessons with charming pubs and pastoral walks?
© Shutterstock
32 / 33 Fotos
The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites - Mystery surrounds most of the UK and Ireland's neolithic monuments, as no one knows how they were built, or exactly what their purpose was. Find out more in the following gallery.
© iStock
0 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - Ballowall Barrow is a unique Bronze Age tomb on a cliff edge near St Just, Penzance. It has a long and complex history as a sacred site.
© Shutterstock
1 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - The barrow was excavated in 1878 and is now managed by the National Trust.
© Shutterstock
2 / 33 Fotos
Ballowall Barrow - It is one of the largest and most complex of several prehistoric funerary monuments along the West Penwith coastline. They are thought to have been built by local communities to provide striking shrines or tombs for the dead.
© Shutterstock
3 / 33 Fotos
Carn Euny - Carn Euny Ancient Village is another fascinating site in Cornwall. Among the best-preserved ancient villages in South West England, it was occupied from the Iron Age until late Roman times.
© Shutterstock
4 / 33 Fotos
Carn Euny - It includes the foundations of stone houses from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. At the heart of the village is a stone-walled underground passage known as a fogou. This mysterious type of Iron Age monument is found only in the far west of Cornwall.
© Shutterstock
5 / 33 Fotos
Tregiffian Bural Chamber - This early Bronze Age chambered tomb is also close to Ballowall Barrow and the three sites can easily be combined for a fascinating day trip.
© Shutterstock
6 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The Hill of Tara is more than a hill. It is an archaeological complex in County Meath, Ireland, which contains a number of ancient monuments. According to tradition, it was the seat of the High King of Ireland.
© Shutterstock
7 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The site has been in use since the Neolithic era, although it is unclear whether it was continuously used as a sacred or a political centre from the Neolithic period to the 12th century.
© iStock
8 / 33 Fotos
Hill of Tara - The site is within an hour's drive of Dublin, making it a fascinating day trip from a longer holiday in Ireland's capital city.
© iStock
9 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar - This Neolithic farmstead on the Scottish island of Papa Westray is thought to be the oldest preserved stone house in northern Europe.
© Shutterstock
10 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar
- Radiocarbon dating has indicated that it was occupied from 3700 to 2800 BC. This means the site is older than the Egyptian pyramids. Archaeological evidence shows that the inhabitants kept cattle, sheep, and pigs, cultivated grains and gathered shellfish and fish.
© Getty Images
11 / 33 Fotos
Knap of Howar
- The remote Orkney island can be reached by ferry or the world's shortest scheduled flight between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray.
© Getty Images
12 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - This is the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Ireland. It is famous for its strong Irish culture and a wealth of pre-Christian ancient sites.
© Shutterstock
13 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - Dún Aonghasa is the best-known of several prehistoric hill forts on Inishmore, situated at the edge of a 100-metre high cliff.
© Shutterstock
14 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - It is unclear when Dún Aonghasa was built, though it is thought that most of the structures date from the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Today, it is a National Monument of Ireland and a small museum illustrates the history of the fort.
© Shutterstock
15 / 33 Fotos
Inishmore - A Neolithic tomb and a small heritage park featuring a traditional thatched cottage and an illegal poteen distillery are other attractions on the island.
© Shutterstock
16 / 33 Fotos
Silbury Hill - This is a prehistoric artificial chalk mound near Avebury, Wiltshire. It is part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site.
© Shutterstock
17 / 33 Fotos
Silbury Hill - At 39.3 metres (129 ft) high, it is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. Consider a holiday in Wiltshire exploring the 160 unique 160 scheduled monuments this area has to offer.
© Shutterstock
18 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Stonehenge itself is a stone circle in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.
© Shutterstock
19 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Archaeologists believe that the circle was constructed from 3000 to 2000 BC and the area appears to be a human burial site.
© Shutterstock
20 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - Many aspects of Stonehenge remain unclear. Historians do not know how it was built and its original purpose. A number of myths surround the stones and they have become associated with Pagan beliefs.
© Getty Images
21 / 33 Fotos
Stonehenge - It is possible to visit the site as a day trip from London or Bath, but access to the monument itself is only permitted by Special Access arrangement outside public opening hours.
© Getty Images
22 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - Poulnabrone dolmen is a neolithic portal tomb in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland.
© Shutterstock
23 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - This kind of single-chamber megalithic tomb is common in Ireland. This site has become a popular tourist attraction, located close to the road between Ballyvaughan and Kilnaboy.
© Shutterstock
24 / 33 Fotos
Poulnabrone dolmen - Excavations in the 1980s found the remains of 33 people buried under the monument. Personal items buried with the dead included a polished stone axe, a bone pendant, quartz crystals, weapons, and pottery.
© Shutterstock
25 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - This prehistoric monument is also in Ireland, in County Meath. It was built around 3200 BC and consists of a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and chambers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - The mound is surrounded by a stone circle. It is unclear what the original purpose of the site was, but it is believed to have religious significance. Its entrance is aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, when sunlight shines through a 'roofbox' and floods the inner chamber.
© Shutterstock
27 / 33 Fotos
Newgrange - Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre interprets and provides tickets to the Neolithic monuments of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. It is an easy and fascinating day trip from Dublin.
© Shutterstock
28 / 33 Fotos
Swinside - This stone circle is in the Millom area of the Lake District. With no visitor centre and requiring a 2 km hike uphill, this is a quieter option for those wanting some solitude with their history.
© Shutterstock
29 / 33 Fotos
Swinside - Although little-visited, this stone circle has been described as one of the finest in Britain. It has 55 stones, each up to 3 metres high.
© Shutterstock
30 / 33 Fotos
Long Meg and Her Daughters - The Lake District has several other notable examples of stone circles, including those at Castlerigg and Long Meg and Her Daughters.
© Shutterstock
31 / 33 Fotos
Long Meg and Her Daughters - Why not plan a holiday in area and combine your history lessons with charming pubs and pastoral walks?
© Shutterstock
32 / 33 Fotos
The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites
Take a day trip back in time at these ancient monuments
© iStock
The UK and Ireland are home to fascinating ancient sites. Take a look at these inspiring images and play your next outing.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![The essential guide to visiting Alaska](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a71b38c172.jpg)
![These churches are the last of their kind in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6634cb1373c5f.jpg)
![The 30 places you must visit before you die](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a221964d69.jpg)
![Places in Europe where three countries meet](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664760ce0aeed.jpg)
![On the right track: a history of the British railway system](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669cde7cb1d9d.jpg)
![Overlooked travel destinations to discover this year](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66984a29d9eb9.jpg)
![How does Venice manage to float on water?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6699fdba7a0ea.jpg)
![Europe's most underrated cities, according to travel experts](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66991c50f1dc1.jpg)
![Unmissable stops along Ireland's stunning Wild Atlantic Way](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6698020a43b76.jpg)
![The top 30 most-visited countries worldwide](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697d71c4bd43.jpg)
![The unseen side of famous landmarks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66963692260e2.jpg)
![Stunning and lesser-known Greek islands for escaping the crowds](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bcf60734f5.jpg)
![Going to Galicia? These are the best attractions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668fbdc4d48c9.jpg)
![The Brandenburg Gate: a symbol of division or unity?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ce3e981e32.jpg)
![Countries with the easiest citizenship options](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d3e384b9fe.jpg)
![Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668d270905bf7.jpg)
![The biggest mistakes tourists make at national parks](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663bb4b2ce984.jpg)
![Hiking the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bb92bc0a2b.jpg)
![Incredible filming locations to visit if you love ‘Star Wars’](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668befa2881e5.jpg)
![Exploring Suriname, South America's smallest nation](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668ba211bcec0.jpg)
![Things that will annoy any airport security agent](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668bd707da037.jpg)
![Incredible destinations where the sun shines all night](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6687f507924df.jpg)
![The most dog-friendly national parks in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668417654c65e.jpg)
![The 30 best historical destinations to visit in the US](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66866b577eb33.jpg)
![European road trips you need to try once in your life](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682db0e9a474.jpg)
![The only country located in all four hemispheres](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6682915f24825.jpg)
![Europe’s most dangerous tourist spots for pickpocketing (and how to protect yourself)](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_668292697149b.jpg)
![Incredible places from Greek mythology you can visit today](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66827be7eb410.jpg)
![The best beach towns in the USA](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667d58f120de0.jpg)
![The best beaches to visit on the Adriatic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667c1a8d156ed.jpg)
![The 30 most disappointing cities in the world for tourists](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667aca257797a.jpg)
![Extraordinary desert experiences for adventurous travelers](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66472d27e0d70.jpg)
![The 30 best mid-sized US cities for cultural experiences](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675320070ea0.jpg)
![The best beach destinations on the Baltic Sea](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6675513b7724d.jpg)
![The European countries with the cleanest beaches](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_667539d3e47ce.jpg)
![The best guys' trip destinations](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6672a48c63f48.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Nature
-
3
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
-
4
TRAVEL Staycation
Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again
-
5
HEALTH Covid-19
-
6
HEALTH Cognitive function
-
7
LIFESTYLE Bizarre
You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations
-
8
HEALTH Bad habits
-
9
TRAVEL Destinations
-
10
TRAVEL Architecture