Ballochroy Stone Row Argyll
Latitude: 55.712084N Longitude: 5.613858W Map Ref: NR730525
55.712084 -5.613858
Dated - 1800 BC ? - the site was first scientifically surveyed by Alexander Thom, who demonstrated that the stone alignment to the southwest indicates the setting position of the sun over the west end of Cara island at midwinter, at about 1800 BC.
Horizon view - middle and distant hills
Horizon orientation - when viewed from the centre stone, the intersection between two hills gives the first appearance of the midwinter sunrise.
Structure orientation - the stones line aligns precisely on the first appearance of midsummer sunrise. The flat side of the middle stone aligns with the midwinter sunrise. There are also, according to Alexander Thom, alignments to the sunsets. This was checked with modern technology and found to agree. See diagrams and photos below.
Ballochroy stone row consists of a structure of three stones in a line. The stones are large flat slabs that do not look stable. Hence it is likely that reconstructions have taken place to an unknown accuracy.
Alexander Thom, known for his work on Stonehenge, maintained that the great length between the stones and the features of distant landscape lent precision to pinpointing the midsummer and midwinter solstices for ancient observers.
'These three stones are considered the most spectacular set of megalithic monuments that cluster around south Argyll. The three mica schist stones were measured at 11 ft 6 in, 9 ft 10 in and 6 ft 7 in (3.5 m, 3.0 m, and 2.0 m) in height. It is possible that this last, smallest, stone may have been broken off at the top'
Source Wikipedia
There is a limited area of good farming land along the coast here that could have supported an ancient small settled community of a few hundreds - sufficient to build the stone structure.
