The Na Dromannan stone circle on the Isle of Lewis off the northwest coast of Scotland can be seen for the first time in more than 4,000 years after stones buried in the landscape were mapped and measured and digitally modelled. The site is close to the famous Calanais Standing Stones, and is one of a number of circles that became submerged in the peats over time. Another, known as Site XI or Airigh na Beinne Bige, today consists of a single standing stone on an exposed hillside overlooking Calanais. A geophysical survey revealed that not only was the stone originally part of a circle of standing stones but that the centre had been struck by either a huge bolt of lightning or a number of smaller strikes on the same spot.
     Investigations are now set to get underway into other stone circle sites which have become lost to the ground in Lewis.
     The cross-shaped setting of stones at Calanais were put in place around 5,000 years ago. They predate Stonehenge and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years.

Edited from The Scotsman (18 November 2020)