Callanish VIII

Callanish VIII consists of a semicircle of four large standing stones arranged along the edge of a cliff on the southern side of Great Bernera. The setting overlooks a narrow strait separating Bernera from the Isle of Lewis. Unlike many other monuments in the Callanish monuments group, the setting appears to have been intentionally constructed as a semicircle rather than a complete ring. The tallest stone stands nearly 3 m high. The arrangement of the stones along the cliff-edge axis suggests a diameter of about 20 m for the monument. A distinctive feature of the site is a shallow natural rock basin beside the stones. This hollow lies in exposed bedrock and often fills with rainwater,…