Ancient stone older than Egyptian pyramids stands in Scottish council estate

An ancient standing stone thought to be as old as the Egyptian pyramids now resides in a council estate in Edinburgh.

The megalith was erected around 4,000 years ago and stands in a cul-de-sac in Ravenswood Avenue in the capital's Inch area. The stone is caged in by railings to protect it from vandalism.

Originally built in the Neolithic period, it means it is roughly as old as the Great Pyramid of Djoser

It's one of several such megaliths that can be found around Edinburgh and the Lothians, but definitely one of the more curious examples considering it's planted in the middle of a scheme. Illustrations from the 19th century show it standing alone in fields to the south of Edinburgh, with barely another man made structure visible for miles around.

Standing at just under seven feet tall, the prehistoric stone remained untouched for millennia until it was moved in the early 1800s to facilitate road widening in the area. The stone was relocated back to its original position in 1891, but in the 1960s it was on the move once more as the new housing estate began to take shape. Presently, it stands around 100 metres north of its original location.

An illustration from the 19th century shows the stone standing alone with nothing around it. (Historic Environment Scotland)

With the monument bearing nothing in the way of markings or other details, very little is known about the grey sandstone block or why it was erected. Some scholars have suggested that it was put in place to commemorate an ancient battle or that it was used for a ritualistic purpose. However, the truth is nobody really knows for sure.

Regardless, it's fascinating to think of the countless people who have come and gone since the menhir was built. We can imagine advancing armies from medieval times passing it on their way to try and take Edinburgh Castle or Mary, Queen of Scots admiring it from the rooms of nearby Craigmillar Castle.

The megalith is thought to date back 4,000 years (Historic Environment Scotland)

Nowadays the mysterious megalith forms part of the visual scenery of an unremarkable Edinburgh housing estate within metres of the busy A7 road into the capital, but we're delighted that this remnant of our Neolithic past is still with us.

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