Stone Me

We examine two stunningly beautiful tombs in Dumfries and Galloway and hear an incredible new theory claiming that these huge structures were used for a surprisingly short period of time.

We spend some time inside till recently the most exquisite piece of neolithic architecture in Scotland, Maeshowe in Orkney, and compare its construction to a nearby more recently-found building, and hear from Mark Edmonds about what might have happened in this magnificent structure.More information in the programme notes on the Stone Me website.And you can find more information about the sound experiments at Maeshowe here.

Matthew travels to suburban Fife to see one of Britain's most important henges sitting in the middle of a big housing estate's roundabout. Was the henge there to keep people controlled, or to keep spirits and malevolence trapped inside? And did the neolithic people build eerie fake woodlands from real trees out of guilt?More info and photos of some of things discussed are available at the programme's web page.You can support more programme-making with a small donation.3'56 introduction to the site8'46 the phases of Balfarg Henge13'16 the timber circles, and a possible gothic, eerie explanation of what was going on17'46 is it authentic? What is authentic?21'55 what's it like to live with a neolithic monument out your front window? A resident explains23'18 why is this one of the most important henge monuments in Britain?26'44 Balfarg riding school, a possible site of human exhcarnation30'09 Balbirnie Stone Circle

Matthew watches as a digger begins to fill in with stone and earth one of the most important neolithic sites for a generation.More info and photos of some of things discussed available at:https://www.stonemepodcast.com/programmes/filling-in-of-ness-of-brodgar

Come to north inner city Glasgow where we visit a stone circle with its creator. Duncan Lunan designed Sighthill Stone Circle in the 1970s along still-controversial astro-archaeological lines, making it the first new astrologically-aligned stone circle in Scotland in 3,500 year. Can we learn about the motivations for neolithic sites by talking to site caretor Duncan? Glasgow University's Kenny Brophy lends a hand with interpretation of this unique place.

Come to the crest of a hill at the very heart of Scotland where you can see islands off the west and east coasts of the country, to a place that was sacred for over 4,000 years. Try to decode the mysteries of how neolithic material was re-used by later people at this very complicated site and pick a side in the long-running debate: was the circle here timber or stone?

We travel to the source of the beautiful, highly-prized stone found across neolithic sites in Britain and Ireland, Arran. At the stunning complex of seemingly endless stone circles at Machrie Moor we uncover its use as a site of pilgrimages, and investigate the timber monuments that were here before the stones.

We learn about the unusual construction methods that might have been used at Scotland's biggest stone circle, the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney, and witness a little bit of showbiz sleight of hand in how the imposing monument was designed. With Jane Downes, Director of the Archaeology Institute at the University of the Highlands and Islands.