Overview:

Oyu Stone Circles (Manza Stone Circles) are a set of prehistoric megalithic monuments located in the Brú na Bóinne Unesco World Heritage Site in Ireland. The site consists of fifteen cairns or stone circles, which are believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. The Oyu Stone Circles are believed to have been used as a ceremonial site, possibly for ritual activities or gatherings associated with the rise and fall of the sun or the moon. Although much of the site remains unexcavated, some of the smaller stones have been collected and are now on public display in the National Museum of Ireland. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Ireland
Prominent Features:

1. Located on the Slieve Gullion mountain range in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, the Oyu stone circles are technically part of a larger megalithic cemetery. 2. The circles form a ring of fourteen low megalithic pillars, with a diameter of around 3.7 metres, built from large river boulders (often termed "cups and basins") and activated quartz facings. 3. As the circles sit atop a plateau, they are thought to have once acted as a sighting mark for the ancient Celts who occupied the area and used them to observe the waxing and waning of the moon. 4. Archaeological investigations have revealed that the stone circles have a significant Neolithic presence and likely date back to c. 2500-2000 BCE. 5. Human remains, thought to be from Bronze Age cremation ceremonies, have also been found within the circles and surrounding area. 6. Many believe that the stones have been used throughout the ages for festival rituals and spiritual practices. 7. In 2010, the site received official protection from the Northern Irish government. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Ireland.

History:

The Manza Stone Circles are one of the most important ancient monuments in Ireland. They are a series of stone circles located in the Mourne Mountains, County Down. The site, named after the nearby River Man, was constructed by a Neolithic people called the Oysters who inhabited the area around 4000-3000 BC. The stone circles consist of thirty concentric circles arranged around a larger centre, with an outer ring consisting of eighty-five stones. The purpose of the stone circles is a mystery, though there are a variety of possible explanations. One theory is that they were used for astronomical purposes, marking solstice and equinox dates, and were possibly used for religious rituals which included the sacrificing of animals. Another theory is that they were constructed to focus and store energy from the sun and moon. Other possibilities include that they could have been used as meeting places, signposts, and boundaries. The Oyan Stone Circles are one of the best-preserved early Neolithic sites in Europe. They are part of a larger body of Neolithic sites in the Mourne Mountains which also includes some Neolithic burial sites, standing stones, rock carvings, and other monuments. The meaning and purpose behind these monuments remain a mystery and it is likely that they held multiple uses and meanings for the people who built them. Today, the Oyan Stone Circles are a popular tourist attraction and have been designated a national monument by the Irish government, thus giving them recognition and protection. Although the true purpose of the Stone Circles still remains a mystery, they have become a symbol of Ireland, and a source of fascination for all who visit them. Visit one of the famous monuments of Ireland with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Manza Stone Circles, or Oyu Stone Circles, are located in County Down, Northern Ireland. 2. The site consists of five stone circles, making it the largest stone circle complex in Ireland and the second largest in the British Isles, after the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney. 3.The Manza Stone Circles are thought to date back to the late Bronze Age, between 1000 and 600 BC. 4. Archaeologists believe they were used as ritual sites used by communities living in the area. 5. They may have been related to burial practices or have been used for ceremonial gatherings. 6. The structures are constructed using local basalt, with the largest of the circles being approximately 15 meters in diameter. 7. In 2016, the site was designated a Scheduled Monument by Historic Environment Scotland, in order to protect its unique cultural heritage. One of the historical monuments of Ireland, it tells the story of a bygone era