Stoplesteinan
Encyclopedia
Stoplesteinan is a stone circle
in the town of Egersund
, Rogaland
in Norway
. The local people often refer to it as a Stonehenge
in miniature, although the only thing the two stone rings have in common is that they both are made of stone positioned in a circular manner. The monument has a diameter of about 21 meters (69 feet) and consists of 16 raised stones. Some of the stones are up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. The name probably originates from the word 'stopla', which can mean to stack or lay up. The old travellers road, 'St. Olafs vei' between Egersund
and Sokndal
, goes right by the Stoplesteinan. It is visible as a green strip in the vegetation just next to the stone circle. Recently an information sign has been erected some 10 to 20 meters (30–60 feet) south-east of Stoplesteinan, with support from EU's regional development funds - the INTERREG IIC-program for the North sea
.
, Stoplesteinan is an old Thing
from the Viking
era, which would mean it was constructed between 800 and 1000 AD. A different theory, which some archaeologists assume more correct, is that it is a monument on top of a burial place.
Similar stone monuments exist in Norway and Northern Europe. Some of these have been excavated, and found to be graves dating from the end of the bronze age
until the end of the early iron age
, dated to between 500 BC to 600 AD in Scandinavia
. Whether the Stoplesteinan site was used for burials is not known, however it is not unlikely that a burial monument from the Bronze Age or early Iron Age could also be used as a Thing
during the Viking
era.
An excavation during the 1930s found that the ground in the circle's center is paved with stones. Traces of burnt material was also found, indicating that the theory about a burial place may be valid. Snorre
says in his 'Heimskringla
' from the 13th century about Norwegian history that fyrsta öld er kölluð brunaöld; þá skyldi brenna alla dauða menn ok reisa eptir bautasteina (The first period is called the "burn age", since all dead men were burned and stone monuments raised for them).
there are a great number of similar circles called 'domarringar' (judge rings). They often have an odd number of stones, usually 7, 9 or 11. Often they also have a larger stone to the east, and most are burial sites from the late Iron Age. There are also stone settings with elliptical shape and sharp edges, thus resembling a ship. One such is Ale's Stones
, and there are theories that their shape could be used as a calendar based on the position of the sun.
Stone circle (Iron Age)
The stone circles of the Iron Age were a characteristic burial custom of southern Scandinavia, especially on Gotland and in Götaland during the Pre-Roman Iron Age and the Roman Iron Age. In Sweden, they are called Domarringar , Domkretsar or Domarsäten...
in the town of Egersund
Egersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
, Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The local people often refer to it as a Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
in miniature, although the only thing the two stone rings have in common is that they both are made of stone positioned in a circular manner. The monument has a diameter of about 21 meters (69 feet) and consists of 16 raised stones. Some of the stones are up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. The name probably originates from the word 'stopla', which can mean to stack or lay up. The old travellers road, 'St. Olafs vei' between Egersund
Egersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
and Sokndal
Sokndal
Sokndal is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the region of Dalane.The parish of Soggendal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, goes right by the Stoplesteinan. It is visible as a green strip in the vegetation just next to the stone circle. Recently an information sign has been erected some 10 to 20 meters (30–60 feet) south-east of Stoplesteinan, with support from EU's regional development funds - the INTERREG IIC-program for the North sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
Origin and Theories
It is unknown why and how the stone circle has been constructed. According to local folkloreFolklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, Stoplesteinan is an old Thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
from the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
era, which would mean it was constructed between 800 and 1000 AD. A different theory, which some archaeologists assume more correct, is that it is a monument on top of a burial place.
Similar stone monuments exist in Norway and Northern Europe. Some of these have been excavated, and found to be graves dating from the end of the bronze age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
until the end of the early iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, dated to between 500 BC to 600 AD in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. Whether the Stoplesteinan site was used for burials is not known, however it is not unlikely that a burial monument from the Bronze Age or early Iron Age could also be used as a Thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
during the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
era.
An excavation during the 1930s found that the ground in the circle's center is paved with stones. Traces of burnt material was also found, indicating that the theory about a burial place may be valid. Snorre
Snorre
Snorre can refer to either of the following:* a Norwegian male name.* famed Icelandic writer Snorre Sturlason* an alternate name of Heimskringla, the saga Snorre Sturlason wrote about the Viking age....
says in his 'Heimskringla
Heimskringla
Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230...
' from the 13th century about Norwegian history that fyrsta öld er kölluð brunaöld; þá skyldi brenna alla dauða menn ok reisa eptir bautasteina (The first period is called the "burn age", since all dead men were burned and stone monuments raised for them).
Other occurrences
In SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
there are a great number of similar circles called 'domarringar' (judge rings). They often have an odd number of stones, usually 7, 9 or 11. Often they also have a larger stone to the east, and most are burial sites from the late Iron Age. There are also stone settings with elliptical shape and sharp edges, thus resembling a ship. One such is Ale's Stones
Ale's Stones
Ale's Stones is a megalithic monument in Scania in southern Sweden. It consists of a stone ship 67 meters long formed by 59 large boulders of sandstone, weighing up to 1.8 tonnes each. According to Scanian folklore, a legendary king called King Ale lies buried there.The carbon-14 dating system for...
, and there are theories that their shape could be used as a calendar based on the position of the sun.