A ‘Sgrùdadh Cruth-tìre nan Tursachan’ (Exploring the Landscape of the Calanais Stones - ARP 2022

'A 'Sgrüdadh Cruth-tire nan Tursachan (Exploring the Landscape of the Calanais
Stones): Year of Coasts and Waters Project
The Calanais standing stones, and the numerous stone circles and individual standing
stones in the vicinity, are an iconic monument group that sits within a complex
landscape that has witnessed significant change since the stones were first erected.
Understanding the sites requires mapping of the palaeo-landscape that is now:
¡. covered by blanket peat deposits; extensively changed through agricultural practice and
ii. is partly submerged under Loch Rög.
In the Year of Coasts and Waters Scheme, HES sponsored a community project run by
Urras nan Tursachan (the Calanais Stones Trust) that included fieldwalking the coastline,
drone mapping of the intertidal zone, geophysical survey of the stone circles in the
vicinity of the main monument, environmental coring and marine survey of Loch Rög.
During the project, training was given to local volunteers, new interpretative material
was produced for display in the Calanais Visitor Centre, wide dissemination was made
through TV and social media, and reports and academic papers written. The project has
not only increased knowledge of the prehistoric Calanais landscape but has also begun
to build increased awareness in the local community, together with resilience in the
face of pressure on the site from climate change.
Presentation by Richard Bates
University of St Andrews