Editing Stone circle (section)

== Dates and archaeology==
Growing evidence suggests that megalithic constructions began as early as 5000 BC in northwestern France<ref name="Paulsson.2019">{{cite journal |last1=Paulsson |first1=B. Schulz |title=Radiocarbon dates and Bayesian modeling support maritime diffusion model for megaliths in Europe |journal=PNAS |date=February 26, 2019 |volume=116 |issue=9 |pages=3460–3465 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1813268116 |pmc=6397522 |pmid=30808740|bibcode=2019PNAS..116.3460S |doi-access=free }}</ref> and that the custom and techniques spread via sea routes throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region from there.<ref name="Paulsson.2019"/><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a26304764/stonehenge-might-have-its-roots-with-ancient-sailors-from-france/|title=Stonehenge Might Have Its Roots with Ancient Sailors from France|first=David|last=Grossman|date=February 12, 2019|website=Popular Mechanics}}</ref> The [[Carnac Stones]] in France are estimated to have been built around 4500 BC,<ref name="bc">{{cite web |author=Annick Jacq |url=http://www.bretagne-celtic.com/carte_carnac.htm |title=Carnac |publisher=Bretagne-celtic.com |access-date=2009-05-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204191614/http://www.bretagne-celtic.com/carte_carnac.htm |archive-date=2012-02-04 }}</ref> and many of the formations include megalithic stone circles.

The earliest stone circles in Britain were erected 3200–2500 BC,<ref name=":0" /><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stone-circles-secrets-research-callanish-stenness-scotland-orkney-gail-higginbottom-a7201096.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/stone-circles-secrets-research-callanish-stenness-scotland-orkney-gail-higginbottom-a7201096.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=New research reveals the 'spectacular' secrets of Britain's earliest stone circles|date=August 20, 2016|website=The Independent}}</ref> during the [[Middle Neolithic]] ({{Circa|3200}}&ndash;2500&nbsp;BC). Around that time, stone circles began to be built in the coastal and lowland areas towards the north of the [[United Kingdom]]. The [[Langdale axe industry]] in the [[Lake District]] may have been an important [[Castlerigg stone circle|early centre for circle building]], perhaps because of its economic power. Many had closely set stones, perhaps similar to the earth banks of [[henge]]s. Others were constructed from boulders placed stably on the ground rather than standing stones held erect by a foundation trench.<!--a couple of typical examples are needed--> Recent research shows that the two oldest stone circles in Britain ([[Stones of Stenness|Stenness]] on [[Orkney]] and [[Callanish Stones|Callanish]] on the [[Isle of Lewis]]) were constructed to align with solar and lunar positions.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161012-the-strange-origin-of-scotlands-stone-circles|title=The Strange Origin of Scotland's Stone Circles|publisher=BBC|date=12 October 2012}}</ref>

Most sites do not contain evidence of human dwelling, suggesting that stone circles were constructed for ceremonies.
Sometimes, a stone circle is found in association with a burial pit or burial chamber, but most of these monuments have no such known association because of a lack of archaeological investigation.