Senegambian stone circles
The Senegambian stone circles lie in a band of 100 kilometers wide and 350 kilometers long, they comprise more than 1,000 monuments along the River Gambia in the West African States The Gambia and Senegal. In 2006 they were recorded as a World Heritage Site. Concentrated they are in four groups: Sine Ngayène, Wanar, Wassu and Kerr batch. Similar stone circles are known even in the south to Guinea.
Wassu, Gambia
The stone circles of Wassu are about fifteen kilometers northwest of Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown) in the small town Wassu in the Central River Region.
The stones were erected around the 8th century by a megalithic tombs on earlier and form the oldest megalithic structures in sub-Saharan Africa and south of the Horn of Africa. The weights of the ten blocks 25 to each circuit in double circuit or up to ten tons per stone. In size they vary from one to eight feet in height and are generally made of laterite. Archaeologists have not yet been accurately identify and speculate about the exact function of stone circles the builders today. On the basis of found weapons and copper bracelets can be assumed that it is ruler tombs.
In Wassu itself there is a small museum ( Wassu Stone Circles Museum ), dedicated to the stone circles. Traditionally, visitors leave small stones on the stone blocks back, the reasons are not known in detail - probably it will bring good luck.
Kerr batch, Gambia
On a fenced area at Kerr Batch is next to a double stone circle the most remarkable megalith of The Gambia. The stone of a V- shaped figure is carved from a single block. For Gambia, it is the only one in Senegal are still more with this form.
Also in Kerr Batch was established with the support of UNESCO, a small museum (Kerr Batch Stone Circles Museum ).
Sine Ngayène and Wanar, Senegal
In Senegal, the most significant number of stone circles at Sine Ngayène and Wanar can be found in the Kaolack region.
World Heritage
On 12 July 2006, UNESCO included the stone circles in Gambia and Senegal as a World Heritage Site.
For more Stone Circles
- Stone Circles of Dialla Kouna
- Stone Circles of Farafenni
- Stone Circles of Garan
- Stone Circles of Kabakoto
- Stone Circles of Kau -ur, see Kau -ur
- Stone Circles of Kaymor
- Stone circles at Kerr Jabel
- Stone Circles of Keur Bakary
- Stone Circles of Keur Bamba
- Stone Circles of Keur Katim diamon
- Stone Circles of Kuntaur Fulla Kunda, see Kuntaur
- Stone Circles of Lamin Koto, see Lamin Koto
- Stone circles of Medina Sabak
- Stone Circles of Niani Maru, see Nianimaru Forest Park
- Stone Circles of Nioro Kunda
- Stone Circles of N'jai Kunda Kunda see N'jai
- Stone Circles of Palan Mandika
- Stone Circles of Payoma
- Stone Circles of winds Walo