STONE BOTHERING

Nestled in the heart of modern Lima, Peru, lie two ancient treasures - Huaca Pucllana and Huallamarca. These pre-Columbian archaeological sites offer a glimpse into the fascinating history of the pre-Inca cultures that once thrived in the region. Huaca Pucllana: Huaca Pucllana, located in the trendy district of Miraflores, is a large adobe pyramid complex built around 500 AD by the Lima culture. This impressive structure, with its 22-meter-high central pyramid and intricate plazas and courtyards, served as a significant administrative and ceremonial center. The site's name, Huaca Pucllana, which translates to "Sacred Place of Play, " hints at its multifaceted role. It was not only a place of religious and political importance but also a hub for social activities and gatherings. Visitors can explore the site's various structures, including the pyramid, plazas, and ramps, and marvel at the skill and ingenuity of the ancient builders. The on-site museum ho...

Portheras Barrow is a Neolithic burial mound located in Cornwall, England. It is one of the largest and best-preserved barrows in the county, and it is thought to date back to around 3000 BC. The barrow is made up of a mound of earth and stone, and it originally had a stone chamber at its center. The chamber has since been destroyed, but some of its stones can still be seen. Portheras Barrow was first excavated in 1891, by the antiquarian William C. Lukis. Lukis found a number of artifacts in the barrow, including pottery, flint tools, and human bones. He also found the remains of the stone chamber. Portheras Barrow is located on Portheras Common, near the village of St. Just. The common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and it is home to a variety of wildlife, including rare plants and animals. Portheras Barrow is a significant archaeological site, as it provides us with valuable insights into the lives of the Neolithic people who built it. The barr...

The Valley of Stones in Dorset, England, is a National Nature Reserve that holds a remarkable landscape of scattered sarsen boulders. These impressive stones, formed during the last ice age, were created by freeze-thaw cycles that caused sandstone from the nearby hills to fragment and slump downhill. The result is a dramatic, almost otherworldly terrain where boulders of all sizes are strewn across the valley floor, inviting exploration and contemplation. The sarsen stones themselves are among the largest and most impressive in southern England. They vary from small pebbles to massive boulders weighing over 100 tons. Their warm honey-brown tones and weathered, textured surfaces give the valley a timeless and mystical character, making it easy to imagine the place as it might have appeared to ancient peoples who first encountered it. Among the scattered stones, a hidden treasure was discovered: a Neolithic polishing stone, or polissoir . This large boulder features a smooth, concave sur...

Chapel Carn Brea is a hill in Cornwall, England, with a rich archaeological history. The hill is home to a number of prehistoric monuments, including a Bronze Age barrow, a medieval chapel, and a World War II observation post. The Bronze Age barrow is the most prominent archaeological feature on Chapel Carn Brea. It is a large mound of earth and stone that was built over 4,000 years ago. The barrow was likely used as a burial place for important members of the community. In the 13th century, a medieval chapel was built on top of the Bronze Age barrow. The chapel was dedicated to St Michael of Brea, and it was tended by a succession of hermits. The chapel fell into disrepair in the 18th century and was eventually demolished in 1816. During World War II, Chapel Carn Brea was used as an observation post. A shelter was dug into the east side of the hill, and a lookout tower was built on the summit. The observation post was used to monitor for enemy aircraft and ships. Today, Chapel Carn Br...

Located amidst the fields and quiet lanes of West Cornwall lies a place that seems suspended in time. Sancreed Holy Well offers a glimpse into centuries of spiritual devotion, mysterious rituals, and local legends that have endured long after the stones themselves have weathered the elements. For those who wander here, it is impossible not to feel a connection to the many generations who sought solace, healing, and inspiration in this tranquil corner of the Cornish landscape. Sancreed Holy Well has been a focal point of spiritual life for centuries. The name Sancreed itself hints at its deep Christian roots, derived from Saint Credan or Sancred, a figure believed to have lived in the early medieval period. The well is thought to predate the medieval chapel that once stood beside it, suggesting that the site’s sacredness reaches back into the distant past, possibly even into pre-Christian times when water sources were venerated for their life-giving qualities. The chapel beside the well...

Across the English countryside, beside old roads, at parish boundaries and near ancient churches, there are curious stones that once held vinegar. They are called plague stones, and they are silent relics of one of the darkest chapters in human history. These hollowed boulders, simple and unassuming, tell stories of isolation, desperation, and the inventive ways people tried to survive the plagues that swept across medieval Europe. They are more than carved rock. They are echoes of fear and faith. They remind us that even in times of terror, people sought ways to protect one another while clinging to the thin hope that cleanliness, prayer, and distance might keep death away. Today these stones still stand in places like Derbyshire, York, and Cornwall. Most passersby have no idea what they once were. Yet when you stop and look closer, they tell you everything about the human instinct to endure. What Were Plague Stones Plague stones are hollowed-out stones or boulders used during outbrea...

High above the rugged moorlands of West Penwith, where the wind carries the scent of the Atlantic and the land rolls like waves of granite and heather, two ancient monuments keep silent watch over thousands of years of history. Chun Castle and Chun Quoit stand less than half a mile apart, sharing not only a landscape but a mysterious connection that still stirs something deep in anyone who visits. Together, they offer one of the most powerful glimpses into the ancient soul of Cornwall. This is not just another stone site. Chun feels alive. The air hums differently up there, the horizon feels wider, and the sense of human presence from a vanished age is unmistakable. On our visit, as we climbed the hill through the rough bracken and emerged onto the summit, the sight of the old stones against the endless sea stopped us in our tracks. You can almost hear the echoes of voices long gone. The Location Chun sits in the far west of Cornwall, a region so old and windswept that time itself seem...