Little Meg

Cairn Circle - Cumberland

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NY 57692 37475 (GPS 67min) Diameter 4.8m x 3.9m (Meas.)
Visited March 2000 No magnetic anomalies

Little Meg, also known as the Maughanby circle, lies less than a kilometre from Long Meg and Her Daughters. The contrast between the two circles could not be more extreme, Long Meg is one of the biggest circles in the UK with multi-ton stones, whilst Little Meg measures only about 5m at its widest point, and several of its stones can be moved with one hand. 
Little Meg is a kerb circle, it once surrounded a low barrow in which was found a cist containing a cremation and an urn. Originally thought to have about twelve stones, we counted eleven that could reasonably be said to be associated with the circle. The tallest stone, 1.2m high stands at the NNW, just beside it at the NNE lies a slab decorated with a concentric cup and ring mark and a spiral. A second, more elaborately carved stone has been removed to the Tullie House Museum in Carlilse.
As can be seen from the photo above, the circle has been much disturbed over the ages and it is uncertain how many of the stones are even near to their original positions. Burl quotes a diameter of 6.1m for the circle, whilst our measurements were 4.8m N-S, 3.8m E-W, and the present layout is far from circular.

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