- Senegambian stone circles
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Stone Circles of Senegambia
State Party = GAM and SEN
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, iii
ID = 1226
Region = Africa
Year = 2006
Session = 30th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1226The Senegambian stone circles lie in
Gambia north ofJanjanbureh and in centralSenegal . Coordinates: 13° 41 N - 15° 31 W. Approximate area: 15,000 square miles (39,000 km²). They are sometimes divided into theWassu (Gambian) andSine-Saloum (Senegalese) circles, but this is purely a national division.The stones were erected around the
eighth century on top of earlier graves. The ten to twenty-four stones in each circle vary in size up to ten-ton stones, from 1 to 2.5 metres high and are generally oflaterite . The stones markburial s and were erected before thetwelfth century . There are around 1,000stone circle s, the biggest concentration being more than 1,000 stones in fifty-two circles atDjalloumbéré and those around the village ofWassu , which has amuseum devoted to them. One notable circle is actually a V formation. Traditionally, for unknown reasons, people leave small rocks on the stones. The use to which the stones were put is not clear but recent excavation work (2006), reported by theNational Geographic Society , suggests a funerary purpose given the large number of human remains found at the sites. Archaeologists at the site are pursuing the theory that different parts of a body were buried at different sites and at different times. [A National Geographic podcast is available at [http://podcast.nationalgeographic.com/ng-video-shorts/] . Select the episode entitled 'Senegal: Monuments', dated 11 August 2006 (if your browser does not have a RSS 'news reader' built-in, then copy the link into iTunes and subscribe to the feed).]On
21 July 2006 , thestone circle s were added to theWorld Heritage List . They are described byUNESCO ascquote|consisting of four large groups of stone circles that represent an extraordinary concentration of over 1,000 monuments in a band 100 km wide along some 350 km of theRiver Gambia . The four groups, Sine Ngayène, Wanar,Wassu and Kerbatch cover 93 stone circles and numerous tumuli, burial mounds, some of which have been excavated to reveal material that suggest dates between 3rd century BC and 16th century AD.Together the stone circles of
laterite pillars and their associated burial mounds present a vast sacred landscape created over more than 1,500 years. It reflects a prosperous, highly organized and lasting society. The stones were quarried with iron tools and skillfully shaped into almost identical cylindrical or polygonal seven-ton pillars, on average about two metres high. Each circle contains between 8 and 14 pillars and is 4 to 6 metres across. All are located near theburial mounds . This outstanding site is representative of a much widermegalithic zone in the region, which in terms of size, consistency, and complexity appears to be unrivalled anywhere in the world. The finely worked individual stones display precise and skillful working practices and contribute to the imposing order and grandeur of the overall complexes. [ [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1226 Stone Circles of Senegambia - UNESCO World Heritage Centre ] ]References
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