Located at the foot of Knott Hill, Gamelands is an embanked stone circle emblematic of the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age period.
Stone circles served an important role within prehistoric communities, as evidenced by the many such sites scattered throughout the British Isles. Experts believe they provided a setting for ritual or ceremonial activities and social exchange.
While often overlooked in favor of some of its more famous counterparts, Gamelands is among the largest in Cumbria.
Dating from about 1800 to 1400 B.C., the circle was originally made up of 40 larger stones and three smaller ones. They were laid out in an oval, 146 feet by 123 feet in diameter. All but one are made of Shap pink granite. The odd one out is made of limestone. Unlike most stone circles, Gamelands is irregular. A 4-meter-wide gap to its southeast suggests a possible entrance, while the stones on the southern side sit on on slightly higher ground.
Some of the stones were buried or damaged some 160 years ago, when the area was blasted to plow the fields. Today, about 33 stones remain. Later plowing in 1880 uncovered two worked flints and a freestone slab, possibly once part of a cist (ancient coffin).
In 1966, archaeologists surveyed Gamelands to determine whether the stones had always been recumbent or once stood upright, but they were unable to confirm either way. Like most prehistoric sites, Gamelands raises more questions than it answers.