Day 169/22. The Merry Maidens - and one more....

This late Stone/early Bronze Age (2500-1500BC) stone circle is renowned for both its beauty and the stories connected to it. It lies isolated in a gently sloping field in the extreme West of Cornwall, and its remarkable qualities were first recorded in the 17th century.
There are 19 stones in all, with a gap in the eastern section which is common to almost all British stone circles. In addition to the regular spacing, the stones were also obviously carefully chosen and positioned as they gradually diminish in size from the southwest to the northeast; this waxing and waning in size believed to mirror the cycle of the moon. 
In Victorian times the story was that these Merry Maidens were local girls who broke the rules on the Sabbath and were turned to stone for dancing, to the equally sinful musicians. Although it is thought that they may represent Christian methods of trying to eliminate Pagan activity at these ancient ceremony sites.
There was a small ceremony going on today. When we arrived a woman was there and kept her eye on us. I did ask her before I flew the drone and she was very happy for me to photograph her. Look in the centre of the circle and you will see the woman spreadeagled. She was chanting something at the top of her voice.
Was she a Druid? A Witch? A Pagan? Or perhaps simply enjoying being at one with the stones... I kept clear and we left her to it..