Reawakening the Neolithic at Calanais
As the days began to lengthen this spring, the Calanais Standing Stones served as the inspiration for some very successful community activities. Through the “Stories of the Stones” spring events programme, ancient life was brought to life bridging th5,000-year gap between the Neolithic and the present day. Developed by the Calanais Visitor Centre alongside HAAR – a fresh local arts collective led by Robbie Thomson and Jon Macleod – the community was invited to step back into the Stone Age through a blend of archaeology, hands-on creativity, and island folklore.
The programme offered a rare chance to explore how our ancestors lived, ate, and expressed themselves. From tracking the sun’s path over the stones to harvesting wild clay for pottery, there was something for everyone. Even local school children joined the adventure, making music with Neolithic-style instruments and crafting vessels using techniques thousands of years old. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, these events were more than just history lessons; they were a way to deepen our connection to the lives of our distant ancestors.
The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting how the events shifted their perspective on the familiar landscape. In sessions led by artist Jon Macleod, participants built simple pinhole cameras to capture the sun and moon’s path over the stones. The results were beautiful, ethereal images that even captured glimpses of the aurora borealis. As Jon noted, “It was exciting to make the link between the original beam of sunlight first seen through the stones… with the beam of sunlight entering the pinhole cameras”.
The atmosphere shifted from scientific to social during “Myth and Monument” at Breasclete Hall. Guests enjoyed a thought-provoking mix of folk tales and legends from Catriona Murray and original music inspired by the stones from Alasdair Caplin and Cree Mackenzie. The evening was described by guests as “magical,” with one guest adding, “It’s great to hear stories like this… good to get out and hear about local culture”.
Art and film also took centre stage when the HAAR artists shared plans about their commission to develop a large-scale landscape performance for Calanais. A very attentive audience, including international art students, was intrigued by the atmospheric music created by artist Alicia Matthews. One attendee perfectly captured the mood, observing “I love the stones and things like this show how much they can inspire people”.
For those who preferred to get their hands dirty, the “Container” workshop explored the secrets of Neolithic ceramics. Guided by Alicia Matthews and archaeologist Chris Murray, participants used wild clay to recreate ancient pottery. The room was buzzing as people experimented with techniques that hadn’t been used on the island for millennia. As one participant joked while grappling with the clay, “This is nothing like I had in my head, but it’s turning out ok!”
The physical reality of the Stone Age came to life during “Glint,” an outdoor expedition to ancient quartz quarries led by archaeologist Ian McHardy. Participants were amazed to find these sites right on their doorstep. “It’s like stretching back through time,” one person remarked, while another noted they had likely walked past the spot a hundred times without realising that 5,000 years ago it was important. After the tour, the group tried their hand at the ancient art of knapping – the ancient craft of stone-tool making. This turned out to be a fascinating activity, as one attendee put it, “I’d never have believed that an antler could be strong enough to work stone”.
The session reached a delicious finale with a unique Neolithic meal. After a foraging walk along the Bragar shores with expert Mo Wilde, guests sat down to a candlelit feast beautifully prepared by chef Kenny MacKay. The meal was a revelation – one participant admitted, “I’ll never look at the shore the same way again!”, while another wondered how the simple things they picked that morning could be transformed into such a stunning feast. Mo is the leader of the Wildbiome project, a citizen-science study collaboration with the University of Bradford. (Mo’s website: https://monicawilde.com/about/about-monica-wilde/.
The overwhelming success of “Stories of the Stones” proves that our hunger for the past is stronger than ever. With waiting lists for every event, the Calanais team is already planning similar sessions for when the new centre opens.
As HAAR artist Robbie Thomson reflected, “It is a privilege to work with a site that draws people in with big questions about the past and asks us to reflect on our own place in time.”
This extraordinary journey into our past was made possible by the Calanais team, who served as the core organisers after successfully securing vital funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The collective expertise of those involved in “The Stories of the Stones” season turned history into a living, breathing experience for the whole community.
Special thanks go to artists Robbie Thomson, Jon Macleod and Alicia Matthews of HAAR for their creative vision and leading the activities.
Deep appreciation also goes to the experts who shared their knowledge and talents: historian Catriona Murray and musicians Alasdair Caplin and Cree MacKenzie for their legends and melodies; archaeologist Ian McHardy for his enthusiastic guiding and knapping skills; archaeologist Chris Murray for his knowledge of Neolithic pottery; and expert forager Mo Wilde and chef Kenny MacKay for turning the island’s larder into a stunning feast.
The Calanais Visitor Centre looks forward to presenting more exciting community activities in the future and thanks everyone who came along and participated.
Funded by The National lottery Heritage Fund
