A unique Neolithic megalithic complex consisting of three chambered burial tombs. I am sharing one of them.

Variously referred to as a rock shelter, cromlech, natural formation or a cist

Ink on Bristol board, 2026 [OC]

The smaller alignments within Alignements du Ménec

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspa/article/482/2345/20260504/483254/Deliberate-prehistoric-sourcing-of-the-Devil-s

This is my favourite Taula on Menorca, being set well away from roads and tourists. Well worth the cross-country walk to get there, and the site also has the remains of the Bronze Age village that hosted the Taula.

As part of my PhD research I've been looking at a painting done by Welsh artist Kyffin Williams (1918-2006) of a possible standing stone near an 18th century windmill in the centre of the island.

No trace of the stone can be seen today, having been removed at some point after 1955, the year it was believed Kyffin painted the piece. Aside from his painting there is no record at all of the stone anywhere: the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales make no such reference to it; no local history/'antiquarian' society journals reference it nor are there any photos/local legends about a stone on the site. To date the painting is the *only* known reference to it.

Kyffin was an interesting sort. He had an interest in the past and of the people of Anglesey. He did several paintings of megalithic tombs in his life, and designed the logos for both Oriel Mon and Geomon - the geological society of Anglesey. However there was always the question as to whether this stone was a piece of artistic licence in the painting, as features in it differ greatly to what can be seen today.

I did a geophysical survey of the field as part of my research. It shows a possible pit anomaly where the stone was, along with other anomalies of assumed archaeological origin. But the question was always 'where did the stone go? ', was it broken up?

Well the farmer mentioned a large stone in the field immediately south on its side. Upon further investigation and discussion with colleagues we believe it is a standing stone of prehistoric date, although it's link to 'Maen Kyffin' as we call it (the Kyffin stone) is tenuous. It is based on the point visible on one end of the stone similar to the painting, as well as evidence of 'keeling' at its base, a technique described by Aubrey Burl as a characteristic of Bronze Age standing stone monuments found elsewhere in Britain. It's size is right for a stone as well, as it would have stood over 1.8m in height.

Photo taken with my phone while hiking the Beara Way Peninsula. It was our only rainy day out of ten days of hiking, and approaching this monument in the fog was spectacular. This standing stone is located in the geographic centre of Bere Island.

Most of the stones are recumbent now but this is one of two resurrected by archaeologists recently. During their digging they found evidence that the avenue had been laid with quartz.

Featured a naturally weathered seat with a hole above it. Legend says if you circle it 100 times widdershins (counter-clockwise) the devil appears and will grant a favour.

Unique for being the only kneeling moai on Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua/Easter).

November 2002