Wassu Stone Circles Lonely Planet review for Wassu Stone Circles
Archaeologists believe the Wassu stone circles are burial sites
constructed about 1200 years ago. Each stone weighs several
tonnes and is between 1m (3.3ft) and 2.5m (7.5ft) in height.
There's a small but well-presented museum with exhibits
discussing the possible origins of the circles. Stonehenge this
isn't, but nevertheless, it's fascinating evidence of ancient
African cultures. Most of the stone circles in the region date
from AD 500 to AD 1000, before the Mandinka people migrated to
this area. Excavations have unearthed human bones and artefacts
at the centre of many circles, indicating that they were burial
sites, although dating techniques show that bodies may have been
buried some time after the circles were constructed. Despite
archaeological excavation, little is known about the people who
built these structures.