La Longue Rocque
{{Short description|Standing stone in Guernsey, UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Orphan|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = La Longue Rocque
| image = Longue Pierre standing stone, Guernsey.jpg
| caption = The menhir in 2007
| coordinates = {{coord|49.44456|-2.63540|display=inline,title}}
| location = Saint Peter, Guernsey
| type = Menhir
| height = 3.5 meters
| material = Granite
| built = {{circa|2250 BC}}
}}
La Longue Rocque is the tallest megalithic menhir in the Channel Islands. A granite block {{convert|3.5|m|ft|adj=on}} tall and extending a further metre ({{convert|1|m|ft|0|disp=out}}) below the ground, it stands in a field next to Les Paysans road in Guernsey.
It is believed that it was erected between 3000-1500 BC.Kinnes, I. and Grant, J.A. (1983)Les Fouaillages and other Megalithic Monuments of Guernsey. London:roeder Print Services Ltd. p.45
Description
The menhir is located at 49° 26′ 40.6″ N / 02° 38′ 07.4″ W.{{cite web|url=http://www.prehistoricjersey.net/G_La_Longue_Rocque.shtml|title=La Longue Rocque|first=Jeremy|last=Percival|website=www.prehistoricjersey.net}} Excavation in 1894 found it to be trigged{{clarify|date=March 2025}} with one stone and embedded in gravel. It is estimated to weigh five tons.
On the north facing edge of the menhir is an area worn smooth by touching or ‘rubbing’ over the millennia. This may be due to ‘ritual’ rubbing on the stone, or, more likely, the stone being used as a ‘scratching’ post for livestock over the 6500 years since its erection. Place names surrounding these fields suggest other menhirs that have disappeared due to farming, building and superstition.{{cite web|url=http://www.megalithicguernsey.co.uk/LaLongueRocque/|title=La Longue Rocque - Megalithic Guernsey|website=megalithicguernsey.co.uk}}
Folklore
References
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Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd millennium BC
Category:Buildings and structures in Guernsey
Category:Megalithic monuments in Europe
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