It consists of eight irregular stones of red granite arranged at approximately equal intervals to form a circle of 10.2 m (33 ft) diameter, enclosing the same number of small cairns.

[4] At the time that the circle was built in the second millennium BC, the surrounding landscape was characterised by wet bogs, and the stones were transported to the site from higher ground some distance away.

[3] Excavations carried out in 1934 by H. E. Kilbride-Jones on behalf of the Ministry of Works,[1] showed that the circle was built in stages.

The entire site had first been cleared, leveled and burned by setting fire to piles of willow twigs.

In 1820 James Logan wrote: "The small Circles contained in the larger present a curious singularity; and it is also remarkable that, at a short distance to the southwest, are nine others of similar dimensions.