
#765 Globally
⭕ Wassu Stone Circles
Gambia
About This Sacred Site
The Wassu Stone Circles are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Senegambian stone circles, the largest concentration of megalithic stone circles in the world. The site contains 11 circles of laterite pillars, some standing over 2 meters tall, dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 16th century CE. The circles are believed to be burial monuments associated with elaborate funerary practices and ancestor veneration. Local Mandinka communities continue to regard the stones as sacred, and traditional ceremonies are still performed at the site. The purpose and beliefs of the original builders remain subjects of ongoing research.
Key Facts
- •Part of the UNESCO Senegambian stone circles, the largest megalithic concentration in the world
- •Dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 16th century CE
- •Contains 11 circles of laterite stone pillars
- •Believed to be associated with funerary practices and ancestor veneration
- •Local Mandinka communities still regard the stones as sacred
Location
Coordinates: 13.6900, -14.8600





