Why Visit The Gambia

Wassu - The Gambia

There are around 40 sites of stone circles from Farafenni to Basse and more which extend north into Senegal. The number of stones in each circle varies from 10 to 24, diameters from 4m to 7m, height from just under a metre to just over 3. The stones were cut from local quarries and set into pre-dug pits and carbon dating has aged them between 400AD to 1000AD (the earliest stone circles in Europe have been put as 1200BC). In general the stone circles appear to be associated with burials, some single, some multiple. There are many stories and legends associated with the circles; burial places of kings, built by giants, home to the spirits. Some Africans believe that because Europeans visit them, they know what they contain! The stones at Wassu are the most famous and contain some impressive stone. There is also a very useful museum which has models and photographs which help to show the history of the stones.