The Pedras de abalar,
Galician for "oscillating stones", are several large stones in
Galicia, Spain, that can easily be moved by a person or the wind. One of these is in
Muxía
Muxía () is a coastal town and municipality in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It belongs to the comarca of Fisterra. It is one of the final destinations for pilgrims on the Way of St. Ja ...
, and is known as the "Pedra da Barca". These are large stones that are balanced on a point, so that they can be moved back and forth easily, or even wiggle in response to the wind. These were used at one time to determine the guilt or innocence of those accused of serious crimes. In English, such stones have been called
rocking stone
Rocking stones (also known as logan stones or logans) are large stones that are so finely balanced that the application of just a small force causes them to rock. Typically, rocking stones are residual corestones formed initially by spheroidal ...
s, or logan stones.
The ''Pedras de Abalar'' in Galicia are:
*
Cíes Island
* Corbelle (
Vilalba
Vilalba is a municipality in Galicia (Spain), Galicia (Spain), in the province of Lugo, on the left bank of the river Ladra, one of the headstreams of the Minho (river), Miño.
Pilgrim route
Vilalba is located on the old Way of St. James, pilgr ...
)
* Sande (
Ourense
Ourense (; es, Orense ) is a city and capital of the province of Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path of the Way of St ...
)
* Paradela (near
Cambados
Cambados is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It is known for its historical monuments, its seafood and the famous white wine, Albariño.
Culture
Fishing is a major industry in this coastal area of Galicia ...
)
* Pedra da Barca (near
Muxía
Muxía () is a coastal town and municipality in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. It belongs to the comarca of Fisterra. It is one of the final destinations for pilgrims on the Way of St. Ja ...
)
* Meixide (
Viana do Bolo
Viana do Bolo (in Spanish ''Viana del Bollo'') is a large municipality in Ourense in the Galicia region of north-west Spain. It is located in the south-east of the province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a coun ...
)
* Vilamaior de Boullosa (in the
Limia River region)
* Pena da Conga (
Melide)
* Castro do Faro (
O Porriño
O Porriño (historically known in English as ) is a municipality in Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra (province), Pontevedra.
An industrial town, in the Vigo metropolitan area, it is an important economic dependency. ...
)
* Pena de Embade de Ferrol (demolished, 1755)
Other pedra de abalar include the "Pena da Conga" in
Melide, and the "Castro do Faro" in
O Porriño
O Porriño (historically known in English as ) is a municipality in Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra (province), Pontevedra.
An industrial town, in the Vigo metropolitan area, it is an important economic dependency. ...
.
References
External links
Historia de Galicia de don Benito Vicetto, tomo I, Ferrol 1865.
Stones
Galician mythology
fr:Pierre branlante
gl:Pedra de abalar