Description

The monument comprises the remains of a recumbent stone circle. It was scheduled in 1933 but an inadequate area was protected; the present scheduling clarifies the location and extent of the protected area.

The circle is 15.5m in diameter and lies on a turf-covered mound, which measures approximately 0.6m high and which has been truncated on the N side by a road. The ring appears to be circular, with the recumbent and flankers set within a true circle defined by the other stones, The interior has a central ring carin, with a damaged external kerb which turns outward to join the recumbent and flankers. Within the central area are 2 boulders and other large slabs which appear to be displaced and are of unknown origin.

Reference was made in 1853 (Jervise) to the site consisting of two concentric rings, but the evidence visible today cannot confirm this. The New Statistical Account of Scotland (vol 11, 623) refers to two so-called Druidical circles, but there is no reference to their being concentric, and there is no evidence for a second circle. A number of stones are now fallen, including what is believed to be the recumbent, which measures 3.0m by 2.2m by 0.5m and is positioned on the SSW arc of the circle.

The area to be scheduled is a polygon centred on the centre of the circle, with a maximum extent of 36m NW-SE, to include the remains of the stone circle and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the monument may survive, as shown in red on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a recumbent stone circle, a group of monuments unique to the north-east of Scotland. It is one of the most southerly examples of this type, and therefore has the potential to provide important information about prehistoric ritual activity in this area and to our understanding of regional variation across the country.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NO57NE 3.

References:

Barclay G J and Ruggles C L N 1999, 'ON THE FRONTIER? RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLES IN KINCARDINESHIRE AND ANGUS', Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 5, 12-22.

Burl H A W 1973a, 'THE RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLES OF NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 102, 60, 79.

Burl H A W 1976a, THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE BRITISH ISLES, London and New Haven, 354.

Jervise A 1853, THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF THE LAND OF THE LINDSAYS IN ANGUS AND MEARNS, WITH NOTICES OF ALYTH AND MEIGLE, Edinburgh, 106.

Warden A J 1880-5, ANGUS OR FORFARSHIRE: THE LAND AND PEOPLE, DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL, 5v, Dundee, Vol. 3, 226-7.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland