Archaeology Notes

Event ID 668109

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/668109

NJ52NW 25 5293 2698

For 'stone circles' at NJ 5295 2701 and NJ 5285 2652), see NJ52NW 9 and NJ52NW 10 respectively..

(NJ 5293 2698) Supposed (NAT) Altar Stone (NR).

OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 1st ed., (1866-70)

This stone appears to be that referred to by the New Statistical Account (NSA) as a supposed altar stone, evidently the supine stone of a recumbent stone circle. In 1842 this stone and a few of the other crest stones remained. But about 1812 the circle consisted of two flanking pillars to the recumbent stone, each about 6 feet in height, and seven erect stones, from 5 to 6 feet in height, placed at equal distances on the line of a circle about 25 yards in diameter. The whole of the interior was rudely paved with stones to a depth of about 3 feet. The recumbent stone was 10 feet in length, 9 feet in breadth and 4 feet thick, and lay at an angle of 45 degrees.

In 1866 its measurements were taken as 12 feet long, 4 feet broad and 4 feet thick though drill holes showed that it had been reduced in width. A dyke had been built across it. The surveyor had difficulty in relating it to the circle to the north (NJ52NW 9) as Mr Booth, the oldest inhabitant with an interest in antiquities, had no knowledge of its being moved to its present position. Coles (1902) found its length to be 9 feet 8 inches and noted another stone, over 5 feet in height, possibly from this circle, used as the western post of a gateway a few yards down the dyke.

NSA 1845; Name Book 1866; F R Coles 1902; (Undated) information from Mr Booth, Hillside.

The remains of a recumbent stone circle, the recumbent stone and a gate-post stone as described by Coles (1902). At the base of a dyke built between these stones there are several other large broken stones probably from the circle.

Re-surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RL) 18 September 1967.

The surviving stones of this stone circle were removed to Bankhead steading (NJ52NW 50) in about 1981, when the stone wall in which they had been incorporated was removed.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, IF), 5 March 1996.