Archaeology Notes
Event ID 670869
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/670869
NJ81SE 11 85950 13217
(NJ 8595 1321) Stone Circle (NR)
OS 6" map (1928)
A circle of stones, approximately sixty feet in diameter, on Tyrebagger Hill, is in a very conspicuous position. The stones vary from three feet high ( the stone directly opposite the recumbent stone) to nine feet five inches and eleven feet high (the two pillar-stones flanking the recumbent stone). The recumbent stone itself is eleven feet long and canted upon a bedding of small stones.
In 1822 there were ten upright stones and one recumbent stone: in 1899 there was an additional upright stone which, with its neighbour, was described as a thin stone, almost a slab. Comparison of the two plans suggests that one of the original stones had been split into these two, possibly when the circle was used as a cattle-fold.
Maclagan is the only authority found to record an inner concentric circle, twelve feet from the main circle, formed of flat stones set edge to edge, and a second concentric circle thirty feet outside the main circle. She believes that the main circle of stones, with the inner circle, formed the limits of a twelve-feet thick wall. The innermost circle is shown, in fragmentary condition, by Coles.
J Logan 1829; C Maclagan 1875; F R Coles 1900
This circle is as described above: Coles' plan is accurate, except for the small group of stones near the recumbent stone. The two 'thin stones' have fallen. The inner concentric circle exists as a retaining bank 0.3m high and 3.0m in from the stone circle. It is only evident on the north segment where, also, several stones stones protrude through the bank. Of the outer circle, only a low spread grass bank, 0.2m high and 9.0m distant from the stone circle, exists, on the SW side.
Visited by OS (EGC) 27 October 1961.
This monument is situated in a clump of beech trees on the edge of a pasture field at an altitude of 130m OD. It commands a wide view to the S, in which direction the ground falls away sharply.
NMRS, MS/712/79.
