Archaeology Notes

Event ID 692291

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/692291

NO66NW 8 6440 6732

(NO 6440 6732) Witch Hillock (NAT)

Tumulus (NR)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1977)

Witch Hillock is an artificial mound: "a remarkable looking object...enclosed with ornamental wire fencing". It was opened about 1856 under the direction of the Earl of Kintore. Mr J Glenny (gardenar, Inglismaldie), who assisted, says that several cists containing bones with "a clay urn containing what appeared to be calcined bones" were found.

Name Book 1863.

Witch Hillock, situated near the edge of a low natural escarpment, is a barrow measuring about 18.0m in diameter and 2.0m high. The mound, showing a largely earthen content, appears in good condition and shows no sign of the 19th century excavation.

About 30m NE are three earthfast boulders, 4.0m apart, forming an arc. They are unusual, being an an area generally devoid of large stones. Their purpose is obscure, but they could be the survivors of a stone circle 7.0 to 8.0m in diameter. (See similar association at 'Three Laws': NO66SE 10.)

Visited by OS (R L) 18 August 1971.