Archaeology Notes

Event ID 816401

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/816401

NJ80NW 9 8018 0638.

(NJ 8018 0638) Stone Circle (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6" map (1901)

Standing Stones (NR)

OS 6" map (1919)

On the top of the ridge between the Skene and Echt roads, about ten miles west of Aberdeen, there are two upright granite pillars, the remains of a stone circle probably about 50 feet in diameter.

The southern stone is 6ft 8ins (2m) high, 2ft 9 ins (0.83m) broad and between 1ft 4 ins and 2ft 3 ins (0.4 and 0.69m) thick.

The northern stone is 6ft 3 ins (1.9m) high, up to 3ft (0.9m) wide and 1ft to 2ft 3 ins (0.3 to 0.69m) thick. On its southern side are eight plain cups and there is one rather doubtful cup and ring on the northern side, near the top.

J Ritchie 1919

The remains of this stone circle are fully described above.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 3 November 1961.

(Name cited as Springhill).

NMRS, MS/712/74.

This stone circle has been reduced to a single stone, which stands in a field about 500m NNW of Springhill farmsteading (NJ80NW 70.00). When the Ordnance Survey last visited this stone circle in 1961 a second stone stood about 16m to the NW. The remaining stone is a granite pillar that measures 0.7m from N to S by 0.65m transversely at ground level and stands to a height of 2.05m. It has a naturally bevelled top with facets on the N and S. The other stone now stands adjacent to the W side of a field wall about 30m W of its original position, where it was moved some years ago. Though recorded by the OS as being 6ft 3ins (1.9m) high, the granite pillar now measures 1.75m in height by 0.93m from N to S and up to 0.6m transversely. At ground level the stone is an isosceles triangle in section with its apex pointing S. Of the eight cupmarks recorded by Ritchie, at least five can be seen on the E face at the NE angle. Now no more than roughly circular depressions, they measure about 50mm in diameter and 10mm in depth.

A third stone, not previously recorded, has been set up adjacent to the E side of the dyke a further 19.5m to the S. It is a granite slab which measures 1.45m from N to S by 0.45m transversely and 2.1m in height.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS), 15 April 1998.