Arran, Ballymichael Burn
Four Poster Stone Circle (Bronze Age)(Possible)
Site Name Arran, Ballymichael Burn
Classification Four Poster Stone Circle (Bronze Age)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Lag Nan Torr Dubh; Machrie Moor
Canmore ID 39737
Site Number NR93SW 4
NGR NR 9190 3253
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/39737
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Kilmory
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Buteshire
NR93SW 4 9191 3252.
(NR 9191 3252) Cairn (NR)
OS 6" map, Buteshire, (1924)
A small circle of four large stones, two sandstone and two granite, diameter 12ft (Four stones, set N, S, E and W are shown on 1st edition 6" map, 1864).
Source: Name Book 1864.
Two stones - 10ft apart, remain of this circle. The first is a block of white sandstone, 3ft 8ins x 10-12 ins, standing obliquely 2ft high. The second, of red sandstone, is 2ft 8ins x 14ins and 15-18 ins high. The centre has been disturbed and there is no sign of a cist. (Probably the ONB compiler was referring to two different types of sandstone - he also calls the sandstone blocks of NR93SW 16 'granite').
Source: J A Balfour 1910.
NR 9190 3253. The two stones, as described, stand on a low peat and heather-covered natural rise in an otherwise flat marshy area. They have been set on edge, feasibly on the arc of a circle.
No socket depressions of the missing stones, nor any form of artificial work or disturbance was found in the close vicinity of the surviving two stones.
The description in the Name Book (1864) suggests this may be the remains of a 'four poster'.
Surveyed at 1:10 000.
Visited by OS (J R L) 29 September 1977.
Note (23 July 2018 - 24 July 2018)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.
HES Survey and Recording 23-24 July 2018.
