Four-Posters: Bronze Age Stone Circles of Western Europe 9780860545804, 9781407318158

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Four-Posters Bronze Age Stone Circles of Western Europe

AubreYBurl

BAR British Series 195 1988

B.A.R.

5, Centremead, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 ODQ, England.

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D.R. Walker, M.A.

BA� 195, 1988: 'Four-Posters' © Aubrey Burl , 1988

The author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860545804 paperback ISBN 9781407318158 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860545804 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

D edicated t o t he m emory o f

FRED COLES

a f ine f ieldworker w ho b etween 1 895 a nd 1 911 v isited, s urveyed, s ketched a nd p lanned m ore t han t hirty S cottish F our-Posters; m eticulously r ecorded h is f indings i n t he P roceedings o f t he S ociety o f A ntiquaries o f S cotland; a nd w ho w as t he f irst t o r ealise t hat t hese p reviously u nrecognised r ectangular m egalithic s ettings w ere a s pecial f orm o f s tone c ircle.

111

' We s hall o nly b e a ble t o r econstruct t he p ast b y c onstant d ialectic; i t i s r are i ndeed f or a n i nvestigator t o b e a ble t o s olve a p roblem b y d iscovering a n a bsolute t ruth; a nd s hould h e d o s o, i t w ill b e f ound t o b e a s mall p oint w ith b ut l imited r epercussions. I t t herefore b ecomes a n ecessity t o u ndertake h istorical s yntheses...' P icard & P icard,

i v

1 968, 4 .

C ONTENTS A cknowledgements L ists: M aps a nd P lans; T ables.

v i v ii

P hotographs F OUR-POSTERS: B RONZE A GE S TONE C IRCLES O F W ESTERN E UROPE I ntroduction H istory o f r esearch S hape a nd d esign S ize F eatures O rigins D istribution D ating C upmarks A stronomy ' Christianisation' D iscussion

1 3 6 8 1 1 1 3 1 7 3 1 3 3 3 4 3 9 4 3

G AZEIlhER A n ote L ist o f F our-Posters i n t he G azetteer B rittany E ngland N orthern I reland R epublic o f I reland S cotland W ales A ddendum : P lace-Names

5 3 5 4 5 6 5 8 7 6 7 8 9 0 2 02 2 04

A ppendix. F eatures a nd f inds i n F our-Posters A ccession n umbers

2 06 2 08

A bbreviations

2 12

B ibliography

2 13

I ndex

2 21

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS

N o a rchaeologist w ould p rogress f ar i n h is r esearch w ere i t n ot f or t he h elp a nd c orrections o f h is c olleagues, a nd I a m v ery g rateful t o t he f ollowing f or t heir i nformation a nd a ssistance: t o D r J ohn B arnatt f or h is n otes a bout G ibbet M oor, D erbyshire; M r C hristopher D unn f or t elling m e a bout t he c upmarks o n t he F our S tones, P owys; M r J im D avidson o f t he R CHM-Scotland, f or d etails a nd p lans o f m any e lusive S cottish F our-Posters; D r J ean l 'Helgouach f or h is p lan o f t he s eemingly i nexplicable C hAteau-Bü i n B rittany; M r R od M cCullagh f or s ending m e f urther d etails o f h is e xcavation o f t he P ark o f T ongland, K irkcudbrightshire; M r R .P. M ead, R CHME ngland, f or t he m aterial a bout t he u nbelievable s ite o f D unsley M oor, Y orkshire; D r S ean O 'Nuallain f or M ullaghmore, C o D own , f or t he C ork a nd K erry F our-Posters t hat h e d iscovered, a nd f or a ll h is a ssiduous f ieldwork i n t he g reen h ills o f s outh-west I reland; M s A lison R eid o f t he P erth M useum a nd A rt G allery f or t he i nformation a bout t he e xcavated f inds o f D r M argaret S tewart; D r J ack S cott f or d rawing m y a ttention t o t he u nobtrusive s ite o f B agbie, K irkcudbrightshire; a nd D r A lison S heridan o f t he R oyal M useum o f S cotland, E dinburgh, f or n otes o n t he G lenballoch u rn. A nd I s hall c ertainly n ot o verlook m y i ndefatigable w ife, J udith , f or h er c ompany a nd e ncouragement i n t he m ists a nd r ains o f t he m ountainsides o f S cotland a nd I reland i n t he s earch f or s ome e ver-evasive F our-Poster. M y t hanks t o a ll o f y ou.

T he f ieldwork w as u ndertaken p artly w ith t he a id o f a g rant f rom t he B ritish A cademy. I g ratefully a cknowledge t his g enerosity, a nd a lso e xtend m y t hanks t o P rofessor G eorge E ogan a nd P rofessor D erek S impson w ho s upported m y a pplication.

P hotographs T he p hotographs a re b y t he a uthor w ith t he e xception o f t hose f or t he t hree F ortingall s ites, P erthshire, p ages 1 68-73, w hich w ere t aken b y M arius C ooke o f L eicester U niversity; a nd o f M achrie M oor 4 , A rran, p age 2 11, w hich w as t aken b y M ick S harp.

v i

L ISTS

M APS A ND P LANS 1 .

D istribution o f F our-Posters.

5

2 .

T he s ix z ones o f F our-Posters.

9

3 .

T he t wo m ajor R SC a reas a nd t heir p eripheral s mall r ings.

1 4

4 .

T he D ee V alley a nd t he G len S hee p ass.

2 0

T ABLES. 1 .

F our-Posters i n B ritain, I reland a nd B rittany.

4

2 .

M egalithic Y ards a nd R ods i n F our-Posters.

7

3 .

T he ' Perth Y ard ' a nd F our-Posters.

8

4 .

S izes o f F our-Posters i n d ifferent r egions.

1 0

5 .

C upmarks a nd a stronomy i n F our-Posters.

3 3

v ii

P HOTOGRAPHS 1 L undin F arm S E , P erthshire

i x

2 L undin F arm S E. C upmarked o utlier

3 2

3

3 5

G oatstones, N orthumberland. C upmarked s tone

4 W illiam S tukeley's s ection t hrough t he A mesbury 5 5E b ell b arrow , W iltshire

4 8

5 C am nM eini, P reseli M ountains, D yfed

4 8

6 C appaboy B eg, C o. C ork. O utlying s tone

5 0

7

5 6

C hateau-BC ', B rittany

8 M ayburgh , C umbria. S urviving s tone

5 8

9

G oatstones, N orthumberland

6 6

1 0

T hree K ings, N orthumberland

6 8

1

C appaboy B eg, C o. C ork

7 8

1 2

L ettergorman, C o. C ork

8 2

1 3

M achrie B urn, A rran

1 18

1 4

C raighall M ill, P erthshire

1 58

1 5

F ortingall N E, P erthshire. B efore e xcavation

1 68

1 6

F ortingall N E. A fter e xcavation

1 68

1 7

F ortingall S W. A fter e xcavation

1 71

1 8

F ortingall S W . A erial v iew a fter e xcavation

1 71

1 9

F ortingall. S W t o N E r ing

1 72

2 0

F ortingall. S W r ing t o R SC a t t he s outh

1 72

2 1

F ortingall S outh R SC

1 73

2 2

F ortingall S outh. T he w est f lanker s tonehole

1 73

2 3

L undin F arm S E, P erthshire

1 84

2 4

G lentirrow , W igtownshire

2 00

2 5

G lassel, K incardine

2 09

2 6

C omet S tone, O rkney

2 10

2 7

M achrie M oor 4 , A rran

2 11

v iii

L UNDIN F ARM S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 2 2)

i x

I ; -

-

, •• • • •.-

1? J 1 ) .. ,V

9. , . • •, 6 •• ,

\ A

•L

•

.

•

.\ \\ '

•

k'

./ f••_ •_„gt7 r- V W • Y e

, I deV Y j e' s

1 42 • •

• j i

C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) f rom t he e ast.

908) ( Coles, 1

FOUR-POSTERS:

BRONZE AGE

STONE CIRCLES

OF WESTERN EUROPE I ntroduction. ' It s eems c lear t hat a t t his s ite t here w ere o riginally f our S tones, a s i n s o m any o ther P erthshire g roups, b ut o f t he r emoval o f o ne f rom t he S .W. a ngle I c ould g lean n o a ccount' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 26-7). H is b rief d escription o f t he d amaged r ing o f C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) p rovides a f itting i ntroduction t o a n o verview o f t he l ittle s tone c ircles k nown a s F our-Posters. A w arning i s n eeded. O f n ecessity a rchaeologists s earch f or p atterns a mongst m onuments i n o rder t o e nsure t hat t heir i nterpretations a re b ased o n t he f irm e vidence o f t raits r epeated f rom o ne s ite t o a nother. T he f act t hat t he s outh-western s tone i n o ne c ircle i s h igher t han t he o ther t hree p illars m eans n othing u nless t hat f eature a ppears c onsistently i n o ther r ings. T he s ame i s t rue o f t he p resence o f c remations, o f h ill-shoulder l ocations, a lignments t o m idwinter s unset, o f c upmarks o n e astern s tones. U nless t hey a re a c haracteristic o f r ing a fter r ing o ne c an o nly r efer t o t heir e xistence a s a n i diosyncracy o f o ne o r t wo c ircles. N o s ensible a nalysis c an b e m ade. E ven t hese c autious w ords r equire q ualification. C are m ust a lso b e t aken n ot t o i mpose p atterns, u sing t he f ragmentary a nd e quivocal c lues i n r uinous c ircles t o m anufacture f unerary r ituals o r c reate s ightlines t hat n ever e xisted. I nflexibility o f d esign w as n ever a p art o f t he e ngineering o r t he r eligious t hinking o f e arly p rehistoric p eople i n t hese i slands. T hey w ere p easants a nd p oets r ather t han a rtisans a nd a rchitects. ' The e veryday l ife o f t he C elts i ncluded t he s upernatural e qually w ith t he n atural, t he d ivine w ith t he m undane; f or t hem t he O therworld w as a s r eal a s t he t angible p hysical w orld, a nd a s e ver-present' ( Ross, 1 986, 1 03). A t housand o r m ore y ears b efore t he I ron A ge i n B ritain t he m en a nd w omen o f t he B ronze A ge w ho c onstructed a nd u sed t he f inal s tone c ircles w ere j ust a s m ystical i n t heir t hinking a nd j ust a s i ndifferent t o m echanical p recision w here i t w as n ot d emanded f or r easons o f s afety. I ndeed, t here w ere o ccasions w hen c onsideration o f s tructu ral s tability w as i gnored b ecause o f a d esire f or v isual e ffect ( Burl, 1 987, 1 85). A nd t his m eans, t o t he d isappointment o f s ome r esearchers, t hat t here w as n o ' classic' d esign o f a F our-Poster. T here w as n o b lueprint i n p rehistory. N o p rofessional g ang o f c ircle-builders t outed f or c ustom a mongst B ronze A ge s ocieties. N or w as t here a ny s tandardised m easuring r od l ike t he M egalithic Y ard o f 2 .72 f t ( 0.829m) t o b e d espatched f rom a p riestly c entre s uch a s A vebury o r C arnac e ach t ime a f amily, p erhaps s everal h undred m iles a way, d ecided t hat a s tone c ircle s hould b e p ut u p.

1

T his s tatement i s, o f c ourse, i n d irect o pposition t o a b elief i n t he e xistence o f t he M egalithic Y ard o r i ts t wo-and-a-half t imes l onger M egalithic R od o f 6 .8 f t ( 2.1m). ' There m ust h ave b een a h eadquarters f rom w hich s tandard r ods w ere s ent o ut b ut w hether t his w as i n t hese i slands o r o n t he C ontinent t he p resent i nvestigation c annot d etermine' ( Thom, 1 967, 4 3). ' Somehow o r o ther M egalithic e ngineers w ere a ble t o c arry t heir u nit f rom B rittany t o O rkney w ith a n a ccuracy o f 1 i n 1 000. W e d o n ot k now w hether i t w as c arried a s t he y ard o r t he r od' ( Thom & T hom , 1 973, 1 22). T he c oncept o f a n i nternational a cceptance o f a s tandardised m easure i s i n c omplete c ontradiction t o t he w idespread e vidence o f r egional d iversity i n t he p ottery i ndividual g roups m ade, i n t heir m etalwork s tyles, t heir b urial m onuments, i n t heir r ectangular, s quare o r r ound h ouses, t heir s olar o r l unar c ults, t heir s tone c ircles a nd h enges. F or t he r eader's i nterest t he d iameter o f a c ircle i s q uoted n ot o nly i n I mperial a nd m etric l engths i n t his b ook b ut, s ometimes, i n M egalithic Y ards a lso. I t i s f or a rchaic i nterest o nly. B eing s uch a m anifest e xample o f ' everyone's o ut o f s tep b ut m e' i t c annot b e d eemed a p rehistoric r eality. N or d id a stronomical m issionaries r oam t he t rackways p reaching t he b enefits o f c alculating t he c elestial m echanisms o f t he s un o r m oon. T o t he c ontrary, t here w ere t raditions o f m egalithic r ings w hose o rigins w ere h alf-forgotten a nd d istorted, a nd t here w as t he r etention o f r ituals f or w hich a c ircle o f s tanding s tones w as e ssential. E ach c ommunity b uilt i ts o wn r ing, s ometimes w ith t he a ssistance o f n eighbours. I t w as a ccepted t hat f our s tones w ere n eeded b ut, a fter t hat, n ot o nly d id e ach r egion d iffer i n i ts a rchitectural f oibles b ut e ach g roup w ithin t he r egion a lso d iffered i n t he f eatures i t c hose t o i ncorporate o r t o e xclude i n i ts o wn m onument. T here w as n o m andatory m egalithic k it t o a ssemble. I nstead, t here w ere a s m any v ersions o f F our-Posters a s t here w ere p eople t o e rect t hem. N evertheless, s ome g eneral o bservations c an b e m ade. A ' classic' F our-Poster w ould b e c lose t o a nother o ne a nd w ould h ave f our t all s tones a bout 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh, t he t allest b eing a t t he s outh-west o r s outh-east. T he s tones s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle a b9ut 1 4 f t 6 i ns ( 4.4m) s quare, e nclosing a n a rea o f 2 09 s . f t ( 19.4m ) , w ith s ides a ligned N -S a nd E -W. T he s tones w ere p laced o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle w ith a d iameter o f 2 0 f t 6 i ns ( 6.3m), a n u nlikely 7 .6 M egalithic Y ards. O ne o r m ore l ow s labs w ere s et i n e ach o f t he f our s ides. T he s outh-east s tone w as c upmarked. T he ' ring' s tood o n a n atural m ound t hat w as a rtificially e nhanced b y a c apping o f c airn-stones. I t c ontained a c entral p it o r c ist i n w hich t here w as a B ronze A ge u rn, c remated b one, c harcoal a nd s igns o f b urning. T his ' classic' s ite w as e rected o n a t errace o r a h ills houlder i n h ighland c ountry a t a h eight o f 6 50 f t ( 198m) 0 .D. w ith l ong v iews t o s outh a nd w est. T here i s n o s uch s ite. A s imalcrum e xists a t C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) w hose d imensions a re c lose t o t he i deal a nd w hich i s w ithin

2

a f ew y ards o f C arse F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ) b ut i t d oes n ot o n a m ound a nd i t i s l ow-lying n ear L och T ay. T he 9 9 o ther i n t he g azetteer d iffer e ven m ore f rom t he t heoretical m odel.

s tand s ites

H istory o f R esearch. ' Surely, i f e ver t he p re-historic c ircle-builder ( supposed t o b e a S tar-and-Hill w orshipper) s ought f or a n oble p anorama w ithin w hich t o r ear s ome r ude i mage o f S tonehenge, t his w ere t he v ery s pot' A nd y et, w hat h e d id e rect a re o nly f our g reat, u nshapely, s omewhat s quat, a nd v ery r ough b oulders i n t he c entre o f a s light m ound...' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 07). I t i s a l ong w ay i n d istance b ut n ot i n t ime b etween t he r aising o f t he S tonehenge s arsens a nd t he ' rough b oulders' o f t he N a C arraigean E dintian F our-Poster ( Perth 2 3) t o w hich C oles r eferred. T his, i n i tself, d emonstrates t he c omplexity o f m egalithic s tudies. T hat t wo s uch d isparate r ings a s S tonehenge a nd a F our-Poster, l ess t han a t wentieth o f t he f ormer's s ize, s hould c o-exist e mphasises b oth t he r egional d iversity o f t he t ime a nd a lso t he n eed i n a rchaeology f or a nalyses t hat m ay c larify t he o rigins a nd d evelopment o f p articular t ypes o f s tone c ircle. S ome e ighty y ears a go i t w as r ealised t hat i n c entral S cotland t here w ere ' groups o f f our S tones' s et a t t he c orners o f a r ough s quare ( Coles, 1 908, 1 61) b ut i t w as o ver f ifty y ears b efore t he t erm ' Four-Poster' w as a pplied t o t his d istinctive c lass o f m egalith ( Coles & S impson, 1 965, 4 3). T hree s ites w ere i dentified: C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ); L undin F arm S outh-East ( Perth 2 2); a nd T irinie F arm ( Perth 2 7 ) . ' The s tone c ircles [ in S trathtay] t oo a re v aried, a nd i nclude a n umber o f o nly 4 s tones. [ They] s eem , o n t he b asis o f t he p ottery f rom t he t wo e xcavated s ites, t o b e a s econd m illennium f orm o f m onument' ( ibid, 4 3-4). I t i s p robable t hat b efore C oles' r ecognition t hat t hey w ere a s eparate c lass F our-Posters h ad s imply b een d ismissed a s c ircles f rom w hich s ome s tones h ad b een r emoved. S ince t he p ublication o f a n i nitial c orpus ( Burl, 1 971) m any m ore s ites h ave b een a ccepted a s F our-Posters, s ome a s f ar a way a s s outh-west I reland ( O 'Nuallain, 1 984b) a nd t his, t ogether w ith t he p roductive e xcavation a t P ark o f T ongland i n K irkcudbrightshire ( McCullagh, 1 987) m akes a n u pdated g azetteer d esirable. S ince t he f irst p aper d evoted t o F our-Posters ( Burl, 1 971) t he n umber o f t hese d iminutive r ings h as a lmost t rebled. I n t hat g azetteer 3 4 s ites w ere l isted, 1 4 o f t hem u ncertain b ecause o f t heir r uinous s tate. T oday 1 01 s ites a re c atalogued ( Table 1 ) o f w hich 5 2 c an c ertainly b e c lassified a s F our-Posters w ith 3 1 o thers u ncertain , t welve m ore c onsidered d ubious b ecause o f t heir a typical s ize, f our t abled a s t ransitional f orms, a nd t wo l isted a s p ossible b ecause a lthough d estroyed a nd u ndescribed t heir a ssociations m ake t he i nterpretation l ikely. T he m ajority o f t he n ew s ites l ie o utside P erthshire ( Tayside) w here t he m ajor c oncentration o ccurs. T his e xpansion o f F our-Posters i nto w estern S cotland a nd s outh-west

3

T ABLE O NE

U ) 0 r I

C OUNTY S COTLAND A berdeen A ngus A rran A yr B anff E ast L othian F ife I slay K incardine K irkcudbright L ewis M oray O rkney P erthshire S kye S utherland W igtownshire E NGLAND C umbria D erbyshire D evon N orthumberland S hropshire Y orkshire

T OTAL

N UMBER 8 9 6

3 4 3

1 5 2 0

6

2 0 1 2 2

3

1 1 1 1

2 2

1

2 1 2 9

1

2 2

1

1 O O O

1 0 0 0

1 7 2 3 2 4 2 5 3 1 3 2 3 3 3 5 3 7 3 8 4 0 4 1 7 0 7 1 7 3 7 5

1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 5 0 0 1

7 6 7 7 8 2 8 4 8 5 8 9

1

9 5 9 6 9 7

1

1

1 1 0 .

1 1

1 8 0 2

1 9

1

1

1

1 1

5 2

4

1

1

4

2 0 1

2

6

4

1

N ORTHERN I RELAND D own

1

1

0

0

0

0

9 8

W ALES P owys

2

1

1

0

0

0

1 00

B RITTANY I lle-et-Vilaine

1

0

1

0

0

0

1 01

4

1 01

E IRE C ork K erry W exford

T OTALS

1 1

1 01

1

1 1

5 2

3 1

2

1 2

F OUR-POSTERS I N B RITAIN, I RELAND A ND B RITTANY

4

F OUR -POSTERS

3

c e rta in

o

u nce r ta in

✓

p oss ib le

O

t r ans it iona l

A

d ub ious

P

p l ace -name

F IG .

1 . T HE D ISTRIBUTION O F F OUR-POSTERS.

5

I reland, m aybe e ven i nto B rittany, i s v ery s uggestive o f a p hysical m ovement o f p eople i n t he e arly 2 nd m illennium B C ( Fig. 1 ). S hape a nd D esign. F our-Posters c onsist o f f our s tanding s tones a t t he c orners o f a n a pproximate r ectangle w hich r arely e xceeded 1 9 f t 8 i ns b y 1 6 f t 3 i ns ( 6 x 5 m) i n s ize. I n c entral S cotland t he f our w ere u sually p laced o n t he p erimeter o f a g ood c ircle, a s ignificant f act w hen c onsidering t heir p robable a ncestry. A n a rrangement o f f our p oints c annot a lways b e f itted o n t o a c ircle. G eometrically i t i s a lways p ossible t o d raw a n a rc t hrough t hree p oints h owever t hey a re d isposed b ut t his i s n ot t rue o f f our o r m ore. A c ircle, t hough , c an a lways b e f itted t o a r ectangle w ith i ts f ocal c entre. I n t he c ases o f F our-Posters, h owever, a s t heir ' rectangles' a re r arely e xact i t s eems t hat h aving s cribed o ut a c ircle i n t he t urf t he b uilders u sed i t a s a t emplate u pon w hich t o e rect f our s tones a s n ear t o t he c orners o f a r ectangle a s t hey c ould w ithout b eing o ver-concerned a bout a ny i rregularities i n t he ' square' o r ' oblong'. T here a re m ore q uadrilaterals a nd t rapezoids a mongst F our-Posters t han p recise r ectangles. I t w as t he c ircle t hat w as t he b asis o f t he d esign. I n h is s urveys C oles c onsistently r emarked o n t he m anner i n w hich t he s tones o f m any F our-Posters s tood o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle, t he s tones b eing ' in a n a lmost t rue c ircle' ( Coles, 1 911, 7 6), a nd w rote t hat a m issing s tone w ould h ave s tood i n a p osition ' which w ould c omplete a t ruly c ircular g roup h aving a d iameter o f 1 9 f eet' [ 5.8m] ( ibid, 1 909, 9 6). O f C omrie B ridge ( Perth 1 1) h e n oted t hat t he s tones r ested ' on t he c ircumference o f a t rue c ircle w hose d iameter i s 2 6 f eet' [ 7.9m] ( ibid, 1 910, 1 37). Y ears l ater A lexander T hom n oticed t he s ame p henomenon a nd o ften d rew a c ircle o n h is p lans o f F our-Posters ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980). Y et a lthough h e c onsidered m any s ites t o b e c ircular h e f ound l ittle c onfirmation f or t he p recise u se o f h is M egalithic Y ard i n t heir d iameters o r o f t he M egalithic R od i n t heir p erimeters. F orty-six o f t he 1 01 s ites a re i n g ood e nough c ondition f or t he v alidity o f t he M egalithic Y ard t o b e t ested i n t hem . T his w as d one u sing T hom 's c riterion t hat o ne s hould m easure n ot t o t he o utside o r i nside o f t he s tones b ut t o t heir c entres. ' The t hickness o f t he s tones a ctually r anges f rom u nder a f oot [ 30cm] t o s everal f eet. S o t he s upposition t hat t he e rectors m easured t o t he i nside o f t he s tones m ust b e w rong. T he e xplanation... i s o f c ourse t hat t he e rectors m easured t o t he s tone c entres' ( Thom , 1 967, 4 2). S ubjected t o a nalysis o nly e ight r ings aw hole o r h alf i nteger o f 2 .72 f t ( 0.83m):0=A rran 6 ; B anff 1 ; P erth 7 ; S kye 1 . =A ngus 1 ; A rran 2 ; E ast L othian 2 ; I slay 1 .

6

c onformed

e ither

t o

O verall, t he 4 6 s ites c ontain a n a verage e rror o f I f t 2 i ns ( 36cm), a d eviation o f o ver 4 0 p er c ent f rom t he M egalithic Y ard. 8 3 p er c ent o f t he s ites p ossess d iameters u nrelated t o T hom 's y ardstick a nd t he e ight t hat d o o ccupy n o o ne r egion b ut a re w idely s cattered. N one o f t he I rish s ites t hat i s c ircular c ontains w hole o r h alf m ultiples o f t he Y ard:- C ork 4 , 5 .7; C ork 5 , 8 .8; C ork 6 , 5 .8; W exford I , 7 .2; D own 1 , 4 .6. T hom h imself p lanned t welve 4 -Posters b ut n ever c laimed t hat t heir b uilders h ad u sed h is s tandardised m easure ( Table 2 ). T he f igures c ited a re T hom 's. H is r eference f or a s ite a nd i ts p age n umber a re t aken f rom T hom , T hom & B url ( 1980). T ABLE 2 G azetteer

M EGALITHIC Y ARDS A ND R ODS I N F OUR-POSTERS T hor n 's R ef +P age

S hape

D iameter M eg Y ard

P erimeter M eg R od

t-

B anff 1 P erth 5 P erth 8 P erth 1 2 P erth 1 6 P erth 1 7 P erth 2 2 P erth 2 6 P erth 2 9 P owys 2 S kye 1 S uth. 1

B 4/2. 2 36 P 1/14. 3 32 P 1/18. 3 46 P 2/4. 3 52 P 1/6. 3 36 P I/6. 3 36 P 1/7. 3 38 P 2/I4. 3 62 P 2/5. 3 56 W 8/3. 3 84 H 7/9. 3 18 N 2/2. 3 38

8 .0 5 .7 1 9.7 8 .1 9 .4 1.6 6 .9 4 .6 ' A p oor r ing'. 6 .3 c .8.O 9 .0

2 5.1 7 .1 2 4.7 1 0.2

8 .7 5 .8 7 .9 1.3

T wo o bservations c an b e m ade a bout t he i nitial l ayout o f a F our-Poster, t he f irst b eing t he n egative o ne t hat n either t he M egalithic Y ard n or t he R od w as u sed w hen t he s ite w as p lanned. I t i s p ossible t hat l ocal u nits o f m easurement w ere k nown, v arying f rom d istrict t o d istrict b ased u pon s uch b ody-lengths a s t he s pan ( outstretched f ingers), t he f oot, t he c ubit ( the l ength o f t he f orearm), t he y ard ( from t he t ip o f t he n ose t o t he o utstretched a rm , t he m ethod u sed b y m arket l inen-traders), a nd t he f athom ( from o utstretched a rm t o o utstretched a rm). T he u se o f t hese n atural l engths w as w idespread i n t he a ncient w orld ( Berriman, 1 953; H icks, 1 977). I t i s a rguable, t herefore, t hat u nits l ike t hese w ere e mployed i n t he l ayout o f F our-Posters. I f s o, t here a re t oo f ew s ites i n a ny o ne r egion f or a c onvincing e xamination t o b e m ade o f t hem . E ven i n P erthshire, w ith t he h ighest n umber o f F our-Posters i n a ny c ounty ( 29), o nly e ight h ave b een p lanned s ufficiently w ell f or a ny r eliance t o b e p laced u pon t heir s tated d iameters. T hese, p lanned b y T hom ( Perth 5 , 8 , 1 2, 1 6, 1 7, 2 2, 2 6, 3 0) v ary g reatly i n s ize a nd, a s T able 2 h as s hown, o ffer v ery l ittle s upport f or e ither t he Y ard o r t he R od. I nterestingly, h owever, i f t he b uilders h ad a l ocal m easure o f 3 f t 1 - i ns ( 96cm), a l ength v ery c lose t o t he m odern I mperial Y ard ( 91cm) , t he m ultiples o f s uch a ' Perth Y ard' w ould h ave b een v ery c lose t o w hole n umbers ( Table 3 ).

7

T ABLE 3

T HE ' PERTH Y ARD ' A ND F OUR-POSTERS D iameters

P erth S ite N o. 5 8 1 2 1 6 1 7 2 2 2 6

M eg. Y ards 5 .7 1 9.7 8 .1 9 .4 1 1.6 6 .9 4 .6

I mperial F eet 1 5.5 5 3.5 2 2.1 2 5.6 3 1.5 1 8.8 1 2.5

M etres 4 .7 1 6.4 6 .7 7 .8 9 .6 5 .7 3 .8

P erth Y ards 5 .0 1 7.1 7 .0 8 .2 1 0.1 6 .0 4 .0

I t i s i nteresting b ut a l ong w ay, s tatistically, f rom b eing p roven. I t s hould b e a dded, m oreover, t hat t he h ypothetical ' Perth Y ard' i s o f n o r elevance t o t he d iameters o f t he A berdeenshire r ecumbent s tone c ircles ( RSCs) f rom w hich, i t w ill b e a rgued, t he T ayside F our-Posters w ere d escended. B ut a s al ocal u nit o f d ifferent l ength m ay h ave b een u sed i n t hat c ounty t his n either p roves n or d isproves t he e xistence o f aP erthshire u nit. I f t he f irst p oint a bout t he l ayout o f F our-Posters i s a n egative o ne t he s econd i s m ore p ositive. T he m ajority o f F ourP osters i n S cotland, i f n ot e lsewhere, w ere p lanned f or t he s tones t o s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a t rue c ircle. T he a ppearance o f t hem f orming a s quare i s a n i llusion. H owever e conomical t hey a re i n t heir n umber o f s tones a nd i n t he s ize o f t heir i nteriors F ourP osters w ere q uite c ertainly s tone c ircles. S ize. A lthough o n a verage F our-Posters a re m uch s maller t han m ost s tone c ircles t hey t hemselves c ould b e a s l arge a s C ar e F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ) e nclosing a n a rea o f s ome 1 024 s . f t ( 100m ) o r a s s mall a s M iltonish ( Wigtown 2 ) w hich w as o nly 3 b y 2 f t ( 90 x6 0cm). 6 3 p er c ent o f t he r ings a re b elow 2 00 s . f t ( 18.6m 2 ) w ith a f urther 2 0 p er c ent b etween 2 01 a nd 4 00 s . f t ( 18.7 - 3 7.2m ) . T here i s a t hird g roup o f telve s ites ( 15 p er c ent) b etween 6 01 a nd 3 000 s f t ( 55.8 - 2 78.7m ) , t he l atter b eing t he v ery d ubious r ectangle o f L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ). I n s ize F our-Posters c an b e s ubdivided i nto a M ini, a S tandard a nd a M axi g roup. T he Mi ll g roup c onsists o f 1 5 s ites w ith i nteriors o f u p t o 5 0 s . f t ( 4.6m ) : A ngus 4 , 5 , 6 ; E ast L othian 1 , 3 ; I slay 1 ; K irkcudbright 1 ; L ewis 1 ; M oray 2 ; P erth 2 6; P owys 2 ; S utherland 2 ; W igtown 2 . T he S tandard g roup c onsists o f t he m ajority o f s ites. T he M axi g roup c ontains s ites: A berdeen 1 , 3 , 4 ; A ngus 2 , 3 ; B rittany 1 ; C umbria 1 ; F ife 1 ; K incardine 1 ; P erth 6 , 1 0, 2 7.

t he

F rom t his o ne c an s ee M ini g roup, 1 o ut o f

t hat t he m ajority o f t he t iny r ings i n 1 5 ( 73 p er c ent), a re i n r egions w ell

8

F IG . 2 . T HE S IX ' REGIONS' O F F OUR-POSTERS.

9

a way f rom w hat m ight b e c onsidered t he ' heartland' o f t he F our-Poster t radition, t he c ounties o f A berdeen, A ngus, K incardine a nd P erthshire w hereas, i n t he M axi g roup, 9 o ut 1 2 ( 75 p er c ent) a re i n t hat z one. T his i s o ne o f t he r easons f or b elieving t hat t he g enesis o f F ourP osters d id e manate f rom t he l ands a round s outh-west A berdeenshire i n t he H owe o f C romar a nd t he f ertile s tretches o f l owland 5 0 m iles s outh-west i n T ayside. I t i s n oticeable t hat, i n g eneral, t he f arther a r egion i s f rom t his e nclave t he s maller t he r ings b ecome. F or g eographical c onvenience F our-Posters h ave b een a llocated t o s ix r egions:( Fig. 2 ) ( A) P erthshire. ( B) A berdeen, A ngus, B anff, K incardine, M oray. ( C) S outh-east S cotland N orth-east E ngland ( Derbyshire, E ast L othian , F ife, N orthumberland, Y orkshire). ( D). S outh-west S cotland. ( Arran, A yrshire , K irkcudbright, W igtown). ( E). N orthern S cotland. ( Sutherland, O rkneys). ( F). D istant. ( Brittany, C ork & K erry, C umbria, I slay, L ewis, N orthern I reland, S kye, S hropshire). F or r easons t hat w ill b e e xplained D evon h as n ot b een i ncluded i n t his s tatistical a nalysis. T he f igures i n T able 4 a re b ased o n m eans d erived f rom t he a bove F our-Poster g roups f rom w hich t he l argest a nd s mallest r ings h ave b een r emoved t o a void g ross p lus o r m inor b iasses. T ABLE 4

S IZES O F F OUR-POSTERS I N D IFFERENT R EGIONS A verage L ength o f S ides

A verage I nterior S quare F eet A B C D E F

2 17 2 94.1 1 46 1 58.7 1 34 1 68.3

S quare M etres 1 4.7 1 7.2 1 2.1 1 2.6 1 1.6 1 3.0

F eet

M etres

1 4.6 1 7.3 1 2.1 1 2.8 1.8 1 2.9

3 .8 4 .2 3 .5 3 .6 3 .4 3 .6

O ne s hould a lso r emark w hen d iscussing t he q uestion o f s ize t hat t he l arger F our-Posters t end t o b e f ound i n t hose a reas t hat h ad a lready b een o ccupied d uring t he N eolithic p eriod, s ites s uch a s t he F ortingall r ings ( Perth 1 6,17) n ear a n e arthen l ong b arrow i n T ayside; L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ) n ear B alfarg c ircle-henge; M ayburgh ( Cumbria 1 ) n ear t he g reat s tone c ircles a nd a xe-factories o f t he L ake D istrict; a nd C hâteau-Bü n ear t he p assage-grave o f T r 41 i n B rittany. T his i s n ot t o s uggest t hat s uch F our-Posters w ere N eolithic b ut t hat t hey w ere e rected o n f ertile l and p reviously p erceived a s a ttractive b y N eolithic s ettlers a nd c apable o f m aintam ing a s izeable p opulation. T he e quation b etween t he s ize o f a F our-Poster's i nterior a nd t he s ize o f i ts l ocal c ommunity i s a f urther m atter f or c onsideration.

1 0

T he s trange q uadrilaterals r ecorded o n E xmoor ( Devon 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) h ave b een o mitted f rom t he a nalysis i n T able 4 b ecause t heir g reat s ize w ould d istort t he w eightings m ore n ormal t o t he s mall F our-Posters o f Z one F . W hether t he D evon r ectangles a re t ruly F our-Posters w ill b e c onsidered. H ere i t i s s ufficient t o n ote e t t he s mallest, F urzehill C ommon ( Devon 2 ) c overs 2 52 s . f t ( 23.4m ) , a nd t he l argest, L on eone A llotment ( Devon 3 ) o ccupies n o l ess t han 3 745 s . f t ( 347.9m ) . I f s uch s ites d o b elong t o t he F our-Poster c ategory i t w ould b e b etter t o a ssess t hem s eparately f rom t he o ther l ittle m onuments i n Z one F . T he f ive s ites a verage 1 255 s . f t ( 35.4m 2 ) w ith t heir ' squares' b eing s ome 3 5 f t 4 i ns ( 10.8m) l ong, t imes t he l ength o f t he m ajority o f F our-Posters i n e nclosing a n a rea s even a nd a h alf t imes t he s ize o f t he

t he s ides o f a lmost t hree Z one F , a nd o thers.

F eatures. T he i mportant f eatures o f F our-Posters c an b e d ivided b etween t hose w hich a re a pparent f rom s urface o bservation a nd t hose, s uch a s t he p resence o f c ists o r c remations, w hich c an o nly b e k nown f rom r ecorded e xcavations. O f t he s urface e vidence t he m ost o bvious i s t he e xistence o f f our u pright s tones a t t he c orners o f a r ather c asual r ectangle w hose s ides a re n ot o ccupied b y e qually t all s tones. A ccurate s urveys o f s ites i n r easonable c ondition h ave s hown t hat i n a t l east 3 6 c ases t he f our s tones s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a g ood c ircle. T he s tones m ust b e, o r h ave b een e rect. T his d efinition a utomatically e xcludes m egalithic s ettings w hose l ong s labs l ie a t g roundl evel a long t he s ides r ather t han a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle. S uch h earthlike a rrangements h ave b een d iscovered a t B albirnie s tone c ircle, F ife ( Ritchie, J .N.G., 1 974, 6 ); a t t he S tanding S tones o f S tenness c ircle-henge, O rkney ( ibid, 1 976, 1 2); a t t he M ount P leasant e arthwork e nclosure, D orset ( Wainwright, 1 979, 2 8); a nd a t t he L ugg h enge, C o. D ublin ( Kilbride-Jones, 1 950, 3 17-18). A s imilar o bjection a pplies t o t he u nique s quare o f s labs t hat s urrounds a t all p illar a t B arbreck i n A rgyll ( Heggie, 1 981, 8 56 ), a nd a t K ilmartin ( Thom , 1 971, 4 5-51) 5 1 m iles t o t he s outh. T here p airs o f h igh s tones s tand 1 20 f t ( 36.6m) W NW a nd 1 17 f t ( 35.7m) E SE r espectively o f t wo l ittle q uadrangular s ettings, n o m ore t han 9 f t ( 2.7m) s quare, o f w hich t he w estern i s d amaged. T he e astern c onsists o f a 9 f t 6 i ns ( 2.9m) h igh c upmarked s tanding s tone w hich i s e nclosed b y f our s labs n o m ore t han 2 f t ( 60cm) h igh ( Allen, 1 882, 1 11-12) o n i ts N , E , S a nd W s ides. T he f act t hat t hey a re o n t he s ides r ather t han t he c orners o f t heir r ectangle d istinguish t hem f rom t he s tones o f a F our-Poster. I t i s r emotely p ossible t hat t hese s quares i n t he K ilmartin V alley w ith i ts l ine o f B ronze A ge c airns a re v ariations o f F our-Posters b ut t heir d ifferences a re g reater t han t heir l ikenesses a nd t hey h ave n ot b een i ncluded i n t he G azetteer. M ounds

w ere

a nother

f eature

o f

1 1

m any

F our-Posters,

e specially

i n t he c entral r egion o f T ayside a nd A berdeenshire w here o ver 2 0 r ings w ere s o e levated. O utside t hat a rea o nly s even s ites a re r aised o n m ounds o r p latforms ( Arran 4 , B rittany 1 , O rkney 1 , S utherland 1 , 2 , W exford 1 , Y orkshire 1 ). I t i s n ot u nusual t o f ind a n i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints i n m any F our-Posters w ith e ither t he s tones s tanding c lose t o N , E , So r W , o r w ith t he s ides o f t he r ectangle b eing a ligned o n t hose p oints. T he o rientations a re n ot p recise a nd m ay v ary a s m uch a s 5 ° f rom t he a ssumed d irection, a l atitude o f s ome 1 0 p er c ent i n e ach o f t he q uadrants b ut s till, a s a n e xample, m uch c loser t o n orth t han t o N NE. I t w ill b e s uggested t hat t his w as c aused p artly b y t he l ack o f s urveying e quipment w ith n o P ole S tar t o o vercome t his d ifficulty b ut, m ore i mportantly, b ecause t he b uilders o f t he F ourP osters w ere l ess i nterested i n t rue e ast o r w est t han i n t he o bserved m idpoint b etween t he n orthern a nd s outhern p ositions o f t he s un o r m oon. O ne o f t he c onspicuous f eatures o f m ost F our-Posters i s t heir c hosen p osition o n h ill-shoulders o r t erraces f rom w hich t here i s n ormally a l ong v iew t o t he s outhern h orizon. A p reviously u nremarked a rchitectural t rait i n a t l east 1 4 s ites i s t he p resence o f o ne o r m ore l ow , i ntervening s labs s et n eatly b etween t he t all c orner s tones. M ost o bvious i n l ittle r ings s uch a s T emplestone ( Moray 2 ) s imilar s mall s tones w ere d iscovered d uring t he e xcavations a t L undin F arm S outh-East ( Perth 2 2), a nd i n t he a djoining F our-Posters a t F ortingall ( Perth 1 6, 1 7). T ypical o f t he c ultural b lurring t hat c an o ccur w hen a ttempting t o s eparate o ne t ype o f s tone c ircle f rom a nother t here a re p roper 8 -stone r ings, p articularly i n P erthshire ( Burl, 1 976, 1 95). T hese, h owever, a re c ompletely c ircular w ith a ll e ight s tones o n t he c ircumference a nd o f t he s ame h eight o r g raded u pwards t owards t he s outh-west. T hey s hould n ot b e c onfused w ith t he ' up-and-down ' e ffect o f s ide-slabbed F our-Posters w hose l ower s tones r espect t he r ectangular s hape o f t he s etting. L ess c ommon f eatures, t o b e d escribed i n d etail l ater, a re c upmarks o n 1 3 s ites, n early a lways o n t he s tone a t t he s outh-east. T here i s a n o utlying s tone a t 1 7 s ites; o r a p air o f o utliers ( 8 s ites); o n r are o ccasions o ne n oticeable t aller s tone i n t he F ourP osters o f S W I reland ( Cork 2 , 6 , K erry 1 ); o r t wo t aller p illars d ominating t he t wo o pposite ( Aberdeen 1 , 6 , A yr 1 , P erth 1 4, a nd p ossibly P owys 1 ). T he d eposited c ontents o f F our-Posters a re l ess w ell-known. N o f ewer t han 3 7 o f t he 1 01 s ites a ppear t o h ave b een d ug i nto, u sually i n t he 1 8th a nd 1 9th c enturies a nd u sually b adly, o ften w ithout r ecord. F or t he 2 0th c entury i nformation i s b etter. W ith t he e xception o f t he G oatstones ( Northumberland 1 ) w here, i n 1 930 , t here w ere ' no s igns t hat a ny s acrilegious h and h ad e ver d isturbed t he b ones o f t he d ead m an ( Honeyman, 1 932, 3 05) b ut w here s igns h ave a ppeared s ince, t he e xcavations h ave f requently b een f ruitful. R egrettably, w ith o nly 2 1 e xcavations o verall f or w hich r eports e xist, m ost o f t hese b eing i nadequate, o ur k nowledge o f w hat l ay i nside a F our-Poster i s v ery l imited a nd q uite p ossibly m isleading.

1 9

S ome s ites s uch a s t he S pittal o f G lenshee ( Perth 2 6) a nd T irinie F arm ( Perth 2 7) y ielded n othing. T his w as e xceptional. I t h as m ore c ommonly b een t he c ase t hat e ven w ith p artial e xcavation i nvestigators h ave c ome a cross c harcoal ( 13 s ites), b ones a nd c remations ( 10 o r m ore s ites) i n c ists ( 7) o r p its ( 4) w hich c ontained B ronze A ge u rns. S ometimes, a s i n e ight i nstances, s catterings o f q uartz h ave b een a ssociated w ith t hese d eposits. F inally, o ne m ust r emark o n a v ital a ttribute o f F our-Posters, o ne w hich m ay w ell a dvertise t heir a ncestry. P articularly i n t he c entral r egions t he s tones a re o ften g raded i n h eight. I n T ayside a nd n eighbouring r egions 5 6 p er c ent o f t he r ings h ad t heir t allest s tone i n t he s outh-west q uadrant ( SWQ), j ust a s t he m ajority o f R SCs i n A berdeenshire h ad t heir g reat r ecumbent s tone l ying b etween S SW a nd s outh-west. ' In s everal o f t he C ircles...the t aller s tones a re s et u pon t he s outh a rc a nd t he s horter i n t he n orth, a nd t his i s s o i n s pite o f t he f act t hat t hese c ircles d o n ot p ossess R ecumbent S tones' ( Coles, 1 907, 1 72). A f urther 2 2 p er c ent o f t hese c entral F our-Posters h ad t heir t allest s tone i n t he N WQ t hus d emonstrating a c lear p reference f or t he w est. R ather d ifferently, i n m ore d istant p arts o f S cotland a lthough t he S WQ w as s till f avoured ( 67 p er c ent) t here w as a lso a t endency t o e rect t he h ighest s tone i n t he S EQ ( 33 p er c ent). T he s outh w as b eing p referred. T here w as n o i nterest i n t he n orthern q uadrants. I n t he r egions m ost r emote f rom S cotland - W ales, I reland a nd B rittany - t his t rend w as r eversed. E ighty-seven p er c ent o f t he F our-Posters t here s tressed t he n orth w ith 5 0 p er c ent o f t he b iggest s tones s tanding i n t he N WQ a nd 3 7 p er c ent i n t he N EQ. S uch a c hange i s p aralleled i n t he a rchitecture o f t he S cottish a nd I rish r ecumbent s tone c ircles. I n s outh-west I reland t he t all p ortals w ere p laced o pposite t he r ecumbent, u sually i n t he N EQ. I n t he m ajority o f t heir S cottish c ounterparts t he h igh f lankers o f t he r ecumbent a re t o b e f ound i n t he S WQ . I n p assing, i t s hould b e n oted t hat I rish a rchaeologists h ave c ome t o p refer t he t erm ' multiple s tone c ircle' t o ' recumbent s tone c ircle'. ' However, a part f rom t he f act t hat t he s o-called " recumbent s tone" i n t he C ork-Kerry s eries i s s et u pright, t here a re o ther m ajor s tructural d ifferences b etween t he t wo g roups [ in I reland a nd S cotland] a nd h ence t he c ontinued u se o f t his t erm f or t he C orkK erry s eries i s c onsidered i nappropriate' ( O 'Nuallain, 1 975, 8 34 ). T he w riter o f t his b ook , h aving s een m any o f t he I rish r ings d isagrees w ith t his. T here a re c ertainly d ifferences b ut t he I rish c ircles s till p ossess s uch a s trong r esemblance t o t hose i n S cotland t hat, p ace h is g enerous c olleague, S ean O 'Nuallain, h e w ill c ontinue t o r efer t o R SCs b oth i n S cotland a nd I reland. O rigins.

P osters

t o

b e

M argaret S tewart ( 1966, 1 37) b elieved F ouri ndigenous t o T ayside a nd c ertainly i t i s t here t hat

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H OWE O F 1 1

A

40 C ROMAR

A1 3 0 0 0

F IG.

3 . T HE T WO M AJOR S COTTISH R ECUMBENT S TONE C IRCLE ( RSC) R EGIONS, A ND T HEIR P ERIPHERAL S MALL C IRCLES. A.N orthern R SC r egion. B . S outhern R SC r egion. S tone C ircles: N os. 1 t o 6 a re 4 -Posters. 1 , D eer P ark ; 2 , H ill o f B ucharn; 3 , H owemill; 4 , L ogie C oldstone; 5 , G lassel; 6 , C raighead N os. 7 t o 1 0 a re t ransitional r ings. 7 , B ackhill o f D rachlaw ; 8 , R aich ; 9 , S hethin; 1 0 , S outh Y thsie. N os. 1 1 t o 1 3 a re R SCs w ith c airns. 1 1, B lue C airn; 1 2, C airn R iv; 1 2, D oune H ill. O pen d rawn c ircles a re s mall, p lain s tone c ircles.

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t hey a re m ost d ense. I t a lso s eems l ikely t hat i t w as i n t hat a rea t hat t hey d eveloped a s ad istinctive g roup. T here a re, h owever, n o r ecognisable a ntecedents a mongst t he N eolithic s ites t here, t he o nly m onuments b eing b urial-mounds s uch a s P itnacree ( Coles & S impson, 1 965, 4 9-500, l ong c airns s uch a s E dinchip ( Davidson & H enshall, 1 983), a nd t he p ossibly L ate N eolithic s tone c ircle o f C roft M oraig w hich i tself i s a rguably a v ariant f orm o f R SC. T here i s a lso t he d espoiled r ing o f B alhomais t o w hich a c airn m ay h ave b een a dded. T here i s n othing r esembling a F ourP oster. G iven s uch a l acuna o ne c an s uppose e ither t hat t here w ere n o f orerunners o f F our-Posters a nd t hat t hey w ere e xtemporisations o n t he p art o f t he n atives o r t hat t heir g enesis l ay e lsewhere. T he l atter i s m ore f easible a nd t he n earest a nd m ost p lausible s ource w ith s ites t hat c ould b e a ncestral t o F our-Posters i s n orth-eastern S cotland, e specially t he c ounty o f A berdeenshire. H ere t here w as a n e arly a nd s trong s tone c ircle t radition, m aybe t he v ery f irst m egalithic d evelopment t here ( Shepherd, 1 987, 1 24). I n a nd a round t he e astern f oothills o f t he G rampians a re t he r emains o f a lmost o ne h undred R SCs ( Burl, 1 974), t heir s tones g raded i n h eight t owards t he S WQ , s ome w ith c upmarks, m any o f t hem w ith d eposits o f c remated b one. S ignificantly, t he s tones o f t he c ircles a re n ot s paced e venly a round t he c ircumference b ut w ere, a pparently, s et o ut i n o pposing p airs a cross t he r ing, v ery o ften i n f ive s ets. I t i s r easonable t o p ropose t hat i t w as t his c ustom o f ' coupling ' s tones i n o pposition t hat, a t i ts m ost e conomical, e ventually p roduced t he F our-Poster . I n A berdeenshire t here i s a s outhern a nd a n orthern c oncentration o f R SCs. T he s outhern, c entred o n t he g reat p eak o f M ither T ap i n t he B ennachie r ange a nd a bout 1 5 m iles s quare, c ontained m any o f t he b est-known R SCs i ncluding L oanhead o f D aviot, O ld K eig a nd S unhoney. T he n orthern g roup i s l ike a l ong a nd t hin i nverted t riangle, 3 5 m iles l ong f rom H untly t o j ust b eyond S trichen a t t he E NE b ut o nly f ive m iles d eep t o G ordonstown a t i ts s outhern a pex. L ike s atellites a round t hese c ore a reas a re 4 0 o r m ore s maller, p lain s tone c ircles, l acking a r ecumbent s tone, s imple r ings t hat j ostle a t t he e xtreme e dges o f t he t wo R SC e nclaves ( Fig. 3 ). I t i s t empting a nd n ot w ithout a rtefactual j ustification t o c onsider t hese c ircles a s t he s uccessors o f R SCs. A mongst t hem a re s ome F our-Posters a nd t hree o r f our r ings w hich a ppear t o b e t ransitional b etween t he s mall c ircles o f s ix t o e ight s tones a nd t he F our-Posters p roper. T he F our-Posters h ere a re l arger t han t he n ational a verage. T here i s G lassel ( Kincardine 2 ) w ell t o t he s outh o f t he s outhern R SC g roup, t he H ill o f B ucharn ( Aberdeen 3 ) a t t he f ar w est b etween t he t wo R SC a reas, a nd H owemill ( Aberdeen 4 ) o n t he w esternmost r im o f t he s outhern g roup. T here a re a lso t hree s ites, R aich, S hethin a nd S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 6 , 7 , 8 ) w hich p ossess f eatures i n c ommon w ith b oth R SCs a nd F our-Posters.

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C oles, i n h is s urveys o f t he A berdeenshire r ings, n oticed h ow s imilar t he t hree w ere. A t R aich , a c ircle a t t he f ar n orth o f t he R SC c oncentration h e r emarked o n t he ' strong l ikeness i t b ears t o S heithin i n T arves a nd, i n s ome a spects, a lso t o t he c ircle a t S outh Y thsie' ( Coles, 1 903, 1 25). T he s ite i s i n p oor c ondition t oday. E ven w hen C oles i nspected i t t he w est s ide h ad b een w recked b ut t hree t all s tones o n a ' very d istinct a nd s harply d efined m ound' s tood a t t hree c orners o f a r ectangle w ith o ther l ow-set s tones b etween t hem . T hat a t t he n orth w as 4 f t 3 i ns ( 1.3m) h igh, t he S E w as 4 f t 7i ns ( 1.4m) a nd t he s hortest, a t t he s outh, w as 2 f t 3i ns ( 70cm) h igh. T he f act t hat t he ' rectangle' w as i ncomplete n eed c ause n o s urprise. M any o f t he ' heathen ' F our-Posters w ere ' christianised' i n t he 1 9th c entury b y t he r emoval o f o ne p illar t ransforming t he p agan r ing i nto a m egalithic t rinity. A t R aich i t i s t he r ectangularity o f t he s etting a nd t he c onspicuous t allness o f t he s urviving s tones t hat i s o f i mportance. T he p resence o f e xtra, l ow s labs i n b etween t he p illars i s, a s w ill b e s een, a p reviously u nrecognised f eature o f m any F our-Posters a nd o ne w hich s trengthens a b elief i n a n A berdonian o rigin. A t S hethin ( Aberdeen 7 ), s ometimes c alled F ountain H ill ( Keiller 1 934, 4 ), w ell t o t he e ast o f t he R SC g roup, t he e astern s ide o f t he s mall r ing h ad b een r uined b ut t he w estern h alf w as c omplete ( Coles, 1 903, 1 26). H ere t wo s tones r ose h igh a bove t he o thers w hich w ere n o m ore t han 2 f t 6i ns ( 75cm) h igh. I n c ontrast, t he S SW p illar w as 4 f t 7 i ns ( 1.4m) t all a nd i ts p artner t o t he W NW w as 5 f t 3 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh. W hen T hom p lanned i t ( Thom ,Thom & B url, 1 980 , 1 70, B 1/10) h e a lso r ecorded t he d iscrepancies i n t he h eights o f t he s tones. S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 8 ), a lso k nown a s t he D ruid T emple, a n o val o nly 1 m iles s outh o f S hethin, l ike R aich h ad i ts s ix s tones ' upon a v ery c learly d efined m ound' ( Coles, 1 902, 5 25). F our o f t hem s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle w ith a l ong N NE-SSW a xis. T he r espective s tone h eights w ere: N NE, 5 f t 7 i ns ( 1.7m); W , 4 f t 3 i ns, ( 1.3m); S SW , 5f t 7i ns ( 1.7m); a nd E , 4 f t 3i ns ( 1.3m). T wo l ower s tones a t t he N NW a nd S E w ere h ardly 2 f t 6 i ns ( 80cm) h igh. I n a p lan d ifferent f rom C oles' T hom c ited o ther h eights f or t he s tones ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 1 68, B 1/9), t he W a nd S SW b eing 7f t 1 0 i ns ( 2.4m) t all, b ut t he F our-Poster e mbryo r emained. K eiller a lso p erceived i t. ' The t ype o f m onument t o w hich I h ave r eferred a s " Cardinal P oint" C ircles, c onsists o f o nly t wo e xamples, b oth s ituated n ear e ach o ther - t hat a t F ountain H ill, T arves, a nd t hat a t R aich... t he m ost n oticeable f eatures a re f our s tones t aller t han t he r est... w hile b etween t hem a re c lose-set s horter b locks'. ' The s imilarity b etween t hese " Circles" i s e xtraordinary, a nd I a m s urprised t hat i t h as n ot h itherto b een r ecognised' ( Keiller, 1 934, 4 ). I t h ad, o f c ourse, b y C oles t hirty y ears b efore. A r ing ( Aberdeen 1 ) n ot u nlike S outh Y thsie e xists a t B ackhill o f D rachlaw ( Coles, 1 903, 1 18; T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980 , 1 86, B 1/24). I t a lso i s ' oval' a nd o f s ix s tones, t he f our a t N E , S , S W a nd N W

b eing t aller t han t hose a t N a nd S E. A n earby a nd c omparable r ing w as d estroyed i n t he 1 9th c entury d uring t he c onstruction o f f arm b uildings. A s w ith t he o ther ' transitional' r ings B ackhill l ies w ell a way f rom t he m ain b ody o f R SCs, h ere t o t heir n orth, s uggesting t hat i t m ay b e l ater t han t hose g reat c ircles. L ike R aich, S hethin a nd S outh Y thsie, i t h as n o r ecumbent s tone, i s b elow t he a verage A berdonian d iameter, a nd i s a pparently n on-circular. T hese f acts a nd t he f our t all s tones i n a r ectangular a rrangement m ake i t a nd t he o thers f easible p rogenitors f or t he F our-Posters o f t he T ay V alley i n P erthshire. W hy t here s hould h ave b een s uch a d evelopment i s d ifficult t o a nswer w ith c ertainty. S ocial r easons f or c hange a re e asy t o p ostulate a nd u sually i mpossible t o p rove. I f, h owever, o ver t he c enturies o f t he E arly B ronze A ge s ociety b ecame m ore f ragmented i nto t he s mallest o f f amily u nits w ith l and-holdings d iminishing t hen t he t raditional s hrine o r r itual c entre m ight a lso h ave b ecome l ess s pacious, i ts s tones l ess b ulky a nd l ess n umerous, m ore m anageable b y f ewer p eople. F rom t he e arliest l arge, c ircular a nd i mposing R SCs w ith t heir h eavy r ecumbent b locks t he l ater r ings m ay h ave b ecome i ncreasingly e conomical i n d esign, t he r ecumbent a bandoned, t he n umber o f s tones r educed u ntil t he u ltimate i n s imple e nclosure w as a chieved, f our s tones o nly, s eemingly s et a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle b ut, i n f act, s tanding o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle. B y t his e xplanation e ven t he l ittle i ntervening s ide-slabs b ecome i ntelligible. I n m any R SCs t he t en p aired c ircle-stones a nd r ecumbent s urround a k erbed r ing-cairn ( Burl, 1 974, 6 9; T ulloch, 1 983, 1 0-13). I t d oes n ot s eem o ver-fanciful t o p erceive a F ourP oster a s c onsisting o f t hree s eparate c omponents: ( a) t he f our p illars a s t wo o pposing p airs o f c ircle-stones, t he a ustere r eduction o f t he l ayout o f a r ecumbent s tone c ircle; ( b) t he m ound a s a r ecollection o f a n i nternal c airn; a nd ( c) t he s quat m id-stones a s r epresentations o f t he c airn 's k erbing. T he f act t hat s ome F ourP osters s uch a s T emplestone ( Moray 2 ) d o c ontain k erbed c airns e ncourages c onfidence i n t his i nterpretation. O ne o f t he f inal a rchitectural s tages b etween t he e arly m onumental R SCs a nd t he f irst F our-Posters m ay b e f ossilised i n t he ' transitional' r ings o f R aich, S hethin a nd S outh Y thsie. I f S outh Y thsie w as t he ' embryo ' o f a F our-Poster t hen a F ourP oster w as t he ' ghost' o f a r ecumbent s tone c ircle. D istribution. I f F our-Posters o riginated i n A berdeenshire t heir g enesis a ppears t o h ave b een i n t he s outh-west p art o f t he c ounty i n t he C romar d istrict. T his i s c lose t o a r oute p roviding a ccess t o T ayside. H ere t here a re R SCs t hat f rom t heir f inds s eem t o b e l ate i n t he s eries, a nd s everal o f t hem c ontained c airns t hat o ffer a n e xplanation f or t he m ounds o n w hich s everal F our-Posters s tood.

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T hese p eripheral R SCs, o ften i diosyncratic i n t heir a rchitecture a nd i n t he s ame l ocalities a s t he F our-Posters o f H ill o f B ucharn , D eer P ark a nd H owemill h ave y ielded a rtefacts t hat p oint t o a t ime l ate i n t he R SC t radition. L ike t he s mall p lain c ircles t he m ajority o f t hese ' cairned' R SCs a re t o b e f ound o n t he o utskirts o f t he t wo m ain R SC c lusters. O f t he s outhern g roup C othiemuir W ood i s n ear t he m iddle b ut b oth C andle H ill a nd O ld R ayne a re a t t he e xtreme n orth. I n t he n orthern g roup C orrydown i s c entrally p laced b ut C airn R iv i s o n t he n orthern b order. A nd b oth t he B lue C airn a nd D oune H ill a re f ar a way i n t he H owe o f C romar, a t t he s outh-west o f A berdeenshire m iles t o t he w est o f t he s outhern g roup. T hey a re c haracterised b y t heir r ound c airns w ith n o c entral s pace. I n t he s outhern g roup O ld R ayne h ad a s omewhat o blong c airn b eneath w hich w as a c ircular p it w ith a p robable b eaker a nd a b roken B 3 s late w ristguard w hich, f rom i ts W essex/Middle R hine a ssociations ( Clarke, 1 970 , I , 9 8), i s u nlikely t o h ave b een e arlier t han a bout 2 200 B C ( Coles, 1 902, 5 30 ; S hepherd, 1 986, 1 0). T he R SC o f C andle H ill, I nsch ( Coles, 1 902, 5 40-5), n ow r avaged a nd o vergrown, h ad a s mall c airn a bout 2 8 f t ( 8.5m) a cross. A t C orrydown ( Coles, 1 903, 1 09-12) t he i nterior w as c overed w ith e arthfast s tones w hich a ppeared t o b e t he b ase o f a d enuded c airn. C othiemuir W ood ( Coles, 1 901, 2 14-17) h ad a c entral c ist s uggesting t hat a c omplete c airn r ather t han a r ing-cairn h ad c overed i t. T his o bservation m ilitates a gainst t he s uggestion t hat i t w as p robably a t C othiemuir W ood r ather t han t he n earby O ld K eig R SC t hat m en i n t he 1 7th c entury h ad s een ' ashes o f s ome b urnt m atter d igged o ut o f t he b ottom o f a l ittle c ircle.., n ear t he c hurch o f K eig ' ( Aubrey, 1 980, 1 87). A lthough t he C othiemuir W ood R SC i s c loser t o t he o ld c hurch i ts p robable h eavy c airn w ould h ave d iscouraged a ny d igging a t i ts c entre. T he ' little c ircle' p resumably r eferred t o t he r estricted c entral s pace o f a r ing-cairn. O ld K eig d id h ave a r ing-cairn a nd i ts c entre h ad b een d isturbed p robably ' by t he o peration m entioned b y G arden i n 1 692' ( Childe, 1 933, 4 3). C airn R iv ( Coles, 1 903, 1 22-3), a n R SC w ith a c olossal r ecumbent a nd s trangely s hrivelled f lankers w as a c ircle f ar b igger t han t he a verage, s ome 1 00 f t ( c.30m) o r m ore a cross. W ithin i t w as a l arge, l ow c airn f rom w hich c ame a n E arly B ronze A ge a xe-hammer, t hree b ronze b racelets, f lint c hips a nd a V -perforated j et-button. I n t he H owe o f C romar t he c airn b ecame d ominant. C lose t o t he b arricading s lopes o f t he G rampians i t w as a r ound c airn t hat t he s tone c ircles c ontained. A lthough T omnaverie ( Coles, 1 905, 2 08-13 ; O gston, 1 931, 9 3-5), a n R SC p erilously p erched a gainst t he e dge o f a q uarry, h as t he r emains o f a r ing-cairn i nside i t o ther c ircles d id n ot. T here w as a s trong c airn-building t radition h ere w ith ' an a lmost c ontinuous r ange o f c airns, s ome o f t hem o f r emarkable s ize' ( Stuart, 1 854, 2 59) w ho c ommented o n t he i mmense w eight o f s tones i nside t he p robable R SC o f D oune H ill, n ow d estroyed, w ith a c entral c ist ' surmounted b y a b lue b oulder o f e normous s ize' ( ibid, 2 60).

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' The d istrict o f C romar i s e xtremely r ich i n c airns. I t s eems n ot i mprobable t hat w ithin i ts l imited a rea a re c ontained m ore o f t hese s tructures t han w ithin a ny c ounty i n S cotland' ( Ogston, 1 919, 1 75). O ver t he y ears O gston c ounted a lmost t wo t housand o f t hem , s ome c oncentrated i n c emeteries, 9 03 c airns a t B alnagowan w ith a p robably N eolithic l ong c airn i n i t, i ts s tones i n u ntidy p iles s o d isposed t hat ' the p lan s hows a g eneral r esemblance t o t he o utlines o f t he M ilky W ay a t t he s ection o ccupied b y t he c onstellations o f C assiopeia a nd C ygnus' ( Ogston, 1 931, 8 4). M ore p rosaically b ut i mportant f or i ndications o f p rehistoric s ettlement i n t he r egion i s t he f ield s ystem a nd s tone c learance n earby ( Shepherd, 1 986, 1 39). A nother h uge c airn c emetery e xisted a t C raiglich H ill w here a lmost a t housand c airns h uddled t ogether. I t i s n ot s urprising t hat t he p utatively l ate R SCs o f B lue C airn, D oune H ill a nd K nocksoul s hould e ncircle c airns r ather t han t he o pen-centred r ing-cairns. O gston ( 1931, 9 3) b elieved t hat t he T arland B asin, a l ush l owl ying t riangle e mbedded a mongst m ountains a nd i solated b y l ochs a nd m arshes h ad b een a s acred a rea. I ts f ertile s oils o n t he e xposed m orainic g ravels a ttracted s ettlement i n t he B ronze A ge a nd i ts l itter o f b oulders p rovided m aterials f or t he r itual m onuments f or t he p ioneers. T here w as l ittle e vidence o f N eolithic a ctivity. E nvironmental a nalysis o f t he p ollens i ndicated o nly s light a nd s poradic c learance o f t he w oodlands d uring t he l ong c enturies b etween 3 345 a nd 1 820 b c ( c. 4 150 - 2 250 B C) b ut t hen f ollowed a p eriod o f m ajor c learances b y p astoralists a nd c ereal-growers d uring t he B ronze A ge ( Edwards, 1 979, 2 7-42). T hese y ears f rom 1 820 t o 115 b c ( c. 2 250 - 1 400 B C) w as t he t ime w hen t he m ajority o f t he g reat c airns, c airned R SCs a nd F our-Posters w ere e rected. ' In n orth-east S cotland p rehistoric r emains a re m ost a bundant i n t hree d istricts, t he l ower G arioch [ to t he n orth-west o f I nverurie i n m id-Aberdeenshire], t he K ildrummy b asin [ 5 m iles w est o f A lford] a nd t he H owe o f C romar; a nd a ll t hese h ad l ight s oils s uitable f or a griculture w ith p rimitive e quipment...An o utstanding f eature h ere i s t he d ominance o f B ronze-Age c ulture c ompared w ith t he p aucity o f N eolithic a nd I ron-Age f inds, a nd t his i mmediately s uggests a n u nusual l ength o f s ettlement o f t his c ulture i n t he n ortheast' ( O 'Dell & W atson, 1 962, 6 5). T here w as a b izarre m edley o f s tone c ircles i n t he H owe o f C romar, a n o rthodox R SC a t T omnaverie, ' the H ill o f W orship', a p lain r ing w ith c ist a t W aulkmill, t hree j uxtaposed c ircles a t M elgum , o ne o f t hem a c oncentric, c airned R SCs l ike t he B lue C airn f rom w hich f ragments o f a ' clay u rn ' w ere r ecovered i n 1 875 ( Ogston, 1 931, 1 08-9; C raig, 1 950), a nother a t K nocksoul e m ile t o t he n orthe ast, i ts g reat c ircle-stones l ying a t t he b ase o f a ' giant c airn o n a p latform ' t hat w as w recked i n 1 922 f or r oad-laying, a nd, o f c ourse, F our-Posters. T hree m iles t o t he e ast o f t he B lue C airn w as L ogie C oldstone ( Aberdeen 5 ). T here w ere o thers, G lassel ( Kincardine 2 ), 1 24 m iles E SE, H owemill ( Aberdeen 4 ) 8 m iles E NE , p ossibly a nother 3 4 m iles

1 9

5

10

1 5

F OUR-POSTERS 1 . L ogie C oldstone 2 . S pittal o f G lenshee 3 . B roughdarg 4 . P arkneuk 5 . W oodside 6 . G lenballoch F arm 7 . C raighall M ill 8 . K inloch M ODERN T OWNS A . B allater B . B raemar C . B lairgowrie

A

( 1A

F IG. 4 T HE D EE V ALLEY A ND T HE G LEN S HEE P ASS.

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t o t he s outh-west o f L ogie C oldstone, a d evastated s ite o n t he l ower s lopes o f C ulblean H ill. H ere, f our s tones l ying c lose t ogether l ike t he d rums o f a t umbled c lassical G reek p illar w ere k nown a s t he F our L ords ' S tones f rom t he l ocal t radition t hat f our n oblemen h ad d ined t here, ' each u sing o ne s tone a s h is t able' ( Ogston , 1 931, f ig. 7 7, 1 14, 1 20-1). L acking f urther d escription i t c an b e n o m ore t han a c onjecture t hat t he s tones h ad o nce f ormed a F our-Poster a nd t he s ite i s n ot i ncluded i n t he G azetteer. B oth t he B lue C airn a nd L ogie C oldstone a re c lose t o p resentday B allater a nd t he h ill-trapped m outh o f t he D ee V alley w here t oday, v ia B almoral a nd B raemar, o ne m ay e nter G len S hee a nd t he n arrow , s teep p ass s outhwards t owards B lairgowrie a nd t he T ay V alley. E ven n ow i t i s n ot a n e asy j ourney, c ars c rawling a long t he c limbing t wisting g radients o f t he m ountainsides u p t o t he s ummit, s nowb locked i n w inter, o f t he C airnwell P ass a t 2 199 f t ( 670m) 0 .D., p ast t he s harp b ends o f t he D evil's E lbow a t a h eight o f 1 950 f t ( 595m) w here t reacherous p eat-mosses h ad t o b e t raversed i n p rehistoric t imes, a nd g radually d own t o t he S pittal o f G lenshee, o nce t he s ite o f a t ravellers' h ospice s o a rduous, a nd s ometimes s o d angerous t he r oute c ould b e, a nd f inally t he l ong, s low d escent t o t he l owlands j ust n orth o f B lairgowrie. I t w as a h ard j ourney b ut n ot a t rek o f m onths o r e ven w eeks. F rom B allater t o B lairgowrie i s h ardly 5 0 m iles, n o m ore t han a f ew d ays' w alk i n f air w eather ( Fig. 4 ). A t t he s outhern e nd o f G len S hee, p rotected b y t he s outh-western s lopes o f t he A lyth m ountains, i s a s udden c oncentration o f F ourP osters w ithin a f ew m iles o f e ach o ther. T here a re a lso m any h utc ircles i n t he n eighbourhood, a rguably o f t he 2 nd m illennium B C ( Stewart, 1 962, 1 54; H arris, 1 984, 2 14). L ike t he i ntense B ronze A ge o ccupation o f t he H owe o f C romar i t w as d uring t he s ame p eriod t hat t he c ountryside n ear B lairgowrie w as t aken o ver b y f amilies o f c attle-grazers a nd a griculturalists. E xcavations o f t wo e nclosures a t D alnaglar 4 1 m iles s outh-east o f t he S pittal o f G lenshee ( Stewart, 1 962) s uggested t hat c attle m ay h ave b een t ethered u nder w ooden s helters a ttached t o t he w alls o f h ouses w hose b uilders w ere e ngaged i n f orest c learance a nd c ereal c ultivation. S herds o f b ucket-shaped p ots w ere m ore s imilar t o B ronze A ge t han N eolithic v essels. F urther e nvironmental i nvestigations i n t he s ame g eneral a rea ( Caseldine, 1 979) a t H eatheryhaugh 4 m iles n orth o f B lairgowrie a nd L och M haraich t o t he n orth-west s upported t his p icture o f i ncreasing h uman i nterference w ith t he w oodlands d uring t he B ronze A ge. T here h ad b een e specially s evere c learance o f t rees a round H eatheryhaugh a nd t he e lm h ad b een a lmost e liminated, t he l andscape c hanging ' from a c omplete w oodland c over t o o pen m oorland w ith s cattered t rees' ( ibid, 1 4). T here w ere s everal F our-Posters c lose b y. W oodside ( Perth 2 9 )i s l e m iles s outh o f H eatheryhaugh; P arkneuk ( Perth 2 4) i s 1 1 m iles E SE ; C raighall M ill ( Perth 1 2) i s 2 1 m iles s outh. G lenballoch F arm ( Perth 1 8), w hose c ordoned u rn h as a g rain i mpression o n i ts r im ( Cowie, 1 978, 1 32) i s a lso 2 1 m iles t o t he s outh. T here i s g ood r eason t o b elieve t hat i t w as t he b uilders

2 1

o f t hese l ittle s tone c ircles w ho w ere a t l east p artly r esponsible f or t he c hange, f amily g roups e stablishing t heir i ndividual l andh oldings, e recting r ound h uts w ithin p alisaded e nclosures, h erding c attle o n t he h ill-slopes a nd c ultivating g rain a t t he s outhern e dges o f t he p lateau t hat f ormed t he b ulk o f t he F orest o f A lyth . S tructures s uch a s F our-Posters w ere u nlikely t o h ave b een p ut u p i n d ense f orest i n t he d arkness o f t he t rees a nd i t i s p lausible t hat t he b uilders o f F our-Posters a nd t he p eople w ho c leared t he A lyth w oodlands w ere o ne a nd t he s ame. ' It w ould a ppear t hat s outh-east P erthshire l ay o utside t he m ain s pheres o f N eolithic a ctivity b ut w as o ccupied, e specially i n t he s outhern p art o f t he F orest o f A lyth , b y B ronze A ge p eoples a round 2 000 B C. T his w as f ollowed b y a p hase o f w idespread s ettlement a bove 2 00m [ 650 f t], a s w itnessed b y t he d ensity o f h ut-circles a nd e nclosures' ( Caseldine, 1 979, 1 4). A mongst t he F our-Posters w as C raighall M ill; t he p ossible b ut d estroyed G lenballoch F arm w ith i ts c ordoned u rn; K inloch ( Perth 2 0), i ts f our s tones, s ignificantly, o n a m ound; P arkneuk , a l arge g lacial e rratic w ith t en c upmarks o n i t o nly 3 00 y ards ( 275m) t o t he S SE ( D & E , 1 982, 3 4); a nd W oodside o n t he H ill o f D rimmie, l ow s labs s et b etween i ts f our b ig f allen s tones i n a n a rrangement r eminiscent o f i ts s uggested A berdonian p rototypes. S uch a c luster w as t he l ikely r esult o f s everal b ands o f e migrants s ettling o n g ood l and a t t he e nd o f a m ovement d own G len S hee, p erhaps e recting s ingle s tanding s tones a t t he S pittal o f G lenshee a nd B lacklunans a s g uidemarks f or p eople t hat w ould f ollow t hem t hrough t he t ortuous m aze o f g lens. S imilar ' trackway' s tones h ave b een s uggested f or t he p illars t hat i ndicate t he b est p asses i n t he M erioneth m ountains o f w estern W ales ( Bowen & G resham , 1 967, 5 6-63). A s i f t o e mphasise t he l ikelihood o f s uch a n e migration t here i s a n i solated F our-Poster h alfway a long t he r oute, f our m iles s outh a nd 7 00 f t ( 215m) l ower t han t he e xposed D evil's E lbow . H ere, b y a c onstricted p atch o f l evel g round w here t he S hee W ater a nd t he A llt a G hlinne B hig, ' the n arrow v alley 's l ittle b urn ', c onverge i s t he m inute S pittal o f G lenshee r ing ( Perth 2 6). T he F our-Poster i s b arely 1 0 f t ( 3m) s quare, i ts s mall s tones t ellingly s et o n a l ow b ut c onspicuous g lacial m ound t hat w as d ug i nto i n 1 894 w ithout r esult ( Smith, M ., 1 895). T he r emains o f a nother F our-Poster, n ever b efore r ecognised a s s uch , i s t he r ing a t B roughdarg ( Perth 4 ) o nly 2 i - m iles t o t he s outh-east. K nown a s t he R ed o r B loody C ircle t he t wo s urviving s tones a re s aid t o b e t he r emnants o f a m egalithic r ing. T he l ocation o f t hese t wo a lmost u nknown F our-Posters m ust e ncourage t he b elief t hat i t w as a long G len S hee t hat t he b uilders o f t he T ayside r ings e ntered t he r egion f rom t he n orth. B eyond t his p oint i t i s i mpossible t o b e s ure o f t he r outes f ollowed b y o ther b uilders o f F our-Posters o r w hether t hey p receded, w ere c ontemporary w ith o r l ater t han t he r ings a round H eatheryhaugh . S ome t urned e astwards t owards t he r ich e arths o f A ngus. O thers m oved t o t he w est f rom B lairgowrie, p ast a s eries o f l ochs a f ew m iles n orth o f w hich t he K inloch F our-Poster w as e rected o n a t errace

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o verlooking t he L ornty B urn. T here i s a g ap. T hen, 2 0 m iles w est o f B lairgowrie, n ine F ourP osters ( Perth 5 , 6 , 1 1, 1 3, 1 6, 1 7, 2 1, 2 2, 2 7 ) s tretch i n a 1 3 m ile l ong l ine f rom G randtully a t t he E NE ( NN 9 13351) t o F earnan a t t he W SW ( NN 7 21444) o n t he n orth b ank o f L och T ay. A lthough t here a re t hree q uite s mall s ites a mongst t hem ( Perth 5 , 1, 2 2) t he a verage i nternal a reas o f t hese T ay V alley F our-Posters i s a lmost t hree t imes e t o f t he ' Heatheryhaugh ' s ites ( 388 s . f t: 1 35 s . f t; 3 6m : 12.5m ) w ith g igantic r ectangles a t C arse F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ), F ortingall S W ( Perth 1 7) a nd C ramrar ( Perth 1 3). T he r easons f or s uch l arge i nteriors i s n ot d ifficult t o f ind. U nlike t he m ajority o f F our-Posters t hat w ere p ut u p o n h illsides o f t hin s oils, l aborious t o w ork a nd g iving l ittle i n r eturn, t hese T ay r ings w ere p laced o n t he c arse o f t he T ay, t he l ow-lying a nd p roductive l and a longside t he r iver. S paced f our t o f ive m iles a part o n t he h alf-mile w ide e xpanse o f g rassland b etween t he T ay a nd t he m ountains t o t he n orth e ach r ing m ay h ave c ommanded t wo t o t hree s quare m iles o f f armland t heoretically c apable o f s upporting o ver t hree h undred p eople o n i ts 1 600 a cres ( 648 h a). T his p opulation e stimate, b ased o n a n a gricultural y ield f rom 2 4 a cres ( 1 h a) p er p erson a nnually w ith a s m uch l and a gain l eft f allow ( Burl, 1 976, 3 25) w ould h ave t o b e r educed t o a s l ittle a s t hirty p eople i f t hey d epended e ntirely o n p astoralism ( Fleming, 1 971, 1 61). G iven t he n ature o f t he s oils i n t his f ertile c ountryside t he n umber o f p eople w as l ikely t o b e g reater t han t his a nd a ' population ' o f 8 0 t o 1 00 p eople t o e ach g reat F our-Poster w ould n ot s eem u nlikely. T wo i ndications o f t heir o rigins a nd s trong A berdonian a ssociations w ere r evealed i n t he 1 971 e xcavations o f t he h alf-buried F ortingall s ites ( Perth 1 6, 1 7). B oth h ad a l ow s tone s et i n e ach o f t heir f our s ides i n a n 8 -stone s etting t hat f ormed a lmost p erfect r ectangles. A nd 1 30 f t ( 40m) t o t heir s outh i s t he p artly-excavated r emains o f a v ariant R SC. T here w ere o thers o f t hese A berdonian s tone c ircles n earby. O ne e xists a t C roft M oraig ( Piggott & S impson, 1 971) o nly 3 * m iles d irectly e ast. A nother, n ow w recked, m ay l ie a t C oilleachur w ith ' an e xtensive p rospect o f t he v aried a nd b eautiful h ill-country ' ( Coles, 1 910, 1 49; B url, 1 976, 2 02) 6 4 m iles e ast o f F ortingall a nd i n t he m ountains s outh-west o f A berfeldy. T here a re c upmarked b oulders i n t he v icinity j ust a s t here w ere s imilar c arvings o n t he C roft M oraig ' recumbent'. U nexpectedly, s everal o f t he T ay F our-Posters a ppear t o b e p aired, P erth 5 a nd 6 s tanding w ithin 2 00 y ards ( 180m) o f e ach o ther; P erth 2 1 a nd 2 2 w ithin 8 0 y ards ( 73m); a nd P erth 1 6 a nd 1 7 w ithin 7 0 f t ( 21m). S imilar p airings c an b e s een e lsewhere i n c entral S cotland: P erth 9 , 1 0 a nd A ngus 4 ,5 b eing e xamples. A t C arse F arm N orth a nd S outh ( Perth 5 ,6) a nd a t L undin F arm N W a nd S E ( Perth 2 1, 2 2) t he c onsiderable d ifferences i n s ize b etween t he p aired r ings m ight b e a n i ndication t hat o ne r ing h ad s ucceeded a nother b ut P erth 1 6 a nd 1 7 h ave c omparable i nternal a reas. T he p resence o f a v ariant R SC j ust s outh o f t hose r ings, h owever, m ight g ive s ome s upport t o t he i dea t hat e ven t here t he t wo F our-Posters

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m ay h ave b een s et u p i n s uccession , m aybe m any y ears a part. W here g ood p lans a re a vailable i t i s c lear t hat t he s tones w ere e rected o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle, t he m ajority o f t he F our-Posters h aving s tones g raded i n h eight t hough i n n o s pecific d irection e xcept i n a g eneral w ay t owards t he s outh. O nly F ortingall S outh-West h ad i ts t allest s tone a t t he n orth. T he p ositions o f c upmarks, h owever, a re m ore d efinite. T his p art o f S cotland i s r ich i n s uch c arvings ( Stewart, M ., 1 959, 7 5-80) a nd i t i s n ot s trange t hat t hey s hould o ccur o n F our-Posters. T hey a re t o b e f ound o n o r n ear a t l east s ix o f t he n ine s ites a nd , e xcept f or t he u ncertain l ocation o f o ne s tone a t C arse F arm S outh , a lways i n t he e astern h alf o f t he r ing. F our s ites ( Perth 5 , 6 , 1 3, 2 1) c ontain c upmarked s tones a nd t hree ( Perth 1 3, 2 1, 2 2) h ave c upmarks o n a djacent o uth ers o r o utcrops. T here i s a lso a c upmarked s tone i n t he c hurchyard a t F ortingall. T he p reference f or a n e asterly p osition w ill b e d iscussed i n as eparate s ection ( see: C upmarks). T his c oncentration o f F our-Posters n ear t he h ead o f L och T ay i s n ot r epeated e lsewhere. I nstead, t hey a re t hinly s pread t o e ast, n orth a nd s outh-west w ith n o g reat n umber i n a ny r egion. T o t he e ast o f B lairgowrie t here a re p erhaps n ine s ites i n A ngus, a p eculiar m ixture o f m ini a nd m axi r ings r anging f rom t he t iny s ettings a t B rankam ( Angus 4 , 5 , 6 ) t o t he e normous w reckage o f B lackgate ( Angus 3 )on a n ow-levelled c airn f rom w hich a n u rn a nd a c arved s lab c ame. I t h as b een s uggested t hat t hese e astern s ites m ay h ave b een t he h andiwork o f p eople c oming s outhwards a long t he c oast t hrough t he V ale o f S trathmore ( Stewart, 1 974b, 1). W ith t he e xception o f C raighead ( Kincardine 1 ), h owever, t here a re n o F our-Posters a long S trathmore u ntil, a lmost 4 0 m iles s outh o f C raighead, o ne r eaches B lackgate. N or a re t here m any R SCs a long t he e astern l ittoral e xcept f or r emote r ings l ike C olmeallie l urking f ar u p a w estern g len. S uch a l acuna s uggests t hat t he A ngus F our-Posters w ere r aised b y p eople, o r t heir d escendants, w ho h ad f ollowed t he s ame G len S hee r oute a s t he H eatheryhaugh s ettlers. I n A ngus t here i s t he s ame c orrelation b etween c ircle-size a nd s oils a nd h illside p ositions a s t here w as n ear L och T ay. T he s mallest F our-Posters ( Angus 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 ) n estle i n t he b leak h ills t o t he w est o f K irriemuir. T he l argest, B alkemback a nd B lackgate ( Angus, 2 , 3 ) a re i n t he l owlands, n earer t he c oast, i n a m odern l andscape o f g entle f ields a nd r ipening c rops. T his m ight a lso e xplain t he v ast b ut q uestionable F our-Poster o f L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ) 3 0 m iles s outh o f B lackgate i n a p leasant, c ultivated c ountryside b y t he s ea ; a nd m ight a lso a ccount f or t he s hrunken E ast L othian s ettings t hat h uddle i n t he c ool f reshness o f t he L ammermuirs, ' the m oor o f l ambs ', o n w hich t he u pland w ind i s r arely t empered. A d irect c onnection b etween t he e nvironment a nd t he s ize o f a s tone c ircle i s d emonstrable h ere. I t w ould a lso s uggest t hat t he i nterior o f a r ing w as i ntended t o b e o ccupied b y t he c ommunity t hat b uilt i t. H ad i t b een o nly f or t he p rivileged f ew n o F our-Poster n eed t o h ave b een v ery b ig. S outh o f t he L othians, i n E ngland, F our-Posters a re v ery r are.

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T wo, b oth s mall b ut i n g ood c ondition , e xist i n N orthumberland, t he G oatstones n ear B ellingham h aving s everal d eeply-carved c upmarks o n t he t op o f i ts E NE s tone. T he T hree K ings, e xcavated i n 1 971 ( Burl & J ones, 1 972), h ad a c entral c airn j ust a s t he d espoiled F our-Poster o f t he D ruid's A ltar ( Yorkshire 1 ) n ear G rassington s tood o n ap ronounced m ound. O n t he Y orkshire M oors, w ell t o t he e ast o f t he D ruid's A ltar, a re t he t wo u ncertain b ut j uxtaposed r ings o f t he H igh B ridestones ( Yorkshire 3 , 4 ). m iles N NW i s t he D unsley M oor s ite ( Yorkshire 2 ) w hich i s p robably s imply t wo p airs o f s tones s eparated b y 3 30 f t ( 100m) o f w indblown g rassland. Q uarried c airns s lump b y t hem . T here a re a lso s everal a rrangements o f t hree s tones a pparently s et u p i n t riangles ( Elgee, 1 930, 1 05-6) b ut w hich m ay b e ' de-paganised' F our-Posters ( see: C hristianisation).

3 , 1

N eolithic a nd B ronze A ge a ssociations b etween Y orkshire a nd t he P eak D istrict o f D erbyshire i n t erms o f s tone a xes, f ood-vessels a nd s tone c ircles ( Burl, 1 976, 2 88) a re w ell-attested s o t hat i t i s u nderstandable t hat a F our-Poster m ight h ave b een e rected o n G ibbet M oor ( Derbyshire 1 ) n ear M atlock. I t i s s mall, i ts s tones a re l ow , o ne i s m issing, a nd i f i t i s g enuinely a F our-Poster i t i s t he m ost s outherly y et k nown o f t he e astern d istribution. T o t he n orth o f A berdeenshire s uch r ings a re e ven m ore s carce. O nly s ix p ossible s ites h ave b een i dentified ( Banff 1 ; M oray 1 , 2 ; S utherland 1 , 2 ; O rkney 1 ), a nd o f t hese o nly T emplestone ( Moray 2 ) i s a c ertain F our-Poster, i ts f our p illars e ncircling a n o vergrown c airn w hich i s l ined w ith l ow s labs. F our s ites a re u ncertain ( Banff 1 ; M oray 1 ; S utherland 1 , 2 ) a lthough A berscross ( Sutherland 1 ) s tanding o n a p latform a nd e xcavated i n 1 867 w hen a c entral c ist a nd c remation w ere d iscovered i s a r easonable c andidate. T he s ixth ' Four-Poster', t he C omet S tone ( Orkney 1 ) n ear t he c ircle-henge o f t he R ing o f B rodgar o n O rkney M ainland h as b een s o b adly m utilated t hat i n i ts p resent c ondition i t m ust b e c onsidered d ubious d espite i ts p latform . Y et i t d id h ave f our s tones s et i n a r ectangle a nd, b eing 1 50 m iles n orth o f t he H owe o f C romar, i t c ould n ot b e e xpected t o b e a p erfect r eplica o f a ' classic' F our-Poster. T here w as n o b lueprint i n p rehistory a nd e ach r egion d eveloped i ts o wn v ariations o n a m egalithic t heme. I t i s f or t his a rchaeological r eason t hat t he u ncertain a nd d ubious s ites h ave b een i ncluded i n t he G azetteer. A f urther c ollection o f F our-Posters i s t o b e f ound t o t he f ar w est o f L och T ay i n s outh-western S cotland. H ere t he d istribution p attern d ivides i nto a w eak n orthern g roup o f l ittle a nd i solated s ites ( Islay 1 ; L ewis 1 ; S kye 1 ), a nd a r ather s tronger d iffusion t o t he w est a nd s outh i n A rran, A yr, K irkcudbright a nd W igtown. T hese F our-Posters a re s maller t han t he 2 n ational a verage. T h e m ean i nternal a rea i s o nly 1 59 s . f t ( 12.6m ) , n early 6 0 s . f t(5.6m ) l ess t han t he i nteriors o f t he F our-Posters n ear L och T ay. C upmarks, i ntervening s labs a nd m ounds a lmost d isappeared, a m ound b eing c onfirmed o nly a t t he F rench C hAteau-Bü ( Brittany 1 ) a lthough t here a re p ossible p latforms a t L argybeg P oint ( Arran 1 ) a nd R obinstown G reat ( Wexford 1 ), a nd t he P ark o f T ongland ( Kirkcudbright 2 ) h ad a n i nternal c airn.

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T he s ix s ites o n A rran, t hree o f t hem ( Arran 2 , 5 , 6 ) c lose t o t he f ertile t riangle o f M achrie M oor, s how t heir b uilders t o h ave h ad s ome i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints. T he p erfect l ittle r ectangle o f A ucheleffan ( Arran 1 ), o nce o n o pen m oorland w ith a f ine v iew o f A ilsa C raig i sland t o t he s outh b ut n ow i ncarcerated i n a F orestry C ommission p lantation, h as i ts s tones s et a t n orth, e ast, s outh a nd w est. O ther r ings p ossess t he s ame o rientations ( see: A stronomy). ' The c alendrical s ignificance o f s ome o f t he s tone c ircles i s o bvious. T wo o f t he s maller c ircles o n A rran - o ne o f t hem o n M achrie M oor a nd t he o ther a t A ucheleffan - h ave t heir s tones o riented t o t he c ardinal p oints o f t he c ompass' ( MacLellan, 1 970, 7 3). O utside S cotland, n ot u nexpectedly F our-Posters b ecome r are a nd i solated. I t i s n oticeable, h owever, t hat t heir b uilders t ended t o a void a reas w ell-settled i n t he N eolithic j ust a s t hey h ad d one i n t he n orthern c ounties o f S utherland a nd C aithness: U lster w ith i ts c ourt-cairns; C umbria w ith i ts a xe-factories; t he W icklows a nd t he B oyne V alley w ith i ts p assage-graves; t he W elsh c oast w here t here w ere p ortal-dolmens. I t m ay h ave b een t he h ostility o f n atives t hat m ilitated a gainst a ny i ncursion i nto t hose d istricts. E qually, t he n ewcomers m ay h ave b een s earching n ot o nly f or g ood s oils i n t he m arginal l ands s till o pen t o t hem b ut a lso f or c opper a t a t ime w hen t he d evelopment o f m etal-working w as d emanding i ncreasing a mounts o f o re. S uch p rospecting m ight e xplain w hat s eems t o h ave b een a f airly r apid F our-Poster e xpansion. T here w as o ne g reat a nd i diosyncratic q uadrangle i nside t he d itchless h enge o f M ayburgh n ear P enrith ( Cumbria 1 ), a r ectangle u tterly u nlike a nything e lse i n t hat p art o f E ngland. W illiam C amden s aw i t i n 1 599 b ut m entioned o nly t he h enge i n h is B ritannia, a ' great F ort o f S tones h eap'd u p i n f orm o f a h orse-shoe...call'd M ayburgh' ( Camden, 1 695, 8 17). J ohn A ubrey, u sing C amden's n otes s eventy y ears l ater ( Aubrey, 1 980, 1 13) w rote t hat ' neer t o t he c entre t hereof a re e rected f our s tones o f g reat m agnitude, t he b iggest o f t hem c onteining e leven f oot i n h ighth... s tanding e qually d istant i n a q uadrangular f orme a bout 5 0 f oot [ 15m] a sunder'. B y t he t ime o f W illiam S tukeley's v isit i n 1 725 t hree o f t he s tones w ere d own, ' till a y ear o r t wo a go, t hat t hey w ere b lown t o p ieces w ith g unpowder', a nd h e e stimated t hat t hey h ad s tood o n a c ircle ' fifty f oot i n d iameter' ( Stukeley, 1 776, I I, 4 4). D ymond ( 1891, 1 93), n oting t hat t he s urvivor s tood 3 1 f t 6 i ns ( 9.6m) f rom t he c entre o f t he h enge, t hought t hat t his w as a f air e stimate. H e r ecorded ( ibid, 1 94) t hat i n 1 796 P ennant h ad p lanned t he h oles o f t he m issing s tones s howing ' the o ne r emaining, w ith t he s eats o f t he t hree o thers, f orming a r ectangle 6 0 f t b y 5 3 f t [ 18.3 x 1 6.2m], o ut o f s quare w ith t he c ardinal p oints'. D ymond d oubted t he a ccuracy o f t his s tatement. A s a n a side, i t i s a lso r eported t hat t he m issing s tones a nd t hose i n M ayburgh's s ingle e ast e ntrance w ere r emoved t o r epair t he b ridge o ver t he R iver E amont c lose b y. I t i s h ard t o k now w hat t o m ake o f t his. C amden s aw t he c omplete s etting b ut d id n ot p ublish h is n otes. A ubrey t ranscribed t hem a nd d rew a n i maginative p lan. S tukeley s aw t he v iolated s ite w hen s ome

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s tumps a nd s hattered b locks s till l ay n ear t he s urvivor. I t s eems v ery u nlikely t hat a v ersion o f a B ronze A ge S cottish F our-Poster s hould h ave b een e rected i nside w hat i s s urely a N eolithic h enge b ut i f t he s etting i nside M ayburgh w as n ot a n a ggrandised F our-Poster i t i s i nteresting t o s peculate u pon w hat i ts o rigins a nd i nspiration w ere. I t w as l arge b ut n ot a s b ig a s s ome s ites i n P erthshire, A ngus a nd F ife, i t w as r ectangular, h ad f our s tones p laced c lose t o t he c ardinal p oints, t he b iggest i n t he n orth-west q uadrant, a t rait a lready n oticed a s b eing c haracteristic o f 5 0 p er c ent o f t he F ourP osters m ost r emote f rom S cotland, n early 4 0 p er c ent o f t he o thers a lso f avouring n orth i n t he N EQ. U ntil t hese p oints c an b e a nswered M ayburgh w ill r emain a m egalithic e nigma. B eyond C umbria t here i s o ne k nown s ite i n t he n orth o f I reland ( Down 1 ), o ne c ertain a nd t wo d ebateable s ites i n c entral W ales ( Powys 1 , 2 ) a nd S hropshire, t he n eat q uadrangle o f R obinstown G reat ( Wexford 1 ) a t t he s outh-east c orner o f I reland, i ts f our s tones o n a p latform - w hich m ay b e m odern a nd a ccidental - a nd t hen a s udden c lutch o f s ites i n t he c upriferous c ountryside o f C ork a nd K erry n early 5 00 m iles f rom A berdeenshire. T here i s l ittle e vidence o f N eolithic a ctivity t here ( Lynch, A ., 1 981, 1 5), a nd t he f irst s ettlers w ere p robably w edge-tomb b uilders a round 2 500 B C ( ibid, 1 7) e ntering t he r egion b y s ea f rom t he s outh a nd w est. L ynch, 1 981, 1 20) h as a rgued t hat t hese i mmigrants m ay h ave c ome f rom B rittany w here t he m egalithic a ll6es-couvertes a re v ery s imilar t o t he w edge-graves o f C ork a nd K erry. B y t he s ame a rchitectural p arallel i t i s a rguable t hat t hey w ere f ollowed b y f urther m igrants, t hose f rom t he n orth a long t he I rish S ea, d escendants o f p eople o f t he R SC t radition ( Burl, 1 976, 2 13). O n t he p resent e xiguous e vidence o ne m ight s peculate t hat R SC c onstruction i n I reland b egan n o e arlier t han a bout 2 000 B C w ith 5 -stone r ings a nd F our-Posters b eing p ut u p i n t he i nland h ills e ven l ater a round t he m iddle o f t he s econd m illennium B C. ' Because o f t he r etention o f t he r ecumbent s tone i n t he f ives tone s ites p arallels m ay b e m ade b etween t hem a nd S cottish F ourP osters, e specially a s i n P erthshire t he a verage d iameter o f e leven F our-Posters w as 4 .9m [ 16 f t l in] a nd i n C ork t welve 5 -stone r ings a veraged 3 .2m [ 10 f t 6 i ns]. T he s uggestion t hat t he 5 -stone c ircle i s b asically a F our-Poster w ith t he r ecumbent s tone r etained i s s upported b y t he p resence o f a g enuine F our-Poster a t L ettergorman w ith i ts t allest s tone a t t he s outh-west ' ( Burl, 1 976, 2 21). T he a rgument i s f urther s upported b y t he d iscovery o f a t l east f our, p ossibly s ix F our-Posters i n C ork a nd K erry s ince 1 976. A rchitecturally, s ome o f t hese M unster F our-Posters a re v ery d ifferent f rom t he c ircularly s ymmetrical r ings n ear L och T ay w ith t heir s ubtly g raded s tones a nd c upmarks a nd m ounds. I n s everal I rish s ites t he s tones d o n ot s tand o n t he p erimeter o f a c ircle b ut a t t he a ngles o f a ssymetrical q uadrilaterals a nd t rapezoids. T hey h ave n o m ound. F requently, a s a t R eenkilla ( Kerry 1 ) a nd C appaboy B eg ( Cork 2 ) t here i s o ne p illar m arkedly t aller t han t he o thers ( O 'Nuallain,

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1 984b, 6 8). A lthough n ot o ften m entioned t his i s s omething t hat c an b e s een i n s ome S cottish m egalithic r ings, n ot n ecessarily F ourP osters, a lso. ' There i s o ne f eature o f P erthshire s tone c ircles w hich m ay f requently b e n oted a nd w hich i s w ell e xemplified a t C lach n a T iompan. O ne s tone o f t he c ircle i s o ften d isproportionately l arge. T he r emaining s tones f all a way f rom i t i n s ize s o t hat t he s mallest s tone i s f ound o pposite t he l argest' ( Henshall & S tewart, 1 956, 1 24). I t w as a n a rchitectural f oible u ncommon a mongst F ourP osters. O ther t han C lach n a T iompan ( Perth 7 ) i n P erthshire i t a ppears t hat s uch a d ifference i n h eights o ccurs o nly a t D unmoid ( Perth 1 4) w here t he S W a nd S E s tones w ere n oticeably l ower t han t he o thers. O utside c entral S cotland a s imilar d isparity i s t o b e f ound a t t he F our S tones ( Ayr 1 ) w here t he t wo n orthern s tones a gain o vershadowed t he p air o pposite. F rom s uch d iscrepancies o ne m ight a ssume t hat b oth i n t he I rish F our-Posters a nd R SCs t he o riginal S cottish t raits h ad b een r etained b ut r eassembled d ifferently a nd w ith s ome f eatures e xaggerated. A s t he I rish s ites w ere p robably e rected b y p eople w ho h ad n ever s een t he ' ancestral' c ircles b ut k new o f t hem o nly b y i nherited f olklore s uch v ariations a re e xplicable. Y et h owever m uch l ater t he t ime, h owever f ar t he d istance, a nd h owever s poradic t he o ccurrence, t he d istribution o f t he F ourP osters o utside S cotland d oes c onform t o a m ovement s outh-westwards, a m ovement t hat i s p aralleled a nd s eemingly c onfirmed i n d ensity a nd d irection b y t he d istribution o f R SCs a nd 5 -stone r ings. O utside n orth-east S cotland a nd s outh-west I reland R SCs a re r are b ut t hey a re u sually t o b e f ound i n a reas w here F our-Posters a lso e xist. B y L och T ay t here a re v ariant f orms a t C roft M oraig, a t F ortingall a nd, p erhaps, a t C oi1leachur. I n s outh-west S cotland t here i s T orhousekie ( Burl, 1 972). O n A rran t here i s A uchagallon n ear M achrie M oor. O n t he s ame i sland t here a re a t l east f our F ourP osters. I n n orthern I reland t here i s t he r ing a t K iltierney, C o. F ermanagh, w ith s tones g raded i n h eight, a s upposed r ecumbent s tone a nd c upmarks. I n w estern I reland t here i s t he s trangely a berrant r ing a t C ong, C o. M ayo, w ith w hat l ook l ike s everal r ecumbent s tones b etween l ow f lankers o n i ts c ircumference. F ive-stone r ings, w hich m ay b e i nterpreted a s F our-Posters w hose b uilders h ad r etained t he r ecumbent s tone, h ave a s imilar p attern. T here a re o nly t wo k nown e xamples o f t hese o utside s outhw est I reland b ut, s ignificantly, t hey a re b oth t o b e f ound o n t he s outhern ' route' b etween S cotland a nd t he c ounties o f C ork a nd K erry. C ircle 2 75 o n P enmaenmawr i n n orth W ales ( Burl, 1 976, 2 68) l ies a cross t he I rish S ea f rom t he r ecently r ecognised B allyfoyle ( Churcher, 1 985, 1 0) i n t he W icklows o f e astern I reland, a s mall r ing o f f ive l ow g ranite s tones s urrounding a n a rea o f a bout 1 3 f t ( 4m) a cross. T he s ite h as n ow b een d estroyed d uring a fforestation a nd i ts s tatus m ust r emain u ncertain. T here c an b e l ittle d oubt t hat s ettings s uch a s G ortnacowly ( Cork 4 ) a re t rue F our-Posters b ut t he s ame c annot b e s aid f or s ome s ites i n s outhern E ngland.

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A cross t he s ea , t wo h undred o r m ore m iles e ast o f C ork , t he u plands o f n orthern D evon c ontain s ome l ittle-known s tone r ectangles. T he h igh a nd e xposed p lateau o f E xmoor, i ts h ighest p oint a t D unkery B eacon, 1 707 f t ( 520m) O .D. i n S omerset, f orms t he n orthern t ip o f D evon i mmediately s outh o f t he B ristol C hannel. I t i s ' one o f t he l argest t racts o f u ncultivated l and t o b e f ound i n t he s outh o f E ngland, a nd f or m any s quare m iles i ts e levation i s n ot l ess t han 5 00 f t [ 152m ] a nd i s o ften o ver 1 000 f t [ 305m ] a bove s ea-level', ( Dobson, 1 931, 4 ). C overing s ome 2 65 s quare m iles i ts u plands a re s prawling a nd b leak a nd b roken o nly b y t he v alleys a nd c ombes n ear t he c oast. T he u nderlying b eds o f D evonian s andstone h ave p roduced s tony, t hin a nd a cid s oils w orsened b y t he h igh a nnual r ainfall. I t w as n ot a n a rea t o a ttract N eolithic s ettlers. ' There w as n o l ocal f lint o r s tone s uitable f or m aking i mplements, a nd t here w ere f ar b etter s oils, m uch e asier t o u se f or a griculture a nd p asture, o n t he c halk d owns o f W essex a nd S ussex, t he o olitic l imestone o f t he C otswolds, a nd e ven o n t he c arboniferous l imestone o f M endip ' ( Grinsell, 1 970, 2 2). W hat s ettlement t here w as c oncentrated a t t he m oor's n orthe astern e dge o n t he l ower, m ore f ertile l and i n S omerset. T his w as i n c ontrast t o t he d istribution o f m onuments i n t he B ronze A ge ( ibid, m aps 3 a nd 4 , 2 17-18). T here, a t t he v ery h eart o f t he m oor, a v ariety o f f unerary a nd r itual s tructures w ere b uilt. T here w ere s tone c ircles, r ound b arrows a nd c airns, s tanding s tones, a nd s ome o f t he s trangest s tone s ettings k nown i n t he B ritish I sles. A mongst t hem i t i s j ust p ossible t hat t here w ere s ome a berrant 4 P osters. G eographically t he r egion i s c lose e nough t o t he I rish S ea t o m ake t his f easible, a nd t he i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints s hown i n t he E xmoor r ectangles a dds t o t he p ossibility. R egrettably, l ike o ther E xmoor s ites, t hey h ave a ll b een d amaged. ' The p rocess o f e nclosure h as s adly t old o n t he r ude s tone m onuments. T hese w ere h indrances t o t illage, a nd i n a c ounty w here l arge, w ell-shapen s tones a re s carce, t he r equirements o f f ieldd rains a nd g ateposts h as t o a g reat e xtent b een m et b y t he p illage o f p rehistoric r emains' ( Chanter & W orth, 1 905, 3 76). Y et i t i s s till p ossible t o d istinguish b etween t he d ifferent s tyles o f c onstruction. A t E ast P insford t here i s a ' Dartmoor-type' d ouble r ow o f l ow s tones i n t wo l ines 5 4 f t ( 16.5m) l ong b ut o nly 2 f t ( 60cm) w ide. S uch o utside i nfluence, h owever, w as u nusual. E xmoor s eems t o h ave d eveloped i ts o wn i diosyncratic d esigns. ' Of t he m iscellaneous f ormations c ontaining f rom t wo t o a d ozen s tones t here a re a s core o r m ore, m ostly o n t he n orth r idge o f E xmoor... T he p attern c onsists m ainly o f t riangles o r q uadrilaterals o r c ombinations o f b oth, s ometimes w ith o utlying s tones a t v arying d istances f rom t he m ain f ormation, o r w ith a s tone i n t he m iddle o f t he t riangle o r r ectangle. S ome o f t hese f ormations a re a ssociated w ith b arrows, a s a t C hapman B arrows, w here a s tone q uadrilateral [ Longstone A llotment ( Devon 3 0)] h as a s tone i n t he m iddle a nd a n o utlier' ( Whybrow , 1 970, 1 3).

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E ardley-Wilmot ( 1979, 6 5) o bserved t hat ' even l ess e xplicable, a nd a pparently p eculiar t o E xmoor, a re t he c urious g eometrical p atterns o f s mall s tones, a lmost c ertainly B ronze A ge w ork... T hey a re u sually m ade o f s tones o f d ark s andstone, w hich s tand a bout k nee-high, a nd a re p laced a long, n ot a cross t he l ine t hey d efine '. A mongst t hese n on-circular s ites w ere r ectangles s uch a s M attocks D own, S S 6 01 4 39, f ormed o f l ittle s tones i n a r ow 1 47 f t ( 45m) l ong, r unning E SE-WNW , w ith t wo t all p illars 6 6 f t ( 20m) t o t he s outh, e ach i n l ine w ith t he r ow 's e nds. T here w ere a lso p arallelograms s uch a s L ittle T om 's H ill, S S 8 03 4 34, a rranged N S w ith t hree r ows o f t hree s tones f orming c onjoined o blongs , e ach a bout 2 8 b y 2 2 f t ( 8.5 x 6 .7m). T o t he s outh-west, a cross t he h ill, i s a nother a t E ast P inford, S S 7 97 4 27, t his o ne l aid o ut E -W . T here i s e ven a t riangle o n C hallacombe C ommon , S S 7 16 4 28, i ts s ides m easuring 5 4 b y 5 5 b y 5 8 f t ( 1.6.5 x 1 6.8 x 1 7.7m), i ts i nternal a ngles o f 5 7 0, 5 8° a nd 6 5° m aking i t i mpossible f or t his s etting o f t hree t iny s tones e ver t o h ave b een a ' christianised' 4 -Poster. T here a re a lso t he q uadrilaterals, s ettings w hich j ust p ossibly w ere t he E xmoor v ersions o f 4 -Posters. ' The e ssential f eatures a re, f our s tones p laced o n o r n ear t he c ircumference o f a c ircle , s o a s t o f orm a n a pproximately r ectangular f igure; a t t he i ntersection o f t he d iagonals o f t his f igure, a nd h ence a pproximately a t t he c entre o f t he i maginary c ircle, t here s tands a f ifth s tone' ( Chanter &W orth , 1 905, 3 88). O nly f ive h ave b een r ecognised. T hey a re n ot e asy t o f ind e xcept w hen t he h eather h as b een b urned a nd t heir s hort s tones a re e xposed. A t o ther t imes t hey b lend b rownly w ith t he v egetation a round t hem. O ften o ne o r m ore o f t he b locks h as b een r emoved. Y et t hey l ie w ithin f our m iles o f t he c oast, p ersuasively c lose t o t he s eas w here o ther p eople, b uilders o f 4 -Posters i n W ales, s outhern I reland a nd i n B rittany, h ad s ailed. T here a re n o c onvincing p rototypes l ocally, e ven w ithin a h undred m iles, f or t hese E xmoor s ites. T he F our S tations r ectangle a t S tonehenge ( Burl, 1 987, 1 41-7) 9 0 h illy m iles t o t he e ast, i s n ot c omparable. N or i s t he e mbanked m egalithic o blong o f K ing A rthur's H all ( SX 1 29 7 76) o n B odmin M oor 6 0 m iles t o t he s outhw est ( Barnatt, 1 982, 1 96-7). N o r ectangles a re r ecorded o n D artmoor e ven b y t hat f ervent f ieldworker W orth, ( 1967), w ho w ith C hanter f irst r ecognised t he d ifference o f t he q uadrilaterals f rom t he o ther s tone m onuments i n t he s ame r egion o f E xmoor. T he p robability m ust b e t hat t he E xmoor q uadrilaterals w ere a r egional p henomenon u naffected b y o utside i nfluences o r ' Scottish ' i ncomers. B ut t heir r ectangularity, t heir f our s tones, t heir ' circular' d esign, t heir a lignments t o t he c ardinal p oints, t heir p robable B ronze A ge d ate a nd t heir p roximity t o b urial m onuments m erit t heir i nclusion a s d oubtful c andidates f or t he s tatus o f v ariant 4 -Posters.

o f

M uch l ess c ontroversial b ut m ost s uprising o f a ll i n t erms d istribution i s t he p erplexing s tructure o f C hâteau-Bü, I lle-

3 0

e t-Vilaine, B rittany. I t p ossesses n early a ll t he f eatures t hat h ave b een a ttributed t o F our-Posters. T hree t all s tones o f q uartz s tand a t t hree c orners o f a r ectangle w hich i s s et o n a l arge, h igh o val m ound ( Burl, 1 985, 9 2). A f ourth s tone l ies n earby a t t he f oot o f t he m ound. T he a ssociation o f a r ectangle a nd a m ound, s o r eminiscent o f t he t raits o f m any F our-Posters, i s s trengthened b y t he p resence o f ' kerbstones' b etween t he p illars. G iven t he s uspected l inks b etween s outh-west I reland a nd B rittany i n t he f orm o f w edgeg raves a nd a ll es-couvertes ( Burl, 1 987, 1 57) i t i s n ot i nconceivable t hat a v ariant f orm o f F our-Poster d oes e xist a t C häteau-Ba i n t he B ronze A ge r itual c omplex o n t he G ree d e C ojoux n ear S t J ust. D ating. N othing h as b een a dded t o m odify t he o pinions e xpressed i n t he w riter's 1 971 p aper. O nly t he e xcavation o f P ark o f T ongland ( Kirkcudbright 2 ) h as b een u ndertaken s ince t hen a nd t he f inds f rom i t a gree c ompletely w ith t he s uggested B ronze A ge d ating o f F our-Posters. F rom t he u nenclosed c remation c emetery u nder i ts s econdary c airn ( McCullagh, 1 987) c ame a c rude c ordoned u rn, a c ollared u rn a nd a t iny a ccessory v essel. S uch a m ixture r eflects t he t ypes o f B ronze A ge v essels f rom o ther F our-Posters, m ost o f t hem i n c entral S cotland. C ollared u rns h ave b een f ound i n t hree s ites ( Kirkcudbright 2 ; P erth 5 , 2 2); c ordoned u rns ( Kirkcudbright 2 ; P erth 1 8); u rns' ( Angus 3 ; P erth 1 4); a b ucket-shaped u rn ( probably s econdary a t D own 1 ); a n a ccessory v essel ( Kirkcudbright 2 ); f ood-vessels ( Arran 6 ; S hropshire 1 ?); j et ( Fife 1 ?; P erth 1 7; S kye 1 ?); a b ronze a wl ( Arran 6 ); a nd a n ondescript c ollection o f f lints a nd u ndateable a rtefacts f rom s everal o ther F our-Posters. O nly t he a braded s herds o f a n A OC B eaker ( Stewart, M ., 1 964, 1 34 ; C larke, 1 970 , I I, 5 20, n o. 1 737.1) m ight i ndicate a d ate b efore t he E arly B ronze A ge f or t he F our-Poster o f L undin F arm S outh-East ( Perth 2 2) b ut i ts c ontext a nd d ate a re n ot e ntirely c lear. T he s herds w ere f ound w ith f ragments o f a c ollared u rn i n a d isturbed c airn a nd i t i s q uite p ossible t hat t hey w ere a lready o ld a t t he t ime o f t heir d eposition. T he t ime i tself i s q uestionable. I n B ritain ' the A OC s tyle a ppeared a round 2 100 b c b ut w as s till i n u se a s l ate a s 1 900 - 1 800 b c i n n orthern B ritain a nd S cotland ' ( Harrison, 1 980 , 7 4). L ike t he m ythical s wallow ,one e arly b eaker d oes n ot m ake a N eolithic s ummer f or F our-Posters. T here a re, a s y et, n o r adio-carbon a ssays f rom F our-Posters. O nly t he r elated s ite o f C ashelkeelty, C o. K erry, a 5 -stone r ing i nvestigated b y A nn L ynch ( 1981, 6 5-9) h as p rovided f irm d ata t hat s how t hat s uch s ites a lso b elong t o a B ronze A ge h orizon, a t C ashelkeelty p erhaps a s l ate a s 9 70-715 b c ( c. 1 200 - 9 00 B C). W hereas S cottish F our-Posters h ave c onsistently B ronze A ge m aterial t he r ecumbent s tone c ircles i n c overed N eolithic a rtefacts ( Burl, 1 974, 6 6-8). T he

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y ielded E arly S cotland h ave o nly r eliable

L UNDIN F ARM S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 2 2) T he f allen c up-marked o utlying s tone.

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C arbon-14 d eterminations f rom a n R SC, B errybrae ( Burl, 1 979, 2 9) s uggest t hat t he r ing h ad b een e rected b efore 1 430 b c ( c. 1 750 B C), a nd p erhaps a s e arly a s 2 000 B C a t a t ime w ell b efore t he b ulk o f m aterial f rom F our-Posters. T his, l ike o ther e vidence s uch a s t he a rtefacts f rom t he l ate R SC o f C airn R iv, p rovides s ome c onfirmation t hat t he F our-Poster t radition w as a d evelopment e manating f rom t he c ircles w ith r ecumbent s tones i n n orth-eastern S cotland. C upmarks. T hese s mall, c ircular d epressions w ere c arved o n s ome R SCs a nd 1 3 F our-Posters, a ll b ut t he F our S tones, W alton ( Powys 2 ) b eing i n c entral S cotland a nd e astern B ritain. D espite t he a bundance o f c upmarked r ocks i n s outh-west S cotland ( Morris, 1 981) n ot o ne F our-Poster t here b ears a ny c arvings. T he r easons f or c upmarking a re d ebateable a nd a re l ikely t o h ave v aried f rom r egion t o r egion ( Hadingham , 1 974 ; M cMann, 1 980). I t h as b een n oticed, h owever, t hat i n t he S cottish R SCs t he s tones w ith c upmarks d o s tand i n s ignificant a stronomical p ositions, g enerally i n l ine w ith t he s outhern m oon a s s een f rom n ear t he c entre o f t he c ircle ( Ruggles & B url, 1 985, S 54-7). T ABLE 5 S ite A rnhill B alquhain

B raehead C othiemuir W ood L oanend L oanhead o f D aviot R othiemay

C UPMARKS I N S COTTISH R SCs ' Cupmarks 2o n r ec. 1o n r ec. 4o n E . f l. 2 5 o n W .W .fl. 4o n r ec. 4 ? o n r ec. 2o n r ec. 1 2 o n E .E.fl. 1 19 o n r ec. 2o n W .W .fl.

A zimuth

D ecl.

A stronomy

1 95 ° . 6 1 90 0 . 0 1 72°.0 2 32 ° . 0 1 93 ° . 0 2 04 ° . 0 2 25 ° . 0 1 40 0 . 0 2 02 ° . 5 1 67°.0

29 ° . 6 29°.4 29 ° . 3 18 ° . 9 29 ° . 1 29 ° . 2 19 ° . 1 24 ° . 2 28 ° 1. 4 31 ° . 0

M aj S M S M aj S M S M aj S M S M in S M S M aj S M S M aj S M S M in S M S M W S R M aj S M S M aj S M R

( Abbrev iat ions i n T ab le 5 : A z , a z imuth , t he c ompass-bear ing f rom T rue N or th ; D ec l . , t he i nd icat ion o f w h ich h eaven ly b ody w as a l igned u pon ; E . f l . , t he e ast f l anker ; E .E .f L , t he s tone e ast o f t he e ast f l anker ; M aj S , major s outhern ; M in S , m inor s outhern ; MR , moonrise ; MS , moonset ; MW SR , m idwinter s unr ise ; r ec . , r ecumbent s tone ; W .f l . , w est f lanker ; W .W .f l , t he s tone w est o f t he w est f lanker ) . T here a re a lso c upmarks o n s tones f or w hich n o a ccurate a zimuth i s a vailable: B alnacraig o n t he r ecumbent a t t he s outh-west; N ether C orskie o n t he w est f ace o f t he w est f lanker; P itglassie o n t he e ast f lanker; a nd P otterton o n t he w est f lanker. I nterestingly, a t t he o nly c upmarked I rish R SC, D rombeg i n C o. C ork , t he r ecumbent s tone o n w hich t he t wo c upmarks o ccur l ies i n l ine w ith t he m idwinter s unset ( Somerville, 1 909, 1 08 ; F ahy, 1 959, 1 4). S uch a stronomical r epetition i s v ery u nlikely t o h ave b een c oincidental.

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I t i s c lear t hat c upmarked s tones i n R SCs w ere c onfined t o a v ery l imited a rc o f t he r ing, o nly o n t hose p illars n ext o r n ext b ut o ne t o t he r ecumbent a nd o n t he r ecumbent i tself ( Burl, 1 974, 6 6) w hich a ppears t o h ave b een t he f ocus o f t he r ituals. I t i s t he r ecumbent t hat u sually r eceived d ecoration, n o f ewer t han s even o f t he e leven p ossible s ites h aving c upmarks t here. T he m ost l avishly c arved s tones s tand a t t he s outh-west o f t he r ing - B alquhain ( 25 c upmarks), S unhoney ( 31), a nd R othiemay ( 129) - o n c ompass-bearings v ery l ike t he p redominantly s outh-west o rientation o f t he C lava r ing-cairns' t o w hich t he R SCs w ere p robably r elated ( Burl, 1 976, 1 79). T he w est w as f avoured. T he s even d ecorated r ecumbents w ere a ll i n t he s outh-west q uadrant. O f t he o ther s tones o ne w est f lanker w as d ecorated a nd t hree o f t he s tones w est o f t he w est f lanker. C onversely, t here w ere o nly t wo c upmarked e ast f lankers a nd o ne p illar e ast o f t he e ast f lanker, t he ' sunrise' p illar a t L oanhead o f D aviot. I n t his r espect F our-Posters v ery o bviously d iffered, t he c upmarks t here b eing a lmost i nvariably o n e astern s tones, t he o ne c ertain e xception b eing a t t he F our S tones, W alton ( Powys 2 ) w here t he t op o f t he s outh-west s tone b ore t hree s mall c upmarks. B ecause o f t he v ery v ague p lans o f C oles ( 1910, 1 51) a nd C ash ( 1911, 3 87) t he e xact p osition o f o ne o f t he t wo c arved s tones a t C arse F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ) i s u ncertain b ut m ay h ave b een a t t he S SW. O therwise i t i s a lways a n e astern s tone t hat c arried c upmarks i n F our-Posters. C upmarks h ave b een n oted o n t he f ollowing s tones: E ast ( Aberdeen 4 ); S outh-east ( Angus 2 ; P erth 5 , 6 , 1 0 , 1 3, 1 5, 2 8); N orth-east ( Perth 5 , N orthumberland 1 ); S SW ( Perth 6 ?); S outh-west ( Powys 2 ). T he s ignificance o f t his p reference f or t he e ast, p articularly t he s outh-east, w ill b e d iscussed i n t he f ollowing s ection. A stronomy . I t i s o nly i n t he 2 0th c entury t hat p ersistent c laims h ave b een m ade f or t he e xistence o f m an-designed a stronomical s ightlines i n s tone c ircles. A lthough S tukeley ( 1740, 3 5, 5 6) r emarked o n t he m idsummer s unrise o rientation a t S tonehenge f ew s cholars f or t he n ext 1 50 y ears d eemed i t w orthwhile t o i nvestigate s uch a p henomenon i n o ther m egalithic r ings. T here w ere o ccasional o bservations b ut n o s ystematic w ork. T his c entury, s timulated b y t he p ioneering f ieldwork o f S ir N orman L ockyer ( 1906), t he s earch f or a lignments i n p rehistoric r itual m onuments h as d eveloped i nto a m inor a spect o f a rchaeological s tudies. S omerville, N ewham, H awkins, T hom a nd R uggles h ave a ll c ontributed t o t he b ody o f d ata t hat h as b een a massed. D espite t he s cepticism o f m any a rchaeologists, m ost o f w hom a re u nqualified t o a ssess t he m aterial, i t h as b een s hown t hat p rehistoric p eople i n t he B ritish I sles d id d esign s tructures t o l ook t owards a m ajor p osition o f t he s un o r m oon. W hy t hey d id s o i s a q uestion t hat m ay n ever b e a nswered.

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G OATSTONES ( Northumberland 1 ) T he h eavily c upmarked n orth-east s tone.

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S ightlines, s ome t owards s olar o r l unar e vents, o thers t owards p rominent h ills t hat m ay h ave b een r egarded a s t he h abitations o f t he g ods, h ave b een p roposed f or s everal F our-Posters: a t C orogle B urn ( Angus 8 ) t owards t he m ajor s outhern m oonset ( Thom , 1 966, 3 4); a t L amlash ( Arran 3 ) b eyond a n o utlying s tone t owards t he s pectacular p eak o f G oat F ell ( Coles, 1 906b, 2 96); a t B agbie ( Kirkcudbright 1 ), u sing a p air o f o utliers, t owards t he e xact s outh ( Thom , 1 967, 9 8); a t T ullybannocher ( Perth 2 8) t owards t he m inor n orthern m oonset ( Thom , 1 967, 1 00); a nd a t W oodside ( Perth 2 9 ) t owards e ach o f t he c ardinal p oints ( Coles, 1 909, 1 00). I t m ust b e s aid, h owever, t hat e ach o f t hese ' sightlines' i s i mprobable. D espite t he l ong v iews o ffered f rom t heir h illside p ositions F our-Posters w ere n ot o bservatories n or c ould t hey h ave b een i ntended a s s uch. T hey w ere t oo s mall. E ven i n a v ery l arge o ne s uch a s t he H ill o f B ucharn ( Aberdeen 3 ) a bout 2 7 f t ( 8.3m) s quare, t he l ongest p ossible s ightline w ould h ave b een t he 3 8 f t 4 i ns ( 11.7m) d iagonal a cross t he r ing. A ssuming t hat t he s tone c hosen a s t he f oresight w ere a m odest 3 f t ( im) t hick t he a rc o f v ision f rom i ts l efthand t o i ts r ighthand s ide w ould h ave b een n early 5 ° w ide w hich w ould h ave c overed a lmost h alf a m ile o f as kyline o nly f ive m iles a way . E xpressed d ifferently, a m odern r esearcher h oping t o d ate a r ing a stronomically w ould b e f rustrated w ere h e t o b elieve, b ecause o f t he s outh-westerly a ngle f rom a b acksite s tone t o t he f oresight, t hat t he F our-Poster h ad b een a ligned o n t he b right s tar, S irius, ( Alpha C anis M ajoris). H e w ould f ind a ny a ccurate c hronological a ssessment i mpossible. T he ' alignment' f rom 1 23 ° ( lefthand s ide) t o 1 28 ° ( righthand) a cross t he r ing w ould b e s o c oarse t hat t he m onument c ould h ave b een b uilt a s e arly a s 2 000 B C w hen S irius h ad a d eclination o f 19'1. 4 t o a s l ate a s 8 00 B C w hen t he s tar h ad m oved d own t he h orizon a nd h ad a c hanged d eclination o f 16 ° . 9. A lthough t here i s g ood e vidence t hat r ecumbent s tone c ircles w ere a ligned o n t he m ajor s outhern m oon, p articularly a t i ts s etting ( Burl, 1 980a; R uggles & B url, 1 985) t he v ery s hort d istance b etween a ny t wo s tones i n a F our-Poster m ilitates a gainst a nything b ut t he b roadest a nd v aguest o f a stronomical a lignments. E ven t he c upmarked s tones, s o f inely p ositioned a stronomically i n t he R SCs, a re o f l ittle h elp i n F our-Posters. I t i s a rguable t hat a t C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ), a t t he F our S tones, W alton ( Powys 2 ), a nd a t t he G oatstones ( Northumberland 1 ) t he c upmarked s tone d efined a l unar e vent b ut i f t his w as i ntended i t w as b y n o m eans p recise. A t t he G oatstones, f or e xample, t he s ightline a cross t he r ing w as n o m ore t han 1 f t 6 i ns ( 3.5m) l ong. W ith t he c upmarked s tone b eing a lmost 3 f t ( 1m) t hick a nd f lat-topped a m oonwatcher w ould h ave h ad a r ange o f v ision o ver 8° w ide f rom o ne s ide o f t he s tone t o t he o ther, f ar t oo g ross f or a ny p recise o bservation o f t he h eavens. Y et t he m anifest i nterest s hown i n t he s outh-east b y t he m akers o f c upmarks d eserves c onsideration. T his m ight h ave b een c onditioned b y o ne o r o ther o f t wo i mportant c elestial o ccurrences, t he m idwinter s unrise a nd t he m ost s outherly r ising o f t he m oon a t m idsummer. I n t he l atitude o f L och T ay, g iven a s kyline l evel w ith t he F ourP oster, t hese w ould h ave a ppeared a t a bout 1 37 ° ( south-east) a nd 1 51 ° ( SSE) r espectively. I n t hose f ew i nstances w here r easonable

3 6

p lans e xist f or F our-Posters w ith c upmarked s outh-east s tones a s a t C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) w ith i ts f allen o utlier o r a t B alkemback ( Angus 2 ) t he c arved s tone i s c loser t o t he s unrise l ine t han t o t hat t o t he m oon . F or t he r easons g iven a bove, i f t hese a nd o ther s outh-eastern c upmarked p illars w ere s olar i n o rientation t heir a lignment c ould n ever h ave i nformed a n o bserver t hat m idwinter's d ay w as a pproaching. I t c ould o nly h ave s ymbolised t hat e vent, ' trapping' t he s unrise o f t he y ear's s hortest d ay i n t he F our-Poster. T his c an b e n o m ore t han s peculation. F urther r esearch m ay d emonstrate t he c upmarks t o b e m ore p robably l unar m otifs - o r h ave n othing a t a ll t o d o w ith a stronomy. I t i s a lso p ossible t hat t he s tones i n F our-Posters w ere o riented o n c onspicuous h ills. T his w as n oticed a s a p robability a mongst s ome o f t he A berdonian R SCs s uch a s I nschfield a nd S tonehead ( Ruggles & B url, 1 985, S 45-50). ' In m ountainous d istricts, h illt ops a ppeared t o t ake t he p lace o f o utlying s tones, a nd, i f t he o utlying s tones h ad a nything t o d o w ith t he r elative p osition o f t he s un a nd t he c ircles, p rominent h ill t ops w ould c ertainly i n e very r espect b e s uperior t o t hem ' ( Lewis, A .L., 1 892, 1 42). A t t he c rest o f al ow h ill n ear t he H owe o f C romar t he s hattered F our-Poster o f H owemill ( Aberdeen 4 ) h as o nly o ne s tone s till s tanding. T he o thers w ere b lown u p. O ne a t t he e ast, b roken i n t wo, h as s ix w orn c upmarks o n t he s ide t hat o nce f aced s outh-west. A l ine f rom t he s tone t o t he s mashed p ieces o f a s tone t hat o riginally s tood a t t he s outh-east c orner o f t he r ectangle w ould h ave l ed t o a n o utlier, n ow f allen, 3 9 f t ( 12m) a way. ' When e rect, i t w ould p robably h ave s tood e xactly i n l ine w ith t he c entres o f [ the e ast a nd s outh-east s tones] a nd i f s o, a lso i n l ine, a s t hey a re, w ith t he M ither T ap o f B ennachie' ( Coles, 1 902, 4 92). A s t he s harp g ranite p eak o f M ither T ap r ises l ike a d omineering p yramid a bove t he h ills a nd t he p lain a round i t, o ften i nvisible i n t he d rifting c louds a nd m ists, i t m ay w ell h ave b een b elieved t o b e t he h ome o f s pirits, a n a wesome a nd s acred p lace t owards w hich a r itual m onument s hould l ook. A n a rchitectural f eature o f F our-Posters p erhaps r elated t o a stronomy m ay e xist i n t he p osition o f s tones. A s K eiller ( 1934, 4 ) n oticed a t R aich ( Aberdeen 6 ) a nd S hethin ( Aberdeen 7 ) s ome r ings h ad t heir b iggest s tones s et a t t he c ardinal p oints a lthough n ot a s a ccurately a s h e s uggested. T hom 's p lan ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 1 70, B 1/10) s hows o ne o f t he t wo t allest s tones a t S hethin t o s tand a t t he S SW w ith t he o ther a t t he W NW . Y et t he C raighead F our-Poster ( Kincardine I ) d oes h ave i ts h ighest p illars a t n orth , e ast, s outh a nd w est, ' so p recisely t owards t he c ardinal p oints', r emarked t he s ceptical C oles ( 1900, 1 52) ' that i t i s a lmost c ertain t hey h ave q uite r ecently b een m oved', p ointing o ut t hat i n e ach s tone w ire r opes h ad b een f ixed t o s upport a c entral V ictorian f lagpole. H e d id n ot e xplain w hy i t h ad b een n ecessary t o r earrange t he s tones. I f t he c ardinal p ositions a t C raighead w ere b oth o riginal a nd i ntended b y t he b uilders o f t he F our-Posters i n t he d ays b efore t he P ole S tar ( Alpha U rsae M inoris) w hich, i n 2 000 B C, w as s ome 1 7° a way f rom T rue N orth , t hen t heir l ocations m ust h ave b een d ecided

3 7

f rom c elestial o bservations, f or e ver e lude u s.

p robably

s olar,

f or

r easons

w hich m ay

I f t he r ecords o f a ntiquarians i n t he l ast c entury w ere c orrect t here h ad b een a s imilar i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints o n t he i sland o f A rran a nd o ne w hich w as n ot c onfined t o s ightlines i n s tone c ircles. H aving i nspected a nd e xcavated s everal b urial c ists t here B ryce ( J., 1 862, 5 22-4) w rote t hat ' it c ertainly s eems s trange t hat t he d irections s hould s o a gree t owards a N . p oint - t hey l ie r oughly N . a nd S ., b eing a ll a l ittle E . o f N .'. F orty y ears l ater a nother B ryce ( T.H., 1 902, 1 32) a dded, ' In A rran t he b earing i s a pproximately N . a nd S . [ for t he l ong a xis o f m egalithic c hambered t ombs] s ometimes t o t he W ., s ometimes t o t he E . o f n orth; w hile i n I slay a nd a t K ilchoan t he d irection a pproaches m ore n early t o E . a nd W .'. A mongst t he F our-Posters o n t he i sland t here a re a lso n orths outh a lignments i n a t l east f our o f t he s ites ( Arran 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ). T hey a re n ever p recise b ut t he c orrespondence i s t oo c lose t o b e f ortuitous. H ow, i n t imes b efore a ny b right p olar s tar, s uch c ardinal p oints w ere a ttained i s d ebateable. S omerville ( 1912, 3 0, 3 6) s uggested t hat o bservers m ay h ave b isected t he a ngles b etween P olaris w hen i t w as f arthest w est a nd e ast o f t he p ole, o r e lse f ound d ue s outh f rom t he a ltitude o f t he s un, a l ess a ccurate m ethod ( Heggie, 1 981, 8 6). T hom ( 1967) p roposed a t echnique a kin t o S omerville's f irst, o f b isecting t he a ngles b etween t he e ast a nd w est e longations o f a c ircumpolar s tar b y u sing a p lumb-line s uspended f rom a w ooden f rame, a p rocedure t hat c ould b e p ractised o nly i n t he l ong n ights o f w inter. T he w riter d oes n ot b elieve t hat a ny o f t hese m eans w ere e mployed, e specially a s t hey w ould n ot h ave p roduced t he q uite c onsiderable e rrors t hat h ave b een r ecorded. I t i s v ery d oubtful t hat t he p rehistoric p lanners o f a F our-Poster w ere i nterested i n t he c ardinal p oints p er s e. T hey w ere n ot a stronomers. O n t he a ssumption t hat t o t hem t he s un a nd m oon w ere p otent f orces, o r m erely u seful i ndicators o f t he a pproaching s ummer o r w inter, t he p eople m ay s imply h ave h alved t he d istance b etween t wo s olar o r l unar e xtremes, t he s un b eing e asier t o u se f or t his. ' North', w here n either s un, m oon, s tar n or p lanet e ver r ose o r s et, c ould h ave b een d etermined b y b isecting t he s pace b etween t he m idsummer s unrise a nd s unset. ' East' c ould h ave b een f ound b y f inding t he m idpoint b etween t he m idsummer a nd m idwinter s unrises. A ll t hat w as r equired w as a p lace f or t he o bservations, p resumably w here t he F our-Poster w as t o s tand, t wo m arker-posts o n t he e xtremes o f t he s un, a nd p atience. E rrors w ere i nherent i n t he m ethod. U nless t he s kyline w ere p erfectly l evel, w hich i t n ever w as, e ach o f t he ' cardinal p oints' w ould b e a d egree o r m ore o ut o f t rue. T he b uilders w ould n ot h ave k nown t his. T hey w ould n ot h ave c ared. I t w as t he m idpoint t hat t hey w anted a nd i t w as t he m idpoint t hat t hey h ad o btained. I t i s o nly t oday's a rchaeo-astronomer w ho i s u pset b y t he s lipshod r esults.

3 8

' Christianisation'. M any F our-Posters h ave h ad a s ingle s tone p ushed o ver, b uried o r d ragged a way, p resumably w ith t he i ntention o f t ransforming a h eathen t emple i nto a s tructure m ore a cceptable t o p ious C hristians j ust a s s ome o f t he s tones w ere b uried a t A vebury i n t he 1 4th c entury A D ( Burl, 1 979b, 3 6-40). N o p articular s tone w as s elected, t he N E, N NW o r s outh , a lmost a ny p illar w as c hosen, a nd i t i s l ikely t hat i t w as t he s tone t hat w as l ightest a nd l east d angerous t o s hift t hat w as p referred. A t F ortingall S outh-West ( Perth 1 7) o f t he f our l arge c orners tones a nd t he f our s maller b locks b etween t hem i t w as t he t hree b iggest t hat w ere l eft s tanding. T he o thers w ere b uried i n d eep p its. B its o f a b roken b eer b ottle a nd a c ow-bone u nder o ne s tone s howed t hat t he d emolition h ad t aken p lace i n t he 1 9th c entury. T he n eighbouring F our-Poster ( Perth 1 6), 8 2 f t ( 25m) a way, h ad r eceived s imilar t reatment. S o, p resumably, h ad t he v ariant R SC t o t he s outh w here o nly t he l ittle r ecumbent a nd i ts p air o f f lankers w ere l eft u ntouched. A l imited e xcavation e xposed t he s tonehole o f t he p illar t o t he n orth o f t he w est f lanker. S uch ' christianisation ' w as w idespread a nd i t h as c reated s ome p roblems f or t he p resentday s eeker a fter F our-Posters. O n t he Y orkshire M oors ' at l east s even s tone t riangles a re k nown a nd, w ith o ne e xception, c lose t o b arrows' ( Elgee & E lgee, 1 933, 8 6), a nd s ome o f t hese t hree-stone s ettings m ay p rove t o b e t he s anitised r emnants o f F our-Posters o f t he e ast c oast t radition. T hey w ere f irst r ecognised b y K nox ( 1855, 1 81-3) a nd, a s E lgee n oted, l ike s everal k nown F our-Posters s tand a longside o r v ery c lose t o r ound b arrows o r c airns. A s f ew p lans a re a vailable f or t hem a nd a s t he w riter h as n ot s een t he s ites t hey a re n ot i ncluded i n t he G azetteer. T he ' triangle' n ear t he B lack H owes b arrows o n E asington H igh M oor ( NZ 7 4.10.) c onsisted o f t hree p rostrate s labs 5 f t t o 7 f t ( 1.5 - 2 .1m) l ong i n a r ight-angled t riangle w hose h ypotenuse w as 9 0 f t l ong w ith t wo o pposing s ides e ach 7 2 f t i n l ength ( 27.4 x 2 2 x2 2m). T he s tones l ay j ust e ast o f a l arge b arrow . T he m ost i mpressive o f t hese s trange m egaliths w as o n R amsdale M oor ( NZ 9 20038) n ear R obin H ood's B ay. T hree s tones 4 f t t o 6 f t ( 1.2 - 1 .8m) h igh f ormed a n eat a nd c onspicuous t riangle. A t S toup B row ( NZ 9 5.02.) t hree m ore s tones, t he t allest, 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh a nd k nown a s ' The G rey H orse', f ormed a n a cute t riangle t hat i s u nlikely e ver t o h ave b een a F our-Poster. A t D ry H ead i n H arwood D ale ( SE 9 5.59.) t he s mall s tones, a s u sual, w ere n ear a l ow b arrow . O n C ommondale M oor t hree l ittle s tones ' obviously v ery a ncient' s tood i n a t riangular a rrangement j ust w est o f a l arge c airn. ' A c areful e xamination o f t he g round y ielded n o s igns o f o ther s tones'. T hree m ore, a lmost i n a s traight l ine, w ere d iscovered a t S imon H owe o n G oathland M oor ( SE 8 30981). E xactly w hat t hese ' triangles' w ere, w hether t hey w ere j ust m isinterpreted s ingle s tanding s tones o r t he r emains o f m uch l arger s ettings i s u nknown . ' Our s tone t riangles w ere p robably e rected

3 9

a s s ymbols o f t he t riune m other-goddess, a f aith d erived f rom t hat o f t he C retan a nd M editerranean r egion' ( Elgee & E lgee, 1 933,88) w ho w ent o n t o c omment o n t he t riple e yebrows o n t he F olkton d rums f ound i n a r ound b arrow j ust t o t he s outh-east o f t he Y orkshire M oors. I t i s i mprobable t hat o ne w ould h ave t o l ook s o f ar a way a s t he M editerranean f or t he a ssociations o f t hese t riangles i f t hat i s i ndeed w hat t hey w ere. A n i ndigenous o rigin i s m ore f easible. ' It i s c urious t o s ay t hat o ur t riangles a lso b elong t o a c ulture c haracterised b y c remations, f lint a rrowheads a nd u rns, f or i t c annot b e d oubted t hat t hey w ere e rected b y t he u rn p eople w hose b arrows t hey a djoin' ( Elgee, 1 930, 1 06). R ather i ntriguingly, a nalogous t hree-sided s ettings h ave b een d escribed i n a nother d ebateable F our-Poster p art o f B ritain. ' Various o ther s tone s ettings, o f u p t o s ix o r e ight s tones o r s o, g rouped i n t riangles, p arallelograms, r ectangles c ombined w ith t riangles a nd o ther g eometrical f igures [ have b een d etected]. A lmost a ll o f t hem h ave b een f ound i n t he D evon p art o f E xmoor a nd o n t he a djoining S omerset f ringe' ( Grinsell, 1 970, 4 6-7), t he a uthor g oing o n t o r emark t hat v irtually n othing h ad b een s aid a bout t hem s ince t he p ublications o f C hanter a nd W orth a t t he b eginning o f t he 2 0th c entury. B efore d ismissing t hese Y orkshire a nd D evon t riangles a s m egalithic a berrations o r t he i maginings o f g ullible a ntiquarians i t i s w orth r ecalling t he p resence o f t he H igh B ridestones ( Yorkshire 3 , 4 ) o n t he m oors h ardly f our m iles f rom t he R amsdale M oor t riangle t o t he e ast. I n p articular, t he H igh B ridestones N orth-West s ite l ooks v ery l ike a ' christianised' F our-Poster, i ts t hree u ndisturbed s tones f orming a t riangle. I ts e xistence i n t he s ame r egion a s t he o ther ' triangles' m akes i t a t l east w orth c onsidering w hether t he s ites s een a nd d escribed b y K nox m ight n ot a lso b e p artly-dismantled F our-Posters. F ieldwork o n t he Y orkshire M oors a nd E xmoor s hould r esolve t his u ncertainty. A w arning s hould b e g iven h ere. A ny a ssumption t hat t he a bsence o f o ne s tone f rom a F our-Poster m ust h ave b een t he r esult o f ad evout d e-paganisation o f a ' druidical t emple' i s d angerous. S tones m ay h ave b een t aken a way m erely t o m ake m ore r oom f or a p lough t o g et b y. J ust a s n egative i s t he r ealisation t hat t he P ark o f T ongland F our-Poster ( Kirkcudbright 2 ) w as a ctually ' christianised' d uring t he B ronze A ge w hen a s tone b roke d uring i ts e rection a nd w as b uried u nder t he f inal c airn l eaving o nly t hree p illars v isible. R ather d isappointingly, t he r emoval o f a s tone b y t he p ious d id n ot a lways p ersuade t he n earby i nhabitants t hat t his h ad c hanged t he s atanical F our-Poster i nto a n i mage o f t he T rinity. O ne n ear S trathaird o n S kye, w ith t hree h igh a nd s crawny p illars w as k nown l ocally a s N a C lachan B hreige, ' the f alse s tones'. T he l ocal b elief w as t hat t hese w ere f aithless h usbands t urned i nto s tone f or h aving d eserted t heir w ives, n ot a t a ll w hat o ne i s t aught a bout t he F ather, S on a nd H oly G host.

4 0

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4 1

1 908)

C LACHAN A N D IRIDH ( Perth 8 ) T he F our-Poster f rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908)

4 2

D iscussion. ' When t he F unerall p yre w as o ut, a nd t he l ast v alediction o ver, m en t ook a l asting a dieu o f t heir i nterred F riends, l ittle e xpecting t he c uriosity o f f uture a ges s hould c omment u pon t heir a shes...' S ir T homas B rowne ( 1658, 9 2). ' Nature t hat t o h ave a spiring w rote C hristopher a bout t he p urpose F our-Posters o ffer

f ram 'd u s o f f our e lements...Doth t each u s a ll m inds...Still c limbing a fter k nowledge i nfinite', M arlowe, a nd t here h as b een n o l ack o f c uriosity o f s tone c ircles. P erhaps m ore t han o ther r ings s ome c lues a s t o t heir f unction.

T he r estricted a rea, n o m ore t han 2 09 s . f t ( 19.4m 2 ) o f a n a verage F our-Poster a nd t he l imited h eight a nd w eight o f t he s tones s uggest t hat t hese w ere m onuments u sed b y o nly s mall g roups o f p eople, m aybe a f amily o r ag roup o f f amilies i n ac lan. I t m ay a lso b e p resumed t hat t hey w ere e nclosures f or t he p erformance o f r ituals i n w hich d eath a nd t he s un o r m oon w ere v ital e lements. F urther, t he s hape o f F our-Posters w as d erived f rom e arlier a nd l arger s tone c ircles, t he r educed i nterior b eing c ompelled b y t he f ew m en a nd w omen a vailable t o m ove a nd r aise t he s tones. I t i s g enerally t rue t hat t he s maller a F our-Poster i s t he l ess h eavy i ts s tones a re. N ot f ar f rom P itlochry i n P erthshire, o n a t errace 170 f t ( 357m) 0 .D., t he t hree r emaining s labs o f C lachan a n D iridh ( Perth 8 ), ' the u pright s tones', s ometimes k nown a s F onab M oor, r ise o n t he s ummit o f a h igh m oorland. T he s tones a nd t he s olitude i mpressed t he 1 9th c entury a ntiquarian, D aniel W ilson. ' Amid t his w ild H ighland l andscape t he h uge s tanding s tones, g rey w ith t he m oss o f a ges, p roduce a s ingularly g rand a nd i mposing e ffect, a nd f rom t he i dea o f l ofty h eight w hich t he d istant m ountains s uggest, t hey c onvey a s tronger i mpression o f g igantic p roportions t han i s p roduced b y t he f irst s ight o f t he g iant m onoliths o f S alisbury P lain ' ( Wilson, 1 865, 1 65-6). Y et t his r ing, f or a ll i ts g randeur, e s light y s maller t han t he a verage, 1 97 a gainst 2 09 s . f t ( 18.3m : 1 9.4m . A llowing, b y m odern s tandards, a c omfortable b ody-space o f o utstretched a rms b etween e ach p erson t he F our-Poster c ould h ave a ccommodated n o m ore t han s even p eople. I n m ore c rowded c onditions w ith o nly e lbow r oom b etween i ndividuals t he n umber o f p articipants c ould b e i ncreased t o 2 7. A m ean o f a bout 1 7 m ight b e n earer t he t ruth, a lways a ssuming t hat t he c entre o f t he r ing w as o ccupied b y e veryone c oncerned i n t he r ites. I t i s p ossible, b ut r ather l ess p robable f or r easons w hich w ill b e g iven , t hat a ccess t o t he i nterior w as t he p rivilege o f o nly a f ew . E stimates o f p rehistoric p opulations a re i nevitably l imited b y t he a bsence o f i nformation s uch a s t his b ut, f ortunately, t here i s a nother m eans o f a ssessing h ow m any p eople t here m ay h ave b een. T he w eight o f t he h eaviest s tone i s a n i ndication o f t he m inimum n umber o f w orkers i nvolved i n t he s ite's c onstruction. A t C lachan

4 3

a n D iridh t he t all ' playing-card' s lab o f q uartiferous s andstone, o ver 6 f t h igh, 5 f t l ong b ut o nly 1 f t 6 i ns t hick ( 1.8 x 1 .5 x 0 .5m), w eighed u nder f our t ons a nd c ould h ave b een e rected q uite c omfortably b y a m aximum o f 1 6 a ble-bodied a dults. T he t echniques b y w hich t hey p repared t he s tones a nd r aised t hem h ave b een d escribed. I n h er e xcavation a t C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) M argaret S tewart ( 1964) n oticed s mall, s hallow p its b etween t he s tones, t heir e dges c lean a nd u nweathered a s t hough t hey h ad b een o pen f or o nly a s hort w hile. T hey h ad b een b ackfilled w ith b rown e arth. F rom t heir p ositions s he s urmised t hat t hey c ould h ave b een t he p laces w here t he e nds o f s tabilising p rops h ad b een j ammed t o t ake t he w eight o f t he p illars d uring t he c onstruction o f t he F our-Poster. F rom o ther e xcavations s he h ad o bserved t hat m any o f t he s tones h ad b een s haped. ' " Keeling" c onsists i n u ndercutting t he e dge o f o ne f ace b etween 1 f t a nd 2 f t [ 30 - 6 0cm] f rom t he b ase. T he p rotruding h orizontal e dge t hen r ests o n t he g round-level, p roducing a s tability w hich c ould n ot b e a chieved b y s imply i nserting t he f oot i n a s ocket' ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 31).

SOCUET .

( Stewart , 1 966 , 1 30 ) . K ilbride-Jones ( 1934, 8 8) a lso n oticed h ow t he t ops a nd b ottoms o f m any s tones i n S cottish c ircles h ad b een b attered a nd s moothed i nto t he s hapes o f r ight-angled t riangles t o m ake t heir e rection e asier a nd s afer. T hus, a lthough t he p eople u sed s tones a s c onveniently c lose t o t he i ntended s ite a s p ossible, t hey f ashioned t hem , a lbeit r ather c rudely, i nto a m anageable f orm i nstead o f j ust h eaving t hem c lumsily a nd i nexpertly i nto p lace. I n c entral S cotland c ertainly b ut l ess f requently i n o utlying a reas t he p repared h oles f or t he f our s tones w ere d ug o ut o n t he p erimeter o f a t rue c ircle t hat h ad b een s cribed o ut i n t he g round. R emoval o f t he t urf b eforehand w ould h ave f acilitated t his. T he h oles m ay h ave b een s et o ut i n o pposing p airs a cross t he c ircumference b ut l ittle, i f a ny, a ttention w as g iven t o c reating a ccurate

4 4

s quares o r r ectangles. A nd i f i s n ot r eadily a pparent t oday.

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T he p hysical b uilding o f a F our-Poster, t herefore, w as n ot a t ask o f g reat d ifficulty. I ts p urpose, h owever, i s c onsiderably h arder t o d etermine. I t h as b een s uggested h ere t hat t he s ize o f i ts i nterior w as c onditioned b y t he n umber o f p eople w ho w ould u se i t, t he l arger s ites s uch a s t he F ortingall r ings ( Perth 1 6, 1 7) b eing o n t he m ost f ertile s oil. G iven t he u pland s ituation o f m ost o f t he s maller F our-Posters o n w hat a ppears t o h ave b een m arginal l and ( Burl, 1 971, 3 8; O 'Nuallain, 1 984b, 6 5) i t i s f easible t hat e ach w as t he r itual c entre o f a s ingle B ronze A ge f amily f or w hom a s pacious c entral a rea w ould h ave b een u nnecessary. I f t his i s c orrect i t f ollows t hat t he e nclosure o f a F our-Poster w as i ntended t o a ccommodate p eople a nd, f urther, t o a ccommodate t he e ntire c ommunity r ather o ne o r t wo i ndividuals f or w hom a q uite s mall c entral s pace w ould h ave s ufficed. W hat o ccurred i n t he r ituals c an b e l ittle m ore t han c onjecture. O ne m ust h esitate t o a scribe i dentical a ctivities i n m onuments a s f ar a part a s n orth-east S cotland a nd s outh-west I reland. I t h as a lready b een n oticed t hat a rchitectural f eatures w ere m odified t he f arther s ites w ere f rom L och T ay a nd i t i s l ikely t hat i n e ach r egion l ocal c ustoms i nfluenced t he r ites p erformed i nside t he r ing. T he e xistence o f i nternal c airns, c remations, c inerary u rns a nd s igns o f b urning a ll i ndicate a p reoccupation w ith f unerary c eremonial. I t i s n oticeable, w hether i n c entral S cotland o r b eyond, h ow m any F our-Posters w ere a longside g reat c airns, o r n ear c airnfields, o r b y t he p ossible c ounterparts o f r ing-cairns, t he r adial-stone c airns o f C ork a nd K erry. I n c entral S cotland t he c onnection b etween a F our-Poster a nd d eath w as i ntimate, m any o f t he s ites h aving c entral d eposits o f c remated b one a lthough t hese m ay h ave b een d edicatory o fferings r ather t han b urials p er s e. O utside t he r egion o f t he T ay t here w ere l ess d irect a ssociations w ith d eath, a F our-Poster m ore o ften s tanding a longside a c airn o r b arrow r ather t han i tself c ontaining a c remation a lthough f uture e xcavations m ay c hange t his i mpression. M ounds b ecame i nfrequent. C upmarks a lmost d isappeared. E ach r egion a ccepted t he c oncept o f aF our-Poster b ut i ntegrated l ocal t raditions a t t he e xpense o f ' Tayside' b eliefs. T he l imited a mount o f c remated b one a rgues a gainst t he m ajority o f t he r ings b eing c emeteries. T hree s ites, h owever, l ittle r ectangles o f f our u pright s tones w hich a re n ot i ncluded i n t he m ain G azetteer, s trengthen t he f unerary a ssociations o f F our-Posters. U nder t he Q uernhow r ound c airn n ear A inderby i n Y orkshire ( Fox, 1 959, 7 2, 7 4) a r ectangular s etting o f f our b oulders l ay i mmediately n orth o f a c remation p it. I n A berdeenshire, a t t he S ands o f F orvie S ite A ( Kirk, 1 953, 1 59), f our l ittle c igar-shaped a nd w aterworn s tones, e ach a bout 1 0 i ns ( 24cm) h igh, s tood a t t he c orners o f a 3 f t ( im) s quare i nside t he c entral s pace o f a r ing-cairn. T hey s urrounded a p it w ith b urnt h uman b ones, c harcoal a nd c oarse s herds o f a n i ncomplete v essel, p ossibly o f f lat-rimmed w are. F rom t he a bsence o f m any p ieces i t m ust h ave b een b roken e lsewhere.

4 5

I NSTANCES O F P REHISTORIC O RIENTATIONS

N EWGRANGE, C o. M eath T he e ntrance t o t his e normous c hambered t omb w as b uilt t o f ace t owards t he m idwinter s unrise. A t t hat t ime t he s un 's b eams s hone d irectly d own t he p assage i nto t he f arthest b urial-chamber.

R OUNDWAY 8 , W iltshire A B eaker b urial u nder a r ound b arrow n ear A vebury. I n W essex s uch m ale b urials w ere l aid i n t heir g raves w ith t heir h eads t o t he n orth, w omen w ith t heir h eads t o t he s outh.

4 6

U nder C airn 1 , C hatton S andyford N orth, t here w ere f our s takeholes a rranged i n a r ectangle a t t he c entre o f t he a rea w here a p yre h ad b urned ( Jobey & T ait, 1 966, 1 4). C harcoal f rom i t g ave a d ate o f 1 670+50 b c ( c. 2 060 B C). N earby, t wo ' grave-marker' s tones a nd a n o utlying p osthole f ormed a n a lmost e xact N -S l ine, a nd a c upmarked s tone w as f ound i n t he d isturbed s outh-east q uadrant. T wo N /NR b eakers ( Clarke, 1 970, I I, 4 91, n os. 6 47.1, 6 47.2) w ere d iscovered i n t he c airn. C entral o fferings r ectangular s ettings t o P osters m ay h ave b een b ones c reated p athways w orld.

s uch a s t hese, a nd t he p roximity o f c ognate c remations a nd t o c airns, s uggest t hat F oura k ind o f f amily s hrine i n w hich t he d ead t o t he g hosts o f a ncestors a nd t he s pirit-

S ome s upport f or t his c omes f rom t he s o-called ' astronomy' c laimed t o h ave b een d iscovered i n p rehistoric m onuments. O rientations i n t he r itual s tructures o f t he B ritish I sles s eem u sually t o b e a ssociated w ith d eath: i n t he a rrangement o f c orpses N -S o r E -W i n B eaker b urials; i n c ists o n A rran a nd D artmoor a nd i n t he K ilmartin V alley; i n t he s un-facing t hree-stone r ows s uch a s B allochroy o n t he K intyre p eninsula; i n t he m ultiple r ows o f C aithness a nd S utherland w ith l ittle c airns a t t heir h eads; a nd i n t he r ecumbent s tone c ircles o f n orth-east S cotland w ith t heir c entral d eposits o f c remated b one a nd t heir a xis i n l ine w ith t he s outhern m oon. I n W iltshire, b oth a t W oodhenge a nd S tonehenge h uman b odies w ere b uried o n t he m ajor a xis i n l ine w ith t he m idsummer s unrise ( Burl, 1 987, 1 25-7). I t d oes n ot f ollow t hat a ny o f t hese w ere s epulchral m onuments. I t i s r ather t hat d eath a nd t he s un o r m oon w ere l inked t ogether i n t he p rehistoric m ind a s e lements i n r itual a ctivities t hat m ay c hiefly h ave b een d edicated t o e nsuring f ertility a nd h ealth f or t he l iving. I n t his s ense a n ' alignment' i n a F our-Poster w as n ot a s ightline f or c elestial o bservation b ut a s ymbolic o rientation t hat w ould i mbue t he r ing w ith l ife-giving p otency. R esults f rom t he r ecent e xcavation a t t he P ark o f T ongland F our-Poster ( Kirkcudbright 2 ) d o n ot c onflict w ith t his v iew ( McCullagh, 1 987). H ere, u nder a l ow, k erbed c airn, a c remation c emetery w as d iscovered w ith b urnt h uman b one i n l ittle p its i ntermingled w ith s catters o f c harcoal a nd s herds o f B ronze A ge c ordoned a nd c ollared u rns a nd a t iny a ccessory v essel. T he f our s tones t hat u ltimately e nclosed t hese d eposits a ppear t o h ave b een s et c lose t o t he c ardinal p oints, t he e ast a nd w est p illars s tanding i n l ine w ith t he s un a t t he S pring a nd A utumn e quinoxes. G iving a g limpse o f t he a wareness s ome p rehistoric c ommunities h ad f or t exture a nd c olour t he c airn i tself w as c omposed o f g reyb lue g ranite s tones b ut w as k erbed w ith d ifferently c oloured s labs o f s elected p ink g ranite ( McCullagh, p ers c omm). I t h as l ong b een k nown t hat p rehistoric p eople w ere m uch c oncerned w ith t he c ongruity o f m aterials a nd q uite f requently c ontrived t o a ssemble a h armony o f c ontrasting c olours i n t he b ody

4 7

W illiam S tukeley's s ketch o f t he d ifferent l ayers h e f ound A mesbury 4 4E r ound b arrow n ear S tonehenge.

i n t he

T he c rest o f C am nM eini, P reseli m ountains, s outh-west W ales. T hese o utcrops o f s piky d olerite a re b elieved t o b e t he s ource o f t he f amous S tonehenge b luestones.

4 8

o f t heir c airns a nd b arrows ( Burl, 1 981, 1 43, 1 67). W hen W illiam S tukeley d ug i nto a b ell b arrow , A mesbury 4 4E, o n S alisbury P lain i n 1 723 h e r ecorded, w ith s ome s urprise, t he s everal q uite d istinct s trata i n i t, f irst t he o verlying t urf, t hen a c apping o f c halk , s tartlingly w hite w hen t he b arrow w as n ew , a nd t hen, h idden f rom t he e yes o f t he l iving b ut c arefully l aid d own, d escending l ayers o f ' garden m ould', t hen a t hick b and o f f lints ' from t he s urface o f t he d owns', a nd, f inally, a c overing o f s oft m ould o ver t he c remation w ith i ts r ich g rave-goods ( Stukeley, 1 740 , 4 4). H e w as s o t aken w ith t his l ayering t hat h e s ketched i t i n w hat m ay t he e arliest k nown p rehistoric s ection i n B ritish a rchaeology. S imilarly c onstructed b arrows, c omposed o f c onspicuously d ifferent m aterials a nd c olours, a nd s ometimes d emanding c onsiderable l abour, h ave b een n oticed e lsewhere. I n h is n ostalgic r eminiscences, F orty Y ears i n aM oorland P arish, ( London, 1 891, 1 47) t he R ev. J .C. A . A tkinson d escribed a r ound b arrow o n t he S kelton M oors o f Y orkshire w hich h ad a f loor c overed 6 i ns ( 15cm) d eep ' with t he w hitest, s nowiest s and' w hose s ource ' was a t l east s even m iles d istant i n a l inear d irection '. A nother b arrow a t t he f oot o f F reeburgh H ill c ontained a c airn o f c olossal s tones, ' many o f t hem a s h eavy a s, p utting f orth a ll m y s trength, I c ould l ift'. T here m ust h ave b een h undreds o f t hese d ark, b asaltic b oulders. ' The n earest p oint a t w hich [ they] c ould h ave b een o btained i n t he q uantities e mployed w as a t l east t hree m iles a nd a h alf a way, a nd a cross t he u ntracked m oor, w ith s wamp a nd m orass t o c ross a nd r ecross o n t he r oute'. A nother c airn w as b uilt o f c lean, w aterworn p ebbles a nd n odules c arried f rom a s tream-bed t wo a nd a h alf m iles a way ' under t he d irection o f s ome c hief, o r t he p ersonal o versight a nd e ngineering o f s ome s kin-clad " clerk o f t he w orks" w ith c uriously t attooed b ody a nd l imbs'. F rances L ynch ( 1975) h as d rawn a ttention t o t he w ay i n w hich d ramatic h illside s ituations w ith l ong, a ttractive v iews w ere p icked o ut f or t he l ocations o f c airns a nd b arrows, a nd h ow s pectacularly b ig s tones a nd b oulders w ere i ncorporated i nto t he k erbs o f r ingc airns a nd s tone c ircles. S he s uggested a lso t hat i t w as t he ' amazing c oronet o f s tone' o f t he P reseli m ountains o f s outh-west W ales t hat c aused i ts b luestones t o b e t aken t o S tonehenge, ' the c haracter o f t he r ock i tself [ giving] t he r ock i ts m agical q ualities a nd m ade w orthwhile t he t edious a nd d angerous j ourney t o W iltshire ' ( ibid, 1 24). W ith s uch i nstances t he a ttempt t o e nhance t he l ittle c airn i nside t he P ark o f T ongland F our-Poster i s n ot s urprising. I t s imply i nforms u s o f t he s ensitivity t o c olour a nd t exture o f p eople i n t he B ritish B ronze A ge. ' Whatever m ay h ave b een t he s tate o f c ivilisation a mong t he c onstructors o f t hese w orks, a c ertain h armony o r f itness, o f t he c ongruity o f t hings m ust h ave e xisted i n t heir m inds, f or t hough t here a re s o m any c ircles i n c lose p roximity, t here i s n o m ixture o f d issimilar s tones; t hey a re a ll o f s andstone, o r a ll o f g ranite' ( Bryce, J ., 1 862, 5 22). B ryce, i n f act, w as w rong. T he e asternmost s tone c ircle, S ite 1 , o n M achrie M oor, A rran, w hich h e d ug i nto i n M ay, 1 861, w as n ot s olely o f o ne t ype o f s tone. E xcavations b y t he w riter i n 1 978 s howed

4 9

C APPABOY B EG S OUTH-EAST ( Cork 2 ) A n o utlying s tone t o t he s outh-east o f t he F our-Poster w hich c an b e s een i n t he m iddle d istance. ' Beyond t his a gain a s ingle s tanding s tone i s v isible o n t he s kyline. F rom t his s tone y et a nother w as v isible o n t he s kyline a nd t his m arked t he t op o f t he r idge w ith e xtensive v iews t o t he w est a nd s outh-west'. B arber, 1 972, I , 3 2.

5 0

t he r ing t o b e a n o val o f s ix g reat g ranite b oulders w ith w hich t he m oor i s l ittered. B etween e ach p air w as a l ow s andstone b lock t hat h ad b een b rought f rom n ear t he s ea o ver a m ile a way. T he ' circle' w as a c onscious b lending o f t wo d ifferently c oloured a nd t extured s tones f rom t wo s eparate a reas. S uch d iscrimination m ay h ave c ome f rom t he d esire, n atural i n h uman b eings, f or a n a esthetically p leasing e ffect. Q uite d ifferently, b ut k nown f rom o ther p rimitive s ocieties, i t c ould h ave b een t he r esult o f a b elief t hat a b arrow , o r a F our-Poster, o r a ny s tone c ircle , s hould b e a n e mbodiment o f t he w orld i n m iniature, a p hysical r eflection o f t he l andscape i n w hich t he c ircleb uilders l ived. T he P ark o f T ongland a lso p rovided h ints o f u nsuspected s equences a nd a ssociations i n t hese m inor m egalithic r ings. S everal F our-Posters h ave a n o utlying p air o f s tanding s tones o r a s ingle o utlier c lose t o t hem . T hese j uxtapositions a re u sually t o b e f ound i n t hose d istricts w here t here i s a c oncentration o f p aired s tones; 2 6 i n P erthshire ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 42-4); s everal s uch a s t he p air a t t he W ren 's E gg, i n s outh-west S cotland ( Masters, 1 977, 4 1); i n B rittany ( Giot, 1 960 , 1 19); a nd i n C ork a nd K erry w here t here a re a t l east 9 1 p airs, s uch s ettings b eing v irtually c onfined t o t hose c ounties i n t he R epublic o f I reland ( O 'Nuallain, f orthcoming). W hen c onsidering t he r elative c hronology o f R SCs a nd F our-Posters i t i s i nteresting t o f ind t hat o nly o ne S cottish R SC, C astle F raser, h as a p air o f s tones n ear i t. T he s ame i s t rue i n s outh-west I reland w here o nly G lantane E ast h as a p ossible p air a longside t he r ing. C onversely, a t l east s ix 5 -stone r ings - B aurgaum , C lodagh, M ill L ittle, K ealkil, K nocknakilla a nd K nockraheen - h ad p aired s tones n ear t hem , t he l ast t hree s ites s tanding n ear r adial-stone c airns ( O 'Nuallain, 1 984a, 6 ). O f t he I rish F our-Posters C appaboy B eg ( Cork 2 ) h ad a p air o f o utlying s tones, a nd t here i s a p ossible p air a t R obinstown G reat ( Wexford 1 ). I n S cotland s everal F our-Posters h ad a djacent p airs. T he l inks b etween F our-Posters a nd p airs a re i ntriguing. T he P ark o f T ongland F our-Poster p roved t o b e a s ite o f t hree p hases, t he f irst c onsisting o f t he e rection o f a p air o f s tanding s tones ( McCullagh, 1 987). O ne p illar b roke a nd w as l eft l ying w here i t f ell. O ver a n i ndeterminate p eriod p eople d ug s mall p its t o t he n orth o f t he p air f or t he d eposition o f h uman c remated b one, c harcoal a nd p otsherds. U ltimately, w hen i t w as d ecided t o c lose t his l ittle c remation c emetery a r ough c airn w as h eaped o ver i t, c overing t he f allen s tone i n t he p rocess. P resumably t o e nclose t he h uddle o f p its t wo f urther p illars w ere e rected t hereby c onstructing t he r ectangular s etting o f a F our-Poster. N o s toneholes w ere d ug f or t hese e xtra s tones w hich w ere h eld u pright o nly b y t he s tones o f t he c airn. S uch a s equence s hows t hat a t f irst t he s ite w as n o m ore t han t wo s tanding s tones w hich w ere s ubsequently ' enhanced'. K nowing t hat t here a re o ther F our-Posters i n w hich t wo s tones a re n oticeably t aller t han t he t wo o pposite t hem , D unmoid ( Perth 1 4) a nd t he F our S tones ( Ayr 1 ) b eing e xamples, i t i s p ossible t hat s ome F our-Posters a re ' improved' p airs. I t i s e qually p lausible t hat s ome e xisting

5 1

p airs a re u nfinished F our-Posters. F or t he p resent t he w riter c an o nly r epeat t he w ords o f F .R. C oles ( 1908 , 1 61-2). ' With m aterial o f s uch v ariety, i t i s a t t he p resent d ate i mpossible t o a ssert p recisely i n m any i nstances w hether a s ingle S tone o r a c ouple o f S tones, i s o r i s n ot, t he r emnant o f aC ircle'. F our-Posters w ere n ot b urial-places. N or w ere t hey o bservatories. T hat t hey w ere l ate s tone c ircles s eems i ndisputable. W ith t heir d eposits o f b urnt h uman b ones, w ith t heir c upmarks, t heir i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints, a nd w ith t heir d iminutive s ize, m any o f t hem m ay h ave b een s hrines i n w hich r ituals w ere p erformed t o s afeguard t he p eople's l ives. E xisting r emotely, a s t he m ajority o f t hem d o, o n t he b leak s houlders o f h ills t hey s eem d esigned t o e mphasise a n a wareness o f t he d istant e dges o f t he p eople's w orld. T he d eclines b e r ight t entative

r est c an b e n o m ore t han c onjecture w here p robability i nto a m ultitude o f p ossibilities a ny o ne o f w hich m ay a nd e veryone o f w hich m ay b e w rong. U sing w hat i s k nown s uggestions m ay b e m ade.

I n i ts s eparate e lements o f s tone, c ircle, d eath, s un/moon, s olitude, a F our-Poster m ay h ave b rought t ogether a ll t he p arts o f t he u niverse, a m icrocosm o f i ts b uilders' e nvironment. I t c ould h ave b een, t o t hem , a n i mage o f t he c osmos i n w hich t he s un a nd m oon w ere v ital. T he c ircle w as a p owerful p lace. I t c ould b e u sed f or c ontemplation, f or c ommunication w ith t he O ther-World, f or t he s easonal r ituals o f t he b irth o f S pring a nd t he g athering o f t he h arvest. I t w as c hained t o t he p ast t hrough d eath , i t g ave h onour a nd r espect t o t he a ncestors, b ut i t w as f or t he l iving. I t w as t heir w orld m ade s tone. ' Circles a nd r ight-lines l imit a nd c lose a ll b odies, a nd t he m ortall r ight-lined c ircle m ust c onclude a nd s hut u p a ll. T o b e s tudied b y A ntiquaries, w ho w e w ere, a nd h ave n ew N ames g iven u s l ike m any o f t he M ummies, a re c old C onsolation u nto t he S tudents o f p erpetuity'. S ir T homas B rowne ( 1658 ,

5 2

1 34).

AN OTE A BOUT T HE G AZETTEER T he G azetteer c ontains i ndividual d escriptions, a nd p lans w herever a vailable, o f t he 1 02 F our-Posters u pon w hich t he t ext h as b een b ased. T he r esults m ust b e a ccepted w ith r eservation. A s s o o ften w hen d ealing w ith p rehistoric s ites s ome o f t he s ource m aterial i s o ne h undred o r m ore y ears o ld a nd n ot a lways r eliable. T he w riter h as v isited m any o f t he r ings a nd h as o ften b een a ble t o c onfirm o r d ismiss s ome o f t he c laims o f e arlier i nvestigators. I t h as a lso b een p ossible i n m any i nstances t o c ompare o ne t ext w ith a nother a lthough s ometimes t hese h ave d iffered s o w idely i n t erms o f m easurements, c ompassb earings o r n umbers o f c upmarks t hat t he c onflicting ' evidence ' h as b een h ard t o a nalyse. W herever p ossible a p lan i s p rovided, r edrawn t o p rovide a c onsistency t o t he c atalogue. P hotographs a nd s ome o f t he d elightful p en-and-ink s ketches b y F red C oles a nd o thers h ave a lso b een i ncluded, i n p art t o a dd a nother d imension t o t he t wo-dimensional p lan, b ut a lso b ecause t he d rawings a re a ttractive i n t hemselves. T he p lans p urport t o s how t he d isposition o f t he s tones i n r elation t o T rue N orth. L ittle r eliance s hould b e p laced o n t he r esult, p articularly b y t hose i nterested i n e xamining t he p lans f or a ny a rchaeo-astronomical c ontent. T oo o ften t he w riter h as b een f orced t o a ccept t he c ompass-bearing r ecorded b y a f ield-worker w ho u sed n othing m ore t han a h and-held c ompass a nd w ho d id n ot b other t o c orrect h is m agnetic b earing. T he r esult c ould e asily b e + 10 ° f rom T rue N orth. D ifferent s cales h ave h ad t o b e u sed f or t he p lans s imply b ecause s ome s ites a re t en o r t welve t imes t he s ize o f o thers. T he r eferences c ited a re f or a ll t he m ajor s ources t hat a re k nown t o t he w riter. A r eference h as o nly b een o mitted w here i t h as a dded n othing t o p revious r eports. A ny f urther i nformation a bout n ewlyd iscovered s ites, o r t he w hereabouts o f o bscure d escriptions a nd p lans w ill b e v ery g ratefully r eceived.

O rdnance S urveys. T he A rchaeology D ivisions t hat o nce e xisted w ithin t he O rdnance S urvey ( 0.S.) o rganisations a t S outhampton a nd E dinburgh h ave n ow b een a bsorbed i nto t he R oyal C ommissions f or H istoric M onuments o f E ngland a nd S cotland. I n o rder t o d istinguish b etween t he o riginal O rdnance S urvey r ecords a nd t he I nventories o f t he R oyal C ommissions t he d ata f rom t he O rdnance S urveys a re s till r eferred t o i n t he G azetteer a s O .S. S outhampton a nd 0 .S. E dinburgh. F urther d etails o f t hose r ecords m ay b e o btained f rom R CHMS cotland, 5 4 M elville S treet, E dinburgh, E H3 7 HF ; a nd R CHM-England, G reen L ane, M aybush, S outhampton S O1 9 FP.

5 3

L IST B RITTANY I lle-et-Vilaine E NGLAND C umbria D erbyshire D evon

N orthumberland S hropshire Y orkshire

N ORTHERN I RELAND C o. D own

O F

A ngus

A rran

I N

T HE G AZETTEER

1 C häteau-B i

U ncertain

5 6

1 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 1 2 3 4

P ossible

5 8 7 3 6 0 6 0 6 2 6 4 6 4 6 6 6 8 7 0 7 2 7 3 7 4 7 4

M ayburgh G ibbet M oor B rendon T wo G ates F urzehill C ommon L ongstone A llotment T rout H ill W oodbarrow A rms G oatstones T hree K ings D ruid's C astle D ruid's A ltar D unsley M oor H igh B ridestones N W H igh B ridestones S E

D ubious D ubious D ubious D ubious D ubious

U ncertain D ubious U ncertain U ncertain

1 M ullaghmore

R EPUBLIC O F I RELAND 1 C o. C ork 2 3 4 5 6 C o. K erry 1 1 C o. W exford S COTLAND A berdeenshire

F OUR-POSTERS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 6

B rookpark C appaboy B eg G lanycarney G ortnacowly L ettergorman M aughanaclea R eenkilla R obinstown G reat

D ubious

B ackhill o f D rachlaw D eer P ark H ill o f B ucharn H owemill L ogie C oldstone R aich S hethin S outh Y thsie A uchterhouse B alkemback B lackgate B rankam H ill N orth, A B rankam H ill N orth, B B rankam H ill S E C arse G ray C orogle B urn S trone H ill A ucheleffan B allymichael B ridge L amlash L argybeg P oint M achrie B urn M achrie M oor 4

T ransitional

5 4

U ncertain

U ncertain T ransitional T ransitional T ransitional U ncertain U ncertain U ncertain

U ncertain

U ncertain U ncertain D ubious

7 8 7 8 7 8 8 0 8 2 8 4 8 6 8 8 9 0 9 2 9 4 9 4 9 4 9 6 9 8 1 00 1 02 1 02 1 04 1 06 1 06 1 06 1 07 1 08 1 07 1 10 1 12 1 14 1 16 1 18 1 20

A yr B anff E ast L othian

F ife I slay K incardine K irkcudbright L ewis M oray O rkney P erthshire

S kye S utherland W igtownshire W ALES P owys

1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 1 1 2 1 2

F our S tones N orth B urreldales C row S tones K ingside P ackman 's G rave P enshiel P enshiel G range P enshiel H ill L undin L inks A rdilistry C raighead G lassel B agbie P ark o f T ongland C lach S tein B rowland T emplestone C omet S tone B almuick B lair A tholl E ast B lair A tholl W est B roughdarg C arse F arm N orth C arse F arm S outh C lach n a T iompan C lachan a n D iridh C ommonbank N W C ommonbank S E C omrie B ridge C raighall M ill C ramrar D unmoid F erntower F ortingall N E F ortingall S W G lenballoch G lenshervie B urn K inloch L undin F arm N W L undin F arm S E N a C arraigean E dintian P arkneuk S t M artins S pittal o f G lenshee T irinie F arm T ullybannocher W oodside N a C lachan B hreige A berscross B alnakeil G lentirrow M iltonish

1 C wm S aesan S tones 2 F our S tones, W alton

5 5

U ncertain

D ubious U ncertain U ncertain U ncertain D ubious

U ncertain D ubious U ncertain U ncertain

U ncertain

U ncertain U ncertain

1 66, P ossible U ncertain

D ubious

U ncertain

U ncertain U ncertain U ncertain U ncertain

1 22 1 23 1 24 1 25 1 25 1 25 1 25 1 25 1 26 1 28 1 30 1 32 1 34 1 36 1 38 1 38 1 40 1 42 1 44 1 46 1 46 1 89 1 48 1 50 1 52 1 54 1 56 1 56 1 57 1 58 1 60 1 62 1 64 1 66-70 1 69-75 1 76 1 79 1 78 1 80 1 82 1 86 1 88 1 91 1 90 1 92 1 93 1 94 1 96 1 98 1 99 2 00 2 01 2 03 2 02

5 0

F t

0

1 5

m

( after J . l 'Helgouac 'h)

C HATEAU-Bn ( Brittany 1 )

5 6

B RITTANY 1 ( Uncertain)

C HATEAU-BD,

B lue 1 :25,000 m ap, 1 1/20 W ( Pipr ac)

I LLE-DE-VILAINE

3 5 m iles N NE o f S t N azaire, 9 m iles N NE o f R edon, 1m ile w est o f S t J ust. O n u ncultivated h eathland k nown a s t he G ree d e C ojoux t here i s a c omplex o f N eolithic a nd B ronze A ge s ites i ncluding t he e nigmatic C häteau-Bü. N earby i s t he i mpressive T real p assage-grave ( Burl, 1 985, 9 3-4). E ven n earer t he C häteau-Bü, a l ong m ound i s a ssociated o n t he m oors o f C ojoux, w ith a l arge g roup o f m egalithic r emains, a s w ell a s o ther l ong m ounds..., a G allery G rave, s emic ircles a nd l ines o f m enhirs, a nd a s trange b arrow , t he C hateauB A , w ith s ome l arge m enhirs a nd a f ew v ertical s labs u pon i t, w hich m ight w ell b e a c ircular m ound u nique o f i ts k ind' ( Giot, 1 960 , 3 6-7). U nique i n B rittany b ut n ot, p robably, i n w estern E urope. T he o vergrown o val m ound , 1 50 b y 8 5 b y 6 f t h igh ( 46 x 2 6 x2 m) s upports a s etting o f t hree s tanding s tones a t t he N W , S W a nd S E c orners o f a r ectangle f rom w hich t he N E p illar i s m issing. A ll a re o f j agged w hite q uartz. T he t allest, a t t he N W , i s o ver 8 f t ( 2.5m) h igh. T he l owest i s a t t he S E . T he S W i s f allen. T he p ossible N E s tone n ow l ies t o t he e ast a t t he b ase o f t he m ound. S ignificantly, t hree e rect s labs, a bout 3 f t ( lm) h igh , l ine t he n orth s ide o f t he r ectangle w ith a nother a t t he w est a nd o thers, b roken , t o t he e ast a nd w est o f t he s etting w hich m easures a bout 2 8 b y 2 3 f t ( 8.5 x 7 m), n ot a bnormally l arge i n a n a rea o f N eolithic a nd B ronze A ge a ctivity. T he n ame ' Chäteau-Bü ' h as b een t ranslated a s ' the h ouse o f t he b ull'. L egends c laim t hat i n a ncient t imes t here w as a n a nnual s acrifice o f a y oung g irl o n t he m ound ( Scouezec, 1 979, 6 36). L es D emoiselles , t wo r ugged s tones o f q uartz w ith a t hird l ying b y t hem s tand a q uarter o f a m ile ( 400m) t o t he E NE . T hey a re a lso k nown a s ' The W orm-eaten S tones'. B eing o ver 6 00 m iles s outh o f t he S cottish s ites a nd m ore t han 4 00 m iles s outh-east o f t hose i n C ork a nd K erry i t w ould, a t f irst, s eem u nlikely t hat a 4 -Poster s hould e xist i n s outh-east B rittany. Y et E arly B ronze A ge l inks b etween B rittany a nd s outh-west I reland a re w ell-attested i n t he E arly B ronze A ge ( Burl, 1 987, 2 05-13), a nd t he r ectangular s etting, t he q uartz, t he p robable f our s tones, t he i ntervening s labs, t he m ound, e ven t he o utlying s tones, a re a ll f eatures a ssociated w ith 4 -Posters. A s t he C häteau-Bü i s a ' circular m ound u nique o f i ts k ind' i n B rittany i t m ay w ell b e a ' foreigner' a nd a g enuine m ember o f t he 4 -Poster f amily. R eferences B url,

1 985, 9 2; E udes,

1 981, 8 6; S couezec,

5 7

1 979, 6 36.

A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . -. ._

0

10 0 #

Y ds M

1 00

0

M AYBURGH ( after D ymond)

x= p ossible s ites o f m issing s tones

M AYBURGH ( Cumbria 1 )

5 8

CUMBRIA 1 (Possible)

MAYBURGB

N Y 519 2 8 4 1/ miles south of Penrith.

Despite firm 17th century evidence this site must remain no more than a possible 4-Poster because of the original four stones that stood in the middle of a gigantic henge only one survives. The henge has no ditch but is composed of riverside cobbles piled in a bank up to 15 ft (4.6m) high and 383 ft (117m) from crest to crest. It encloses a level, circular area 287 ft (88m) across. There is a single entrance at the exact east. North-west of the centre is a stone of local volcanic ash. It is 9 ft 2 ins (2.8m) high and weighs about 11 tons. According to Camden whose notes John Aubrey later used it was the survivor of four stones standing at th� corners of a rectangle about 60 ft by 53 ft (18.3 x 16.2m) with sides arranged N-S and E-W in cardinal positions. 'Upon a meane ascent is a great circular Banke of stones•• and neer to the centre thereof are erected four stones of great magnitude, the biggest of them conteining eleven foot in highth above the earth•••standing equally distant in a quadrangular forme about 50 foot asunder', (Aubrey, 1980, 113)• He added that four other stones, two on either side of the entrance, were set 'in a strait line with two of the aforesaid stones'. By 1725 when William Stukeley saw it the henge's interior had been ploughed and little remained of the megalithic setting. The stones 'were blown to pieces with gunpowder; one now stands ten foot high••• another lies along••• and some more lie at the entrance within side, others without, and fragments all about', (Stukeley, 1776, 44). Presumably the north-west stone had been left because it was the biggest and most dangerous to move. If there were a 4-Poster at Mayburgh it was very large, nearly twenty times the national average. But the rectangular shape, the cardinal points and the position in the Eden valley near the west coast permit speculation that this was indeed a variant 4-Poster. Its destruction led to tragedies. 'These smaller stones were blasted and removed... one of the men employed in the work having hanged himself, and the other turning lunatic, has given a fair opening to vulgar superstition, to impute these misfortunes to their sacrilege in defacing what they suppose was formerly a place of eminent sanctity', (Heelis, 1912, 153). References Aubrey, 1980, 112-13; Dymond, 1891, 191-200; Heelis, 1912; Stukeley, 1776, 44. (For Aubrey's plan of Mayburgh, see page 220). see: YORKSHIRE 1

DERBYSHIRE 1. GIBBET KX>R. 59

( after C hanter & W orth,

1 906) 0

A

•

N \

*

% 0 1

2 0 (F t

0 t

5 4M

•

B o

I

a 0 4

1 0 tF t

5 ( after C hanter & W orth ,

A . B RENDON T WO G ATES ( Devon 1 ) B . F URZEHILL C OMMON ( Devon 2 )

6 0

1 905)

D EVON 1

( Dubious)

B RENDON TWO GATES

S S

5 4 - m iles S E o f L ynton,

7 68

4 35

1 2 m iles N NW o f S imonsbath.

N ear t he m arshy h eadwaters o f H occombe W ater t his s ite s tands n ear t he h ighest p oint o f B rendon C ommon a t 1 430 f t ( 436m) O .D. T hree s tones, i ncluding t hat o nce a t t he c entre o f a5 -stone s etting, s till s urvive. N one i s t all. O riginally t his w as a r ectangle a bout 2 9 f t ( 8.8m) s quare w hose c orner s tones h ad t heir l onger f aces s et i n l ine w ith t he d iagonals. T hey s tood o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 4 1 f t ( 12.5m) a cross, t he d iameter b eing c lose t o 1 5 o f T hom 's M egalithic Y ards. T he N E s tone i s 2 f t 8 i ns ( 79cm) h igh, t he S E 2 f t 2 i ns ( 67cm), t he N W h as f allen, a nd t he c entre s tone i s 3 f t 2 i ns ( 1m) h igh. T he s ides o f t he q uadrilateral a re a ligned q uite c losely N Sa nd E -W. L ike t he o ther ' 4-Posters ' o n E xmoor t he s ite i s ' strikingly u nlike a ny o thers a s y et k nown i n D evon a nd C ornwall a nd, i ndeed, w e d o n ot k now w here t o p oint f or t heir f ellows' ( Chanter & W orth , 1 906, 5 49). T he R exy r ound b arrow i s H ills R idgeway ( Grinsell, 1 970, R eference:

D EVON 2

C hanter & W orth,

a m ile 1 46.

t o

t he

s outh

o n

t he

B rendon

1 906, 5 41-2.

( Dubious)

F URZEHILL COMMON

S S

4 i m iles E SE o f P arracombe,

7 36

4 40

3 2 m iles S SE o f L ynton.

' The m ost i mpressive m onument o f t his t ype i s o n t he e ast s lope o f F urzehill C ommon o verlooking H oaroak W ater' ( Whybrow , 1 970 1 3). I t i s a lso t rue t hat o f t he f ive r ectangles o n E xmoor i t i s t his s ite t hat i n s ize a nd s ituation m ost r esembles a n o rthodox 4 -Poster. I t s tands o n aN E-facing t errace a t 1 000 f t ( 305m) 0 .D. O f t he i rregular s quare a nd o utlying s tone o nly t wo s tones r emain s tanding. N either i s t all, t he N E b eing o nly 1 f t 6i ns ( 49cm) h igh, t he S E e ven l ower, 1 f t 3 i ns ( 38cm). T hey f orm t he e astern s ide o f a c rude r ectangle a bout 1 8 b y 1 4 f t ( 5.5 x 4 .3m), t he l onger s ides b eing o n a E NE-WSW a xis. T he c orners w ere o n a c ircle 2 2 f t ( 6.7m) a cross, c lose t o 8M egalithic Y ards. 6f t ( 1.8m) f rom t he m iddle o f t he W SW s ide i s a f allen o utlier. R eference: C hanter & W orth ,

1 905,

6 1

3 93-4.

•

A

e • : :: :•:> 1 :: •: :: : . #

R ound b arrow

•

• 5 1 0F t

1 5

0

L ONGSTONE A LLOTMENT ( Devon 3 )

A t e n 70112%s ho» 42 .: e e;

II

4

5

I -

/ 0

Y ards

A nc i.e ntS tones 3 f t .h igl t D UNSLEY M OOR ( Yorkshire 2 ) ( Knox, 1 855)

6 2

D EVON 3 ( Dubious) LONGSTONE ALLOTMENT

S S

4 i m iles S SW o f L ynton,

6 99

4 30

2m iles E SE o f P arracombe.

5 00 f t ( 152m) s outh o f t he f amous r ound b arrow c emetery o f C hapman B arrows t his q uadrilateral s tands a t 1 400 f t ( 427m) O .D. o n t he n orth-eastern s lopes o f C hallacombe C ommon. T he s lender C hallacombe L ongstone o f l ocal s late, 9 f t ( 2.7m) h igh b ut o nly 7 i ns ( 18cm) t hick ( Grinsell, 1 970, 4 7) i s 7 00 y ards ( 640m) t o t he e ast, a nd t he f ine L ongstone r ound b arrow i s t hree-quarters o f a m ile E SE, t he t op o f i ts m ound h ollowed b y n efarious a nd, h opefully, u nrewarded t reasure-seekers. I f t he p lan b y C hanter a nd W orth i s r eliable t his s ite w as e xceptionally w ell d esigned. E ach o f i ts f our l ittle s tones s tands n eatly a ligned E -W a nd t hey a re a lmost e xactly a t t he N , E , S a nd W c orners o f a r ectangle t hat, a lthough b ig, i s v ery n early s quare. I ts s ides a verage 6 1 f t 2 i ns ( 18.6m), t he s hortest a t t he n orth-west b eing 5 9 f t 1 1 i ns ( 18.3m) a nd t he l ongest a t t he s outhw est b eing 6 2 f t 7 i ns ( 19.1m), a n e rror2 o f j ust o ver 2 p er c ent i n a n o blong l aid o ut o ver 3 741 s . f t ( 352m ) o f w indblown a nd u neven m oorland. T he f our s tones s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a g ood c ircle 8 6 f t 6 i ns ( 26.4m) i n d iameter, a l ength w hich, u nlike t hose o f D evon 1 a nd 2 , i s n ot a n i nteger o f t he M egalithic Y ard. I t i s p robable t hat w hoever d esigned t he r ectangle i ntended t o a lign i t E -W p erhaps b y b isecting t he p ositions o f s unrise a t m idsummer a nd m idwinter. A s t he a ltitude o f t he e astern h orizon i s o nly 1°2 0 ' s uch a m ethod w ould i ncur n o m ore t han a s light e rror. ' Some s ignificance m ay p ossibly b e a ttributed t o c ertain a pparent a ttempts t o i ndicate t he c ardinal p oints. T hus t he d iagonals o f t he C hapman B arrow q uadrilateral d eviate f rom N orth a nd S outh b y 2° o nly, a nd f rom E ast a nd W est b y 0°3 0' o nly' ( Chanter & W orth, 1 906, 5 51). R ather l ike t he a lignment o f o ne s ide o f a 4 -Poster t owards a n o utlying p air o f s tones a s a t B agbie ( Kirkcudbright 1 ) t he S W a nd t he S E s tones a re p erfectly i n l ine w ith a s mall b arrow t o t he n orth-east. C harcoal w as d iscovered i n i t. O ther b arrows i n t he v icinity a lso c overed p its c ontaining c harcoal, o ne o f t hem w ith a n i nverted u rn i n i t. R eference: C hanter & W orth,

1 905,

3 91.

6 3

N

A

•

•

•

0 i t 0

2 0 1

F t

•

i M 5

( after C hanter & W orth,

1 906)

•

B

%

%

•

0 i

2 0 i F t

I 0

I 5

( after C hanter & W orth,

M d ir

1 905)

A . T ROUT H ILL ( Devon 4 ) B . W OODBARROW A RMS ( Devon 5 )

6 4

D EVON 4 ( Dubious) TROUT H ILL

S S 6m iles S E o f L ynton,

7 94

4 32

6m iles W SW o f P orlock.

A t 1 210 f t ( 369m) O .D. o n t he n orth-eastern s lopes o f T rout H ill t his l ittle s ite o verlooks t he B adgworthy W ater. T he 9 -stone p arallelogram o f L ittle T om 's H ill i s h alf a m ile t o t he e ast. T he s ite i s a n i mperfect r ectangle, i ts l ong S E a nd N W s ides m easuring 3 1 f t 4 i ns ( 9.6m) b ut t he N E s ide a pparently w as a l ittle l onger t han t he S W. W hen t he O rdnance S urvey p lanned t he s etting i n 1 887-8 f ive s tones w ere s till i n s itu, t he f ifth b eing w ell a way f rom t he i ntersection o f t he d iagonals. A s econd s urvey b y C hanter a nd W orth i n M ay, 1 906, r evealed, h owever, t hat b oth t he m easurements a nd t he o rientation o f t he O rdnance S urvey's p lan w ere i ncorrect. W orse s till, o nly t hree s tones r emained. T he ' central' s tone w as t he t allest, 2 f t 4 i ns ( 71cm) h igh. B oth t he S SW a nd N NE s tones w ere 1 f t 1 0 i ns ( 56cm) h igh. T he r emoval o f t he r ectangle's t wo n orthern s tones m akes i t i mpossible t o m ake a t rue e stimate o f t he l engths o f t he s horter s ides. A r ound b arrow s tands 1 96 f t ( 60m) t o t he s outh-east. R eference: C hanter & W orth,

D EVON 5

1 906,

5 42.

( Dubious)

WOODBARROW ARMS

S S

4m iles s outh o f L ynton,

7 17

4 33

3m iles E SE o f P arracombe.

T his r ectangle s tands n ear a c oncentration o f B ronze A ge m onuments, W ood B arrow t o i ts s outh, t he L ongstone q uadrilateral ( Devon 3 ) a nd t he L ong S tone t o i ts S W, a nd t he C hapman B arrows a m ile t o i ts w est. I t i s o n t he n orthern s lopes o f W ood B arrow H ill a t ah eight o f 1 460 f t ( 445m) O .D. I t i s a n i rregular r ectangle a bout 2 4 f t ( 7.3m) o n i ts N a nd S s ides, a nd 1 9 f t ( 5.8m) a t E a nd W . T he f our s tones a re s et a t r ight-angles t o t he d iagonals a nd a re 2 f t 2 i ns ( 66cm) h igh ( NE a nd S E), a nd 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 86cm) a t S W a nd N W. A t t he i ntersection o f t he d iagonals i s a c entral s tone o nly 2 f t ( 60cm) h igh. T he f our s tones s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 3 0 f t ( 9.1m) i n d iameter, v ery c lose i ndeed t o 1 1 o f T hom 's M egalithic Y ards. 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) t o t he s outh i s a b roken o utlier w hich w ith S E a nd S W s tones f orms a n early p erfect e quilateral t riangle. R eference: C hanter & W orth,

1 905,

6 5

3 92.

t he

U

•

T he c upmarked s tone

O 0 I .

2( 0

5

F t

M

T he G oatstones f rom t he E SE. T he c upmarked s tone i s a t t he e xtreme r ight.

G OATSTONES ( Northumberland 1 )

6 6

N ORTHUMBERLAND 1 GOATSTONES

N Y

8 29

7 48

9m iles N W o f H exham , 5 i m iles s outh o f B ellingham . T his i s a s plendid 4 -Foster, i ts f our s tones a t t he c orners o f a n i rregular t rapezoid t hat c annot b e f itted t o a c ircle. T he s outh s tone h as f allen o utwards. N one o f t he d ark, h eavy b oulders i s m ore t han 2 f t 3 i ns ( 70cm) h igh b ut, d espite t his, t hey g ive t he i mpression o f s quat s olidity. T hey e nclose a n a rea r oughly 1 6 f t ( 5m) s quare. T he s ite i s a longside a n o ld d roveway a t a h eight o f 8 10 f t ( 247m) O .D. I mmediately t o t he n orth-east a re t he l ofty R avensheugh C rags, t he t op r avaged b y q uarrying. A part f rom t his l andmark t here a re l ong v iews t o s outh, s outh-east a nd n orth f rom t he l evel s pur o n w hich t he 4 -Poster w as e rected. W ithin t he f our s tones t he g round r ises s lightly s uggesting t hat t here m ay b e a l ow , g rass-covered c airn t here. I n t he 1 930s i t w as u ntouched ' and t here a re n o s igns t hat a ny s acrilegious h and h as e ver d isturbed t he b ones o f t he d ead m an w ho w as h onoured w ith t his s imple m onument a nd w ho s till l ies w here h e w ished t o l ie l ooking o ut o ver t he h omes o f h is p eople t o t he B order h ills f ar a way' ( Honeyman, 1 932, 3 05-6). S ince t hat t ime s omeone h as d ug i nto t he c entre l eaving t races o f u ntidy s poil t o t he n orth o f t he ' ring '. O n t he f lat t op o f t he N E s tone t here a re u p t o 1 6 d eep a nd w eatherworn c upmarks ( Beckensall, 1 986, 1 0), a r are f orm o f a rt i n t hat p art o f N orthumberland ( Beckensall, 1 974, 7 4). I n S cottish r ecumbent s tone c ircles c upmarks h ave b een a ssociated w ith s ignificant p ositions o f t he m oon a nd i t w as t hought w orthwhile b y t he a uthor t o e xamine w hether a ny a stronomical a lignment e xisted h ere. N o g ood s ightline c an b e e stablished b etween f lat-topped s tones n o m ore t han 2 2 f t ( 6.7m) a part, b ut t he d iagonal a cross t he r ing f rom t he W SW t o t he N E s tone a nd t o t he s harp r ise o f t he c rag b eyond p roduced a d eclination o f + 18 ° . 1, c lose t o t he m inor r ising o f t he n orthern m oon. T he n ame i s a s trange o ne. G oatstones F arm i s i m ile t o t he e ast b ut p robably g ot i ts n ame f rom t he 4 -Poster r ather t han v icev ersa. T he d erivation w as l ikely t o b e %yet-stones' o r ' wayside s tones' f rom t he f act t hat t he r ing s tood a longside a d roveway. R eferences: H oneyman, 1 932; O .S. S outhampton, N Y 8 7 S W 1 6.

6 7

F t

0

80 I(

2 I

N I

T he e xcavation f rom t he n orth-west.

T HE T HREE K INGS ( Northumberland 2 )

6 8

N ORTHUMBERLAND 2 T HREE K INGS

N T

14 m iles S E o f J edburgh,

7 74

0 09

8 m iles N W o f O tterburn.

T his 4 -Poster s tands a t t he e dge o f a t errace i n a c learing o f R edesdale F orest a t a h eight o f 8 10 f t ( 247m), a nd c an b e r eached o nly a fter a s teepish w alk f rom a m inor f orestry r oad t o t he e ast. I t w as e xcavated b y t he a uthor a nd h is c olleague, N oreen J ones, f rom 1 6 t o 2 6 J uly, 1 971. F our s tones, t he S E p rostrate, o ccupy t he c orners o f a n earr ectangle, t he s ides m easuring c lockwise f rom t he N W s tone b eing: 1 f t 2 i ns ( 3.4m); 1 2 f t 7 i ns ( 3.9m); 1 2 f t 4 i ns ( 3.8m); a nd 1 3 f t 3 i ns ( 4m). T hey a re a lso o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle w ith a d iameter o f 1 4 f t 4 i ns ( 4.4m), i ndicating t hat, l ike m any o ther 4 -Posters, i t w as t he c ircle t hat h ad b een t he b asis o f t he d esign a nd t hat n o s pecial c are h ad b een t aken t o l ay o ut a n e xact o blong. N or w as t he M egalithic Y ard u sed b y t he p lanners. T he s tones w ere o f l ocal s andstone. T heir r espective h eights w ere: N E, 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m); N W , 4 f t 7 i ns ( 1.4m); S W , 4 f t 8 i ns ( 1.4m), a nd t he l ength o f t he S E w as 7 f t 6 i ns ( 2.3m). W hen e rect i t w ould h ave s tood 4 f t 6i ns ( 1.4m) h igh. I nside t he r ing w as a c ircular c airn. ' I a lso n oticed t hat r ecent t reasure ( ?) h unters h ave d ug a h ole i n t he c entre o f t he r emains, t his h ole [ is] a bout a f oot d eep a nd t wo f eet i n d iameter' ( Spain, 1 912, 2 36). T he 1 971 e xcavation d iscovered t he e vidence o f t his p illaging w hich h ad b een s o t horough t hat t he a uthor b elieved t hat t he i nitial s etting h ad b een t hat o f a r ing-cairn w hose k erbs l ining t he c entral s pace h ad b een d isplaced. T his v iew h e w ould n ow m odify, p referring t o i nterpret t he t umbled s tones a s h aving c ome f rom a s imple r ound c airn. T he o nly f ind w as a h ollow-based f lint s craper. T he n ame c omes f rom a l ocal l egend t hat t his w as t he g rave o f t hree k ings o f D enmark w ho h ad b een k illed i n b attle. E leven m iles t o t he e ast o n D ues H ill ( NT 9 55015) i s t he F ive K ings s tone r ow s uggesting c onsiderable c arnage i n N orthumberland d uring t he e arly m ediaeval p eriod. ' The m en w ho r aised t he s tones h ave u tterly v anished, e ven t heir g hosts h ave g one...Great h unters t hey w ere, a nd n ature w orshippers, t he s tar c ircles t hey m ade w e h ave, a nd h ere a nd t here o n t he m oorlands t heir c onfused f orts a nd v illages. I f eel t hat t hese s tone f ingers t he p rehistoric m en h ave l eft p ointing a lways u pwards " to t hat i nverted b owl w e c all t he s ky" h ave a s ignificance w e s hall n ever b e a ble t o u nderstand, a nd a f orgotten m essage w e s hall n ever r ead' ( Spain, 1 912, 2 37). R eferences: B url & J ones,

1 972; S pain,

1 912.

6 9

L f a c f t .

4 )?

e i , e r&

. %et

yt • € "1

ß1 4!t r o D

( Lhuyd, 1 698)

ST O NE S M ARKED A .0 B

FEET

' T' T

t o o ( Mountford, 1 932)

D RUID 'S C ASTLE ( Shropshire 1 )

7 0

S HROPSHIRE 1 ( Uncertain) D RUID'S

C ASTLE

S O

6m iles n orth o f B ishop's C astle,

3 08

9 81

5 i m iles E NE o f M ontgomery .

O nce 3 10 y ards ( 283m) s outh-east o f M itchell's F old s tone c ircle t his q uestionable 4 -Poster h as b een d estroyed. I t s tood a t t he s outhe ast f oot o f S tapeley H ill a t a h eight o f 1 000 f t ( 305m) O .D. i n t he v alley b etween t hat a nd C orndon H ill q uite c lose t o t he G roup X II p icrite a xe-factory a t H yssington. I t w as s een i n 1 698 b y E dward L huyd, t he W elsh a ntiquarian, w ho s eems t o h ave m istaken i t f or t he l arge c ircle t o t he n orthw est w hich a l ow r ise h id f rom v iew . L huyd's s ketch i s l abelled ' Med els f old' a nd s hows t hree s tones, t he o ne a t t he t op r ight ' a y h igh ' b eing a t t he N W . T he l owest, t op l eft, w as t he S W , a nd t he t hird, ' not a y ard h igh ', w as t he N E. T he S E, i f e ver i t e xisted, w as m issing. F rom a p lan o f t he l ater f arm i n w hich t he s tones w ere i ncorporated t he r ectangle w ould h ave b een s ome 2 0 f t ( 6m) s quare. T wo o f t he s tones w ere s till r emembered i n 1 932. T he b igger, w hich w as u sed t o s upport a g ate, w as r emoved a round 1 878 w hen t he f arm-buildings w ere e xtended. I t i s r eported t hat a s mall t hreeh andled v essel w as u nearthed c ontaining ' something l ike a shes a nd b its o f l eather'. T his m ay h ave b een a B ronze A ge f ood-vessel b ut i t w as b roken a nd l ost a nd n o f urther d escription h as s urvived. N othing w as f ound u nder t he s econd s tone. U ntil a bout 1 850 t he s tones s tood o n t he c ommon c lose t o a c ottage t hat, s ignificantly, w as c alled t he D ruids C astle. A round 1 880 a b ronze p alstave o f t he M iddle B ronze A ge w as d iscovered b y d rain-diggers o nly a h undred y ards f rom t he ' ring ' ( Chitty, 1 929, 6 4-5). ' Mitchell's F old' m ay b e a c orruption o f O .E. m icel o r m ycel, m eaning ' big ', t he ' large e nclosure ' r eferring t o t he s tone c ircle, 9 3 f t ( 28m) a cross, j ust t o t he n orth o f D ruid's C astle. W ith s uch v ague e vidence i t c annot b e s ure t hat t he t hree s tones w ere e ver p art o f a 4 -Poster b ut L huyd 's s ketch m akes i t a p ossibility, a nd a s t he s ite i s o nly 2 5 m iles n orth o f t he d efinite 4 -Poster o f t he F our S tones, W alton ( Powys 2 ) i t m erits i nclusion i n t his g azetteer. R eferences: M ountford, 1 932; 0 .S. S outhampton, S O 3 9 N W 7 ; V CH S hropshire 1 908, 2 035 A rch C amb 1 0 ( Supplement I I), 1 910 , 8 8 ( Medgels F old).

7 1

I ,

Y ORKSHIRE 2 ( Dubious) DUNSLEY MOOR

N Z

3 i m iles W SW o f W hitby ,

8 42

0 89

2 1 m iles N E o f E gton.

A t 8 70 f t ( 265m) O .D. o n H utton M ulgrave M oor i s a r ectangle o f f our l ow s tones. I n 1 855 t hey w ere d escribed a s a bout 3 f t ( 1m) h igh , t wo o f t hem j ust w est o f t he S warth H owe c airn. T hey w ere 4 5 f t ( 13.7m) a part. 10 y ards ( 100m) t o t he n orth w as a s imilar p air s o t hat ' these f our o ld e rect s tones [ form ] a l ong s quare...In s etting t hese, r eference s eems t o h ave b een m ade t o t he c ardinal p oints a nd, p erhaps, a lso t o t hat c onspicuous t umulus S warthowe w ith w hich t hey f orm a n early r ight a ngled t riangle' ( Knox, 1 855, 1 81-2). I t i s j ust p ossible t hat t hese s tones w ere a g rossly e xaggerated 4 -Poster l ike t he o ther q uestionable s ite o f L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ). I t i s m ore p robable t hat t he s tones w ere t wo s eparate p airs, a ssociated w ith B ronze A ge c airns. R eferences: K nox, 1 855, 1 81-2; E lgee, ampton, N Z 8 0 N W 2 .

1 930 ,

1 06;

P SAL 3 ,

1 853-6,

5 8; O .S. S outh-

( For a s ketch b y K nox , s ee: D EVON 3 )

. .

•

0

0

1 1 5F t

D RUID 'S A LTAR ( Yorkshire 1 )

7 2

5

D ERBYSHIRE 1 G IBBET MOOR

S K

2 82

7 08

6 i m iles n orth o f M atlock, 4 i m iles E NE o f B akewell. T he s ite i s o n a N E-facing s lope o f m oorland a t 9 50 f t ( 289m) O .D. T hree s tones o f l ocal g ritstone, e ach a bout 2 f t 2 i ns ( 65cm), h igh s tand a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 1 3 f t ( 4m) s quare. ' This i s ad iminutive f our p oster w ith 1 s tone m issing. T he t hree r emaining s tones a re a rranged i n a s ub-square s etting w ith t he s labs ' l ong s ides r oughly p arallel, o riented N NE-SSW '. R eference: B arnatt, 1 986, I I, 8 , n o. 3 59.

Y ORKSHIRE 1 D RUID'S A LTAR

S D

9 49

6 52

9m iles N NW o f S kipton, 3 1 m iles W NW o f G rassington. A t 1 230 f t ( 375m) O .D. o n M alham M oor t his r ing, s ometimes k nown a s B ordley, h as b een e xtensively t ampered w ith. I ts m uch r obbed m ound a nd d isplaced s tone h ave l ed t o i ts i nterpretation a s t he o pen f orecourt o f ac hambered t omb. I t i s n ot. I t i s a4 -Poster. O n a c ircular m ound 4 1 f t ( 12.5m) a cross a nd 3 f t ( 1m) h igh t hree s tones o f l ocal l imestone f orm t he c orners o f a r ectangle 1 f t 6 i ns ( 3.5m) s quare f rom w hich t he S W s tone i s m issing. A t i ts c orner i s ' a s tump, p ossibly t he b ase o f a p rostrate s tone' 5f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.8m) l ong n ow l ying n ear t he c entre. T he t allest s tone, 3f t 7 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh i s a t t he s outh-east. T he s ides o f t he s quare a re c lose t o t he c ardinal p oints. B etween t he S W a nd S E s tones i s as catter o f r ounded c airnstones. I t w as r umoured t hat a t rilithon , t wo s tones s upporting a l arge c apstone, o nce s tood h ere. I f s o, i t h as b een d estroyed. C haracteristically, t he 4 -Poster s tands a t t he e dge o f a t errace f rom w hich t he l and f alls s teeply t o t he w est. R eferences: O .S. S outhampton, S D 9 6 N W 1 4; R aistrick, A .L., 1 914, 1 63; A llcroft, 1 927, I , 2 25-6.

7 3

1 929,

3 56,

n o.

3 ;

L ewis

•

-

•

•

•

—

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. 1 17 f t ( 36m) s outh—east i s a s hort, f allen o utlier. ' Bridestones' i s p robably a c orruption o f B rigid, o f t he B rigantes, t he d ominant I ron A ge i n t he r egion.

t he g oddess

N oting t he r ectangular s hape o f t he N W ' ring ', t he f our s tones o f t he S E, a nd t he c ardinal p oints, t he s tones m ay b e t he d evastated s urvivors o f t wo j uxtaposed 4 —Posters a nd t hree o utliers. Y oung ( 1817) s tated t hat j ust b efore h is t ime e leven s tones s tood h ere, t he e xact n umber r equired f or t wo 4 —Posters a nd t hree o utliers. R eferences: E lgee, 1 930, 1 05; K nox, 1 855, 1 81.

7 4

Y ORKSHIRE 3 , 4

( Uncertain)

H IGH B RIDESTONES N ORTH-WEST and

S OUTH-EAST

N Z

8 50

0 46

5m iles s outh-west o f W hitby o n S leights M oor. S ituated o n a l evel e xpanse o f m oorland a t a h eight o f 8 80 f t ( 268m) O .D. t he c ollapsed s ettings o f s tones k nown a s t he H igh B ridestones l ie j ust w est o f t he k erbed r ound c airn o f F lat H owe. T here h ave b een v arying i nterpretations o f t he e leven s tones h ere. O nly s ix n ow s tand, s ome p recariously l oose, f rom a n o utlier t o t he n orth-west t o a nother a t t he s outh-east 4 40 f t ( 134m) a way. T hey h ave b een s een a s t he r emains o f t wo s tone c ircles 3 0 t o 4 0 f t ( 9-12m) a cross, w ith o utlying s tones t o n orth a nd s outh ( Thomas, 1 976, 2 45); a s p rehistoric s tones m ixed w ith n atural o utcrops ( Grinsell, 1 976, 1 72); a s a d isturbed d ouble s tone r ow ( Raymond H aynes, p ers. c omm); a nd E lgee ( 1930 , 1 05) d escribed t hem a s a l ine a bout 1 50 y ards ( 137m) l ong o nce c omposed o f t wo s tone c ircles, o ne o f t all, t he o ther o f l ow s tones, w ith s ome o utliers. ' Despite t heir d eplorable s tate t hey a re t he m ost i mpressive s tanding s tones i n N orth-east Y orkshire'. H e t hought t hem t o b e o f t he B ronze A ge a nd p ossibly r aised b y p eople e ngaged i n t he p roduction o f j et a rtefacts ( ibid, 1 16). H aving p lanned t he c omplex w ith h is s tudents i n 1 972 t he w riter c an a dd s ome d etails. A t t he n orth-west, s et a t r ight-angles t o t he l ine l ike o ne o f t he D artmoor t erminal p illars, i s a n arrow o utlying s tone 5 f t 2i ns ( 1.6m) h igh, ' deeply r ain-furrowed' ( Elgee, 1 930 , 1 05). 1 91 f t ( 58.2m) t o t he s outh-east i s a t riangle o f s tones v ery l ike a ' christianised' F our-Poster f rom w hich t he n orth-east s tone i s m issing. T he s ides o f t he ' rectangle' a re a lmost e xactly N -S a nd E -W , 2 5 f t b y 2 0 f t ( 7.6 x 6 .1m) r espectively, t he c orners b eing o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 3 2 f t ( 9.8m) a cross, a n u nhappy 1 1.8 M egalithic Y ards. T he N W s tone i s 1 f t 2 i ns ( 36cm) h igh a nd p erhaps b roken; t he S W , s plit, i s 2 f t 4 i ns ( 71cm) h igh; a nd t he S E, a s quarish b lock, i s t he t allest, 4 f t 5 ins ( 1.4m) h igh. 7 6 f t ( 23.2m) t o t he s outh-east i s a m onolith o nly 6 i ns ( 15cm) h igh a nd n ow v ery l oose i n i ts s ocket. A f urther 2 8 f t ( 8.5m) t o t he s outh-east i s a s econd p ossible F our-Poster, i n a v ery r uinous c ondition, o nly o ne o f i ts t all p illars n ow s tanding. I t i s t he h ighest o f a ll, 7 f t 6i ns ( 2.3m) h igh, i ts l ocal l imestone ' terribly w eathered'. I t p robably o ccupied t he N E c orner. J ust t o i ts s outhw est i s a f allen s lab 8 f t 4 i ns ( 2.5m) l ong. J ust s outh-west o f t his i s a nother p rostrate p illar 1 0 f t ( 3m) l ong; a nd t o i ts n orthw est i s y et a nother s tone, 7 f t 6 i ns ( 2.3m) l ong. T o t he s outhe ast o f t his w recked ' Four-Poster' a re n atural o utcrops w hich , i n t he s hin-scratching h eather, a re e asily m istaken f or f urther c ircles tones. O n t he a ssumption t hat t he f our c ertain s tones h ad o nce b een a F our-Poster t heir r ectangle w ould h ave b een a bout 1 5 b y 1 3 f t ( 4.6 x 4 m), a gain p ossibly a ligned t o t he c ardinal p oints. C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

7 5

• • • • ••:::::.

•

c entral c remation p it

. •

p

.

0

( ) 0

1 0 0 ( F /

• ••"

•

. , . .•• • •

•

• 30

( after M ogey, 1 949)

M ULLAGHMORE ( Down 1 )

7 6

D OWN 1 MULLAGHAMORE

J 1 91

2 72

5 i m iles e ast o f N ewry , 3m iles s outh o f R athfriland. F irst r ecognised a s a p ossible 4 -Poster b y O 'Nuallain ( 1975, 17) t his r ing a nd t wo a djacent r ing-barrows w ere e xcavated i n 1 948 a nd 1 949. T he s ite w as i n t he n orth-western f oothills o f t he M ourne M ountains o n t he l ower s lopes o f G rugganskeagh M ountain 1 2 1 m iles w est o f t he s ea. I n i ts p rehistoric s tate i t s tood o n c leared l and w ith ' only s crubby g rowths o f h azel, b irch, a lder a nd h olly'. H eather a nd g rassland w ere w idespread, a nd p ollen i ndicated t hat t he l and w as u nder c ultivation ( Mogey & T hompson, 1 956, 2 2). T he t wo r ing-barrows w ere s ide b y s ide, t he l arger h aving a b ank m easuring 7 0 f t ( 21.3m) f rom c rest t o c rest w ithin w hich w as a r ock-cut d itch. A t t he c entre o f t he e nclosure w as a l ow c airn b eneath w hich w as a s tone-filled p it w ith s ome 3 00 c oarse s herds, p robably o f t he l ater B ronze A ge. W ith t hem w ere t he c remated r emains o f a t l east f our i ndividuals. T here w as a lso a b lue g lass b ead. T he r ing-barrow j ust t o t he n orth-east w as m uch s maller a nd h ad n o d eposits i n i t. W ithin 1 0 f t ( 3,) o f t he l arger b arrow 's s outh-east q uadrant w as a 4 -Poster b y w hich w as a p rostrate o utlier. T he s tones w ere a ll l ocal o f N ewry g ranite. T he h eights o f t he 4 -Poster's p illars w ere 3 f t 9 i ns ( 1.1m), 4 f t 3 i ns ( 1.3m), 4 f t 1 i n ( 1.2m) a nd 4f t ( 1.2m), t heir p ositions n ot b eing r ecorded ( Mogey, 1 949, 8 8). S et a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 9 f t ( 2.7m) s quare t hey m ay h ave b een e rected o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle a bout 1 2 f t 6 i ns ( 3.8m) a cross. E ach s tone w as s upported o n a f oundation o f s mall s tones a nd p ebbles a nd i n t he s ocket o f o ne w ere t wo t iny f ragments o f b urnt b one a nd s ome c harcoal. A t t he e xact c entre o f t he 4 -Poster u nder s ome r ecent p atches o f b urning w as a b oulder c overing a n eat p it 6 i ns ( 15cm) d eep. I t c ontained a c remation w ith a f ew s herds o f i ndeterminate p ottery. J ust t o t he s outh o f t he 4 -Poster w as w hat t he e xcavator c onsidered t o b e a s econdary d eposit, a p lough-damaged b ucket-shaped p ot, j ust p ossibly o f t he I ron A ge ( Herity & E ogan, 1 977, 2 44) w ith s ome c remated b one a nd e arth i n i t. T he p rostrate o utlier s tone o f t he 4 -Poster.

w as

5 f t

R eferences: M ogey,

1 949; M ogey & T homson,

1 956.

7 7

( 1.5m)

t o

t he

w est

o f

t he

S W

• •

•

•

7 6 f t ( 2314\\\t o o utlier

0

2 0 Ft

•

m 0

5

( after O 'Nuallain, 1 984b)

F rom t he s outh-west.

C APPABOY B EG S OUTH-EAST ( Cork 2 )

7 8

C ORK 1 ( Dubious). B ROOKPARK

W 3 25

8 76

9m iles n orth o f M acroom , 3 i m iles S E o f M i lstreet. O nce s tanding n ear t he O wenbaum R iver a t a h eight o f 7 70 f t ( 235m) O .D., m ountains t o t he e ast a nd w est, t his s ite w as d escribed a s a ' stone c ircle ' w ith a n o utlying s tone n earby. J ust n orth o f K erryman 's C ross R oad f our s tones s tood i n a r oughly r ectangular s etting a bout 7 t o 1 0 f t ( 2 - 3 m) a part. N one w as m ore t han 9 i ns ( 25cm) h igh. E ngulfed i n a p lantation o f c onifers i t i s h ard t o f ind a nd h as b een d escribed b y O 'Nuallain a s s tones ' which f orm n o r ecognisable a rrangement'. R eference: O 'Nuallain, 1 984a, 4 6, n o. 7 .

C ORK 2 C APPABOY B EG S OUTH-EAST

W 0 97

6 04

/ 0 m iles N E o f B antry , 9 i m iles N W o f D un r nanway . O n a n e levated m oorland a t 6 70 f t ( 204m) O .D. t his s ite i s r eached o nly a fter a l ong w alk u p a s teep h illside. I t s tands a t t he e dge o f a n e ast-falling t errace. F orming a v ery i rregular t rapezoid t o w hich n o c ircle c onforms t hree l ow s tones a re d ominated b y t he g igantic N E p illar, o ver 9 f t ( 2.8m) i n h eight. T here i s a n o utlying s tone 7 6 f t ( 23m) t o t he s outh-east, a nd a p air o f s tones a re 3 30 f t ( 100m) t o t he s outh-west. T o t he n orth-east, 5 90 f t ( 180m) a way, t here i s y et a nother o utlier b y ar adial-stone e nclosure. R eferences: O 'Nuallain ,

1 984b, 6 9, n o.

1 ; B arber,

1 972, I , 3 2, C 12.

C ORK 3 ( Uncertain) G LANYCARNEY

W 1 46

5 75

1 m iles N E o f B antry , 6m iles N W o f D unmanway . T he s ite h as b een d estroyed. I t s tood i n t he C ousane G ap i n l ow-lying b oggy l and a t 4 70 f t ( 143m) O .D. I n 1 841 t he O rdnance S urvey d escribed i t a s: ' This m onument f orms a " Circle o f G allauns" t hree o f w hich a re s till s tanding a nd o ne l ying p rostrate a nd i s c ommonly c alled a S tone C ircle i n o ther p arts o f t he c ountry'. T he 1 899 N ame B ook d escribed i t a s ' a s mall s tone c ircle'. N o o ther d escription s urvives. R eference: O 'Nuallain, 1 984a, 4 8-9, n o. 2 3.

7 9

N A

O 0 i

2 0 1F t

0

5

l

1 M

( after O 'Nuallain ,

G ORTNACOWLY ( Cork 4 )

8 0

1 984b)

C ORK 4 GORTNACOWLY

W 0 88

5 43

9m iles w est o f D unmanway , 6 i m iles N E o f B antry . O n t he s outhern s lopes o f t he M aughanaclea H ills a t 6 50 f t ( 198m) O .D. t his i s a n i mpressive 4 -Poster d espite i ts m issing e ast s tone. T rapped i n a w eb o f h edges a ccess t o t he r ing i s d ifficult b ut t he e ffort i s w orthwhile. T he t hree s urviving s tones s tand o n l evel g round a t t he e dge o f a d ip t o t he n orth-west b eyond w hich t he l and r ises s teeply t o a h igh r idge. T o t he s outh t he c ountryside s lopes g ently f or a m ile o r s o t hen c limbs i nto t he m ountains. T here a re l ong v iews t o t he w est, s outh-west a nd s outh-east. T he s ite, l ike L ettergorman ( Cork 4 ) a nd R obinstown G reat ( Wexford 1 ) i s m uch m ore s imilar t o t he S cottish 4 -Posters t han t he o ther I rish 4 -Posters t o t he w est w ith t heir o ne a bnormally t all s tone a nd i rregular d esign. A t G ortnacowly t he s tones a re h igh, g rey c ylinders s et a lmost a t t he c ardinal p oints o f n orth, s outh a nd w est. T hat t here w ere o riginally f our s tones i n a r ectangle i s p roved b y t he p lan o n t he 1 899 2 5 i nch f ield t race m ap. T he s ite w as d escribed a s ' four s tanding s tones o f D ruidical A ntiquity '. T hey s tood a t t he c orners o f a n o blong 1 2 f t 9 i ns b y 9 f t ( 3.8 x 2 .8m), p ossibly s et o ut a s a c ircle 1 5 f t 4 i ns ( 4.7m) i n d iameter. I n h eight t he N s tone i s 7 f t 6 i ns ( 2.3m), t he S , 6 f t 7 i ns ( 2m), a nd t he W , t he m ost m assive i n b ulk , i s 1 0 f t ( 3.1m) t all. T he M aughanaclea 4 -Poster ( Cork 5 ) a nd a r adial-stone e nclosure a t W 0 82558 a re a bout a m ile t o t he N NW o n t he o ther s ide o f t he h ills. R eference: O 'Nuallain ,

1 984b, 6 9, 7 0, n o. 2 .

8 1

1 50 f t ( 46m) t o o utlier

5

2

1 0 F t

M

( after O 'Nuallain, 1 984b)

F rom t he n orth-east. T he o utlier i s i n t he m iddle d istance, r ight.

L ETTERGORMAN N ORTH-EAST ( Cork 5 )

8 2

C ORK 5 LETTERGORMAN

NORTH-EAST

W 2 67

7m iles n orth o f R oss C arbery ,

4 73

4 i m iles S E o f D unmanway .

R ecognised b y B arber i n 1 971 t his w as t he f irst I rish 4 -Poster t o b e i dentified a s s uch a lthough M ullaghmore ( Down 1 ) h ad b een d escribed i n 1 948 ( Mogey, 1 949). T he L ettergorman r ing c onsists o f t hree l arge s tanding s tones w ith a f ourth, f allen, n earby, a nd w ith a d istant o utlier. I n a r egion o f m any f ine s tone c ircles i ncluding B ohonagh, C arrigagrenane, D rombeg a nd R eanascreena, t he 4 -Poster s tands a t t he h ead o f a g entle h illtop a t 4 00 f t ( 120m) O .D. w ith l ong v iews e xcept t o s outh-east a nd s outh-west. T he t hree t all s tones a re a t t he c orners o f a n e longated r ectangle f rom w hich t he N E s tone i s m issing. T he o blong's l ong s ide m easures 2 2 f t 4 i ns ( 6.8m), a nd t he s horter i s 9 f t 6 i ns ( 2.9m), a r ectangle o nto w hich a c ircle 2 3 f t 1 1 i ns ( 7.3m) c ould c omfortably b e f itted. I n h eight t he S W s tone, 1 0 f t ( 3m) t all, i s t he h ighest, t he S E i s 6 f t 1 0 i ns ( 2.1m), a nd t he N W i s 7 f t ( 2.2m) h igh. T o t he e ast o f t he 4 -Poster, 5 9 f t ( 18m) a way b y t he h edge, i s a p rostrate s tone, 5 f t 3 i ns ( 1.6m) l ong, w hich m ay b e t he m issing f ourth s tone. D ue w est, 1 50 f t ( 46m) a way, i s a 5 f t 9 i ns ( 1.8m) t all o utlier. T he 5 -stone r ing o f L ettergorman S outh-West i s a m ile a way t o t he S SW. R eferences: B arber,

1 972,

I , 3 9, C 24; O 'Nuallain,

8 3

1 984b,

7 0-1, n o. 4 .

• 0

2 0

• t

0

5 iM

( after O 'Nuallain , 1 984b)

M AUGHANACLEA S OUTH-WEST ( Cork 6 )

8 4

C ORK 6 MAUGHANACLEA S OUTH-WEST

W 0 80

9 i m iles W NW o f D unmanway ,

5 56

7m iles N E o f B antry .

T his 4 -Poster, i ts s tones u neven i n h eight, s tands o n a n e xposed l evel s houlder a t 7 80 f t ( 238m) 0 .D. a t t he w estern e nd o f t he M aughanaclea H ills. ' In t he s urrounding b og m egaliths a bound, s ome t umbled i n p iles, s ome a pparently i n r ows l ike f ield f ences e merging f rom t he b og ' ( Barber, 1 972, I , 3 1). T hree s tones s urvive, t he l argest a t t he n orth-east n ow s plit i n t wo. T he S W s tone i s m issing. T he r emaining s tones s tand a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 1 2 f t 9 i ns b y 9 f t 2 i ns ( 3.9 x 2 .8m), a nd p erhaps s et u p o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 1 5 f t 6 i ns ( 4.8m) i n d iameter. T he N E s tone, w hich l eans t owards t he e ast, i s n ow 5 f t 3 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh, t he N W i s 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m), a nd t he l ow S E b lock i s o nly 2 f t 3i ns ( 70cm) h igh. T o t he n orth-east, 2 95 f t ( 90m) a way, i s a r adial-stone e nclosure. T he j uxtaposition o f s uch e nclosures, t heir k erbs s et a t r ight-angles t o t he p erimeter, m ay b e t he I rish c ounterpart o f t he r ing-cairn a ssociation w ith s ome S cottish r ecumbent s tone c ircles ( Burl, 1 976, 2 18). T he M aughanaclea N orth-East t o t he E NE a t W 1 04565.

r ecumbent

s tone c ircle i s

R eferences: O 'Nuallain,

1 984b, 6 9-70 , n o. 3 ; B arber,

8 5

1 972, I , 3 1, C 7.

1 1 m iles

• 0

2 0

0

F t

5

S

( after O 'Nuallain , 1 984b)

R EENKILLA ( Kerry 1 )

8 6

K ERRY 1 REENKILLA

V 7 68

1 5 m iles N W o f B antry ,

5 77

9 i m iles N E o f C astletown B earhaven.

T he s ite i s n ear t he s hore o f t he t iny, l andlocked i sland n ear K ilakilloge h arbour a nd i s o nly a pproachable o n f oot a t l ow t ide. I t i s s urrounded b y t rees a nd u ndergrowth. T his s trange 4 -Poster, t he m ost w esterly y et k nown, h as a ll i ts s tones s tanding. W hat s eems t o b e a f eature o f t hese r emote I rish s ites i s t he p resence o f o ne s tone, h ere t he w esternmost, m uch t aller t han t he r est. T his s tone, 7 f t 1 1 i ns ( 2.8m) t owers o ver t he o thers w hich a re r espectively: W SW , 2 f t 3 i ns ( 70cm); E SE, 3 f t 9i ns ( 1.1m); a nd E NE, 1 f t 2i ns ( 35cm). T he f our s tones o ccupy t he a ngles o f a n i rregular q uadrilateral w hose s ides m easure 1 1 f t 6 i ns b y 8 f t 1 0 i ns b y 8 f t 3 i ns b y 6 f t 3 i ns ( 1.9 x 2 .5 x 2 .7 x 3 .5m). I t w ould t ake g reat i ngenuity t o f it a c ircle t o t his t rapezoid. T o t he n orth , 4 4 f t 2f t 6i ns ( 80cm) h igh.

( 13.3m)

a way,

i s a l ow o utlying s tone o nly

S hronebirrane r ecumbent s tone c ircle i s 2 m iles t o t he s outhw est, a nd t he C ashelkeelty 5 -stone c ircle, r ow , a nd r ecumbent s tone c ircle w ere 1 * m iles t o t he w est. T he r ow h as b een d ated t o t he y ears b etween 9 70 a nd 7 15 b c ( Lynch, A . 1 981, 6 6), a pproximately b etween 1 190 a nd 9 00 B C i n c orrected y ears. I t i s p ossible t hat t he R eenkilla 4 -Poster w ith i ts u nusual f eatures b elongs t o t he s ame g eneral p eriod. R eference: O 'Nuallain,

1 984b, 6 8, n o. 5 .

8 7

I

N

e , f ) ,

•

Q

• 0 L

0 (

2. 0 F t

5 (N I ( after O 'Nuallain,

R OBINSTOWN G REAT ( Wexford 1 )

8 8

1 984b)

W EXFORD 1 R OBINSTOWN GREAT

S 8 11

1 6 m iles W NW o f W exford ,

2 91

5 4 - m iles E NE o f N ew R oss.

P erhaps n ot s urprisingly, c onsidering i ts p osition a t t he s outhe ast c orner o f I reland o n t he m ajor s ea-lanes ( Bowen, 1 972, 3 4), t his i s t he I rish 4 -Poster m ost s imilar t o t hose i n S cotland. O ne m ight a ssume a p enetration a long t he R iver B arrow f rom W aterford h arbour t o t he s outh b y p eople w ho s ettled, a lmost i n i solation , i n t he h ills n ear N ew R oss. C onspicuously p laced o n a h illtop t he f our a g ood r ectangle, i ts s ides m easuring 1 6 f t b y i ns b y 1 1 f t 2 i ns ( 4.9 x 3 .7 x 4 .3 x 3 .4m), a w hich a c ircle w ith a d iameter o f 1 9 f t 8i ns ( 6m)

s tones f orm q uite 1 2 f t b y 1 3 f t 1 1 q uadrilateral u pon c an b e f itted.

T he t allest s tone, 5 f t 3 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh, i s a t t he N W . T he N E i s 2 f t 9 i ns ( 90cm), t he S W i s 4 f t 7 i ns ( 1.4m) a nd t he S E, w hich n ow l eans b adly t o t he e ast, w ould h ave b een a bout 2 f t 3 i ns ( 70cm) h igh. 1 3 f t 6 i ns ( 4.2m) t o t he s outh-west o f t he 4 -Poster i s a n o utlier. I t a lso l eans, h ere t o t he w est, b ut o riginally w ould h ave b een a bout 2 f t 7 i ns ( 80cm) h igh. L ying a lonside i t t o t he e ast i s a l arge b lock o f w hite q uartz m easuring 5 f t 7 i ns b y 4 f t 1 i n ( 1.7 x 1 .3m). I t m ay b e s ignificant t hat, u nusually f or I reland, t he 4 -Poster s tands o n a l arge l ow p latform o r m ound. I t m ay b e, h owever, a s O 'Nuallain s uggested, t his i s n o m ore t han t he r esult o f c ultivation a round t he s tones. R eferences: O 'Nuallain,

1 984b, 1 7, n o. 6 ; J RSAI 4 2,

8 9

1 912,

1 5-16.

0

1 1 0

M

F t

0 e

3

( after C oles, 1 903a)

( Coles, 1 903a)

B ACKHILL O F D RACHLAW ( Aberdeen 1 )

9 0

A BERDEEN 1 ( Transitional) B AC I CHILL OF DRACHLAW EAST

N J

6 72

4 63

4m iles S W o f T urriff a nd 2 i m iles e ast o f I nverkeithny . S tanding o n a g entle h illside a t 4 40 f t ( 134m) O .D. a t t he n orthern e dge o f t he m ain R SC c oncentration t his i s a g ood e xample o f a r ing w hose a rchitectural f eatures s tand m idway b etween t he c lassical R SC a nd t he e mergent 4 -Poster. S ignificantly, i t i s o nly 3 00 y ards ( 275m) s outh-west o f t he C airn R iv c ircle, i tself a g rotesque v ariant o f a n R SC w hose r ecumbent, k nown a s t he C arlin S tone, i s a h uge, c oarse a nd j agged b oulder f lanked n ot b y e legant t aller p illars b ut b y t wo m iserably t iny b locks h ardly r ecognisable a s t he c ounterparts o f t he g raceful f lankers o f t he r ings a round I nsch. M ost o f t he C airn R iv c ircle a nd i ts i nternal l ow c airn w ere r emoved i n t he 1 9th c entury. D emonstrating h ow l ate i t w as i n t he R SC t radition t he a rtefacts f ound i n o r n ear i t w ere a ll o f t he E arly B ronze A ge: a p erforated a xe-hammer, f ragments o f t hree b ronze b racelets, f lints, a nd a j et b utton ( Coles, 1 903a, 1 22-4). I t i s u nlikely t hat t he B ackhill o f D rachlaw r ing w as a ny e arlier, l acking a s i t d oes a r ecumbent s tone. I t c onsists o f s ix s tones o f w hich t wo a re m arkedly l ower t han t he o thers. T he h eights o f t he f our t all s tones a re: S W , 4 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.5m); N W , 4 f t ( 1.2m); N E, 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m); a nd S , 3 f t ( 0.9m); a nd t he t wo l ower: N , 2f t 7i ns ( 79cm); a nd S E , 2f t 1 0 i ns ( 88cm). A lthough n ot t allest t he b iggest, h eaviest s tone s tands a t t he N W a nd h as a p rotruding v ein o f w hite q uartz w inding r ound i t ' like a r ope o f c rystal' ( Coles, 1 903a, 1 20). Q uartz p ebbles a lso m ottle f our o ther s tones, t he S W , N , N E a nd S . T he r ectangle o f t he f our t all s tones m easures a bout 2 8 f t 6 i ns b y 2 8 f t ( NW-SE) ( 8.7 x 8 .5m). A s imilar r ing o nce e xisted a t B ackhill o f D rachlaw W est ( Coles, 1 903a, 1 21). I ts b iggest s tone, a t t he s outh, w as t aken a way f or l intels a nd t he o thers w ere r eused f ield-walls i n t he 1 9th c entury. A lexander T hom c onsidered B ackhill t o b e a n e llipse w ith a c ircumference o f 3 0.08 M egalithic Y ards, p recisely 1 2 M egalithic R ods. T wo o ther s mall c ircles o nce s tood c lose t o i t, G rey M uir C airn a nd S hielburn. O nly o ne s tone n ow r emains a t e ach s ite. T he p eripheral s ituation o f t he B ackhill r ing, i ts s mallness a nd i ts f our t all s tones m ake i t a f easible p recursor o f 4 -Posters. R eferences C oles,

1 903a,

1 18-21, n o. 2 9; T hom , T hom & B url,

9 1

1 980,

1 86-7, B 1/24.

O

0

0

21 0F t

5

m

( after T hom , 1 980)

•

>

C oles, 1 901)

D EER P ARK ( Aberdeen 2 )

9 2

A BERDEEN 2 D EER PARK

N J

6 84

1 56

H alf a m ile n orth o f M onymusk , o n t he n orth b ank o f t he P arsonage B urn. T he N W s tone i s m issing f rom t his 4 -Poster w hich s tands o n a t errace o verlooking t he R . D on a t a h eight o f 3 00 f t ( 90m) O .D. i n t he O ld D eer P ark a t M onymusk. I mmediately t o t he s outh t he g round f alls t o a ' steep a nd d eepish g len '. T he t hree r emaining s tones s tand a t t he S , N E a nd S E, t he l atter o f r eddish g ranite b eing j ust o ver 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh , a l ittle t aller t han i ts p artners. T he 4 -Poster o nce s tood o n a l ow , k erbed c airn s ome 4 0 f t ( 12m) i n d iameter. T he ' ring' aN NE-SSW a xis.

i s

a bout

1 2

f t

( 3.7m)

s quare • and

i s

a rranged

o n

B oth C oles a nd K eiller b elieved t hat t he e asternmost s tone h ad b een t he c entral p illar o f a m uch l arger c ircle b ut i nspection s hows t hat t he s ite i s, i n f act, a 4 -Poster w hich h as b een ' christianised' b y t he r emoval o f o ne s tone. A lthough D eer P ark i s s mall 2e ven b y 4 -Poster s tandards, e nclosing o nly 1 44 s quare f eet ( 13.4m ) i t is t he o nly o ne t o s tand i n t he h eart o f t he R SC e nclave w ithin a f ew m iles o f s uch o rthodox R SCs a s E aster A quorthies, C astle F raser a nd C othiemuir W ood. T he n earest 4 -Poster t o i t, H owemill, i s 7m iles t o t he S W a t t he e xtreme e dge o f R SC t erritory. R eferences C oles, 1 901, 2 01-3 , 1 980, 2 12-13, B 2/10 ,

n o. 5 ; K eiller, 1 934, 3 , ' only t hree s tones l eft'.

9 3

5 ;

T hom ,

T hom & B url,

( 51 0

•0 i s )

C D 0

p Q 1 ( 2 < ) [ ) .% ) o

2 0

4 s

g 5

0

C )

F t

m

( after C oles, 1 902)

0

f t 2 22 4. /Ake4 ( . .

•

' ' CX

•• • •

4 e r ' s

d

o d e" •.

" • • • • • : > • •3 „

;11 • J V

1

H owemill f rom t he s outh.

( Coles, 1 902)

H OWEMILL ( Aberdeen 4 ) L OGIE G OLDSTONE .

( Continued f rom p age o pposite).

d estroyed a round 1 847. H uman b ones, a shes a nd w ere d ug u p w hen t hree o f t he f our s tones w ere t he e rection o f f arm b uildings.

p erhaps p otsherds t aken a way d uring

S teep m ountains r ise t o t he n orth a nd w est. S tuart ( 1854, 2 60) m ay h ave b een r eferring t o L ogie C oldstone w hen h e w rote, ' Descending f rom t he D oune t owards t he v illage o f T arland, a nd o n a r ocky e minence, t here s tood, t ill l ately, a c ircle o f u pright s tones, a nd n ear i t w ere f ound a f ew w ell-preserved a rrowheads o f f lint, a long w ith a s tone c elt. A nother c ircle o f u pright s tones s tood a bout a q uarter o f am ile t o t he w estward o f t his p osition '. O gston ( 1931, 9 2-3) r emarked u pon t he f act t hat n o f ewer t han s even s tone c ircles s tood w ithin a m ile a nd a h alf o f e ach o ther i n t he T arland B asin w hich h e c onsidered h ad b een a s acred a rea. R eferences 0 .S. E dinburgh, N J 4 0 N E 4

9 4

A BERDEEN 3 H ILL OF B UCHARN

N J

5 18

3 60

2 i m iles s outh o f H untly , im ile w est o f t he R iver D everon. N othing n ow r emains o f t his l arge 4 -Poster w hich o nce s tood o n t he s outh s lope o f t he H ill o f B ucharn a t a h eight o f 5 00 f t ( 150m) 0 .D. O riginally i ts f our s tones e nclosed a n a rea a bout 2 6 f t 5 i ns ( 8.1m) s quare. B efore i ts d estruction a round 1 810 i ts g reat s tones s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle ' about 4 0 l inks a part', a l ink m easuring 7 .92 i ns ( 20cm). D uring t he r emoval o f t he s tones b ones w ere f ound b ut e xactly w here i s n ot k nown. R eference 0 .S. E dinburgh, N J 5 3 N W 1 3.

A BERDEEN 4 H OWEMILL

N J 6m iles N NW o f T orphins,

5 80

1 07

7 i m iles N E o f T ärland .

O f t he f our s tones t hat o nce s tood a t t he w est e dge o f a h ills ummit t wo w ere b lown u p a nd s hattered i n t he 1 9th c entury a nd a f ourth w as t aken a way. O nly t he b iggest a t t he S SE r emains o f a r ectangular s etting a bout 2 8 f t ( 8.5m) s quare. T he b roken e ast s tone h as s ix s hallow c upmarks o n i ts u pper s urface. 3 9 f t ( 12m) t o t he S W i s a p rostrate s tone 6 f t 4 i ns ( 1.9m) l ong. ' When e rect i t w ould p robably h ave s tood e xactly i n l ine w ith t he c entres o f A a nd D [ the S SW a nd N E s tones] a nd i f s o, a lso i n l ine, a s t hey a re, w ith t he M ither T ap o f B ennachie' ( Coles, 1 902, 4 92). S imilar a lignments m ay b e f ound a t A ngus 7 , K irkcudbright 1 , C ork 2 . K eiller r emarked o n t he s imilarity b etween t his r ing a nd t he t ransitional s ite o f S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 8 ) 2 3 m iles t o t he e ast. R eferences C oles,

1 902, 4 91-3, n o. 2 ; K eiller,

1 934, 6 .

A BERDEEN 5 ( Uncertain) L OGIE COLDSTONE l i m iles N W o f T ärland ,

N J

4 59

0 55

2m ile W NW o f t he M elgum c ircles.

O nce s tanding o n a S E-facing s lope a t a h eight o f 5 70 f t ( 174m) O .D. o verlooking t he T arland B urn t his p robable 4 -Poster w as ( continued o n p age o pposite)

9 5

0

F t

1 0 I

3

0

I N,

( after C oles , 1 903)

•

, v f , , e4

4'

j....,..

•. ”-- 1 ', '

I .1 f i P I 1

-

v,. . , •. :„ . . c :.„ 1. . . . -

7-

i l l' )1 11) 1 hi! . . . -- ,j .„ . . .

_

.

' , . . "- '}

.. ---

-r g,,

` ,

\1/ .

• •

, " " " .

( Coles , 1 903)

R aich f rom t he e ast.

R AICH ( Aberdeen 6 )

9 6

A BERDEEN 6 ( Transitional) R AICH

N J

6 18

4 36

6m iles E NE o f H untly , 7 i m iles S W o f T urriff , im ile w est o f t he D ronach B urn. A s t he s ketch o pposite s hows, t he R aich c ircle, a lthough b adly w recked, r eveals h ow t he c ustom o f b uilding 4 -Posters m ay h ave d eveloped o ut o f t he R SC t radition. T he t ransformation w as n ot s udden. I t t ook p lace g radually i n t he E arly B ronze A ge i n t he a reas f ringing t he R SC h eartland c entred o n I nsch. R aich , o n a n e ast-facing t errace i n S tanding S tones f ield a t 5 10 f t ( 155m) 0 .D. I t ypefied t he c hanges t hat o ccurred a s r ings b ecame s impler, c ruder a nd s maller. O nly 4 m iles S E t he t hree h uddled L ogie N ewton r ings a re l ow a nd c ramped, l ack a r ecumbent b ut a re c omposed o f s hiningly w hite q uartz b locks. S imilarly, R aich p ossesses s ome b ut n ot a ll t he c haracteristic R SC f eatures a s d o i ts n eighbouring r ings o f C airnton , F rendraught, H arestane o n t he B anff b order, a nd S toneyfield w ith o nly t wo s tanding s tones b ut w ith a ' pure-white w ater-rolled' b oulder l ying t o t he n orth ( Coles, 1 902, 5 75). A nd e mphasising h ow p eople a t t he p eriphery o f R SC t erritories w ere r elaxing s trict a rchitectural c onformity w ith t he e arlier s tone c ircles, o nly 3 ! m iles N E o f R aich i s a nother t ransitional r ing a t B ackhill o f D rachlaw . T he w hole a rea b etween H untly a nd T urriff w as o ccupied b y t he b uilders o f l ess g randiose v ariants o f R SCs. T he s tones o f R aich s tand o n a ' very d istinct a nd s harply d efined m ound' 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) i n d iameter a nd o ver 3 ' ( 1m) h igh. T he s ite i s a c onspicuous o ne. A lthough t he e ntire w estern h alf o f t he r ing i s r uined 2 n oticeably t aller s tones s tand a t t he S E, 4 f t 8 i ns ( 1.4m) h igh, a nd N NW , 4 f t 4 i ns ( 1.3m) h igh, w ith s everal m uch l ower i ntervening s labs. A ssuming t hat t here h ad b een 2 m ore c orresponding p illars t o t he w est t he r ectangle e nclosed w ould h ave b een a bout 1 4 f t 6i ns ( 4.4m) s quare. K eiller, w ho n oticed t he s imilarity o f R aich t o S hethin ( Aberdeen 7 ) 1 8 m iles t o t he E SE, w rote, ' In t he c ase o f b oth t hese " Circles" t he m ost n oticeable f eatures a re f our s tones t aller t han t he r est, e ach s tanding a t a c ardinal p oint o f t he c ompass, w hile b etween t hem a re c lose-set s maller b locks' ( Keiller, 1 934, 4 ). T hirty y ears b efore K eiller C oles a lso n oticed t he r esemblance. ' Though q uite s mall a nd i mperfect, t his C ircle i s i nteresting [ because o f] t he s trong l ikeness i t h as t o o ne s urveyed i n 1 901 a t S heithin i n T arves a nd, i n s ome a spects, a lso t o t he c ircle a t S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 8 ). I n i ts t all s tones, i ts m ound a nd i ts a pproximisation t o t he c ardinal p oints R aich c ontains m any o f t he t raits t hat w ould b ecome d ominant i n 4 -Posters. R eferences C oles,

1 903,

1 26-7, n o. 3 4; K eiller,

9 7

1 934, 4 .

T he t wo t all s tones

0

11 0

0 •

F t

3 I

M

( after C oles, 1 902)

„ . / . •• • • • •

r •

•

. \ \ * ) In

••

• -• •-

( Coles, 1 902)

S hethin f rom t he e ast.

S HETHIN ( Aberdeen 7 )

9 8

A BERDEEN 7 ( Transitional) S HETHIN

N J

8 82

3 28

5m iles W NW o f E llon, 5 i m iles N E o f O ld M eldrum. T his i s p ossibly t he s mallest s tone c ircle i n A berdeenshire b ut, l ike R aich ( Aberdeen 6 ), i ts a rchitecture p rovides l inks b etween t he e arlier R SCs a nd t he l ater 4 -Posters. I ts s tones s tand i n F ountain H ill f ield n ear a d ried-up s pring, o n ag entle h ill s ummit a t ah eight o f 2 60 f t ( 79m) O .D. W hereas R aich h ad i ts w estern h alf d estroyed S hethin h as h ad m any o f i ts e astern s tones r emoved. T hose t hat r emain a re o n t he c ircumference o f a p erfectly c ircular r ing 1 6 f t 1 0 i ns ( 5.2m) i n d iameter. O f t he 8 d ark , c lose-grained s tones t hat r emain t wo a t t he W NW a nd S SE a re m arkedly t aller t han t he o thers w hich a ppear m ore l ike t he k erbs o f a d enuded c airn t han t rue s tone c ircle m onoliths. T he S SW s tone i s 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) h igh a nd t hat a t t he W NW , 5 f t 4 i ns ( 1.6m). T he i ntervening f lattish s labs a re a lmost c ontiguous s quat b oulders. T he s ite m ight b est b e i nterpreted a s a c ombination o f a 4 P oster a bout 1 2 f t 6 i ns ( 3.8m) s quare s et o n t he p erimeter o f a s lightly l arger c airn. S uch a c onjunction o f s tone c ircle a nd c airn o r r ing-cairn i s a r ecurrent f eature o f c lassical R SCs. I n t hose r ings q uartz i s o ften f ound a nd i t i s n oteworthy t hat a t S hethin t he l ittle s lab a t t he s outh i s o f w hite q uartz, i ts c ardinal p oint p osition r eminiscent o f t he p rostrate q uartz b oulder w hich l ay t o t he n orth o f t he r uined S toneyfield r ing ( see: A berdeen 6 ). K eiller c alled S hethin ' Fountain H ill', a n ame a lso a dopted b y A lexander T hom , a nd s aid t hat i t, l ike R aich, w as a c ardinal p oint r ing t hat o riginally h ad h ad 4 t aller s tones w ith ' close-set s hort b locks b etween t hem ' ( Keiller, 1 934, 4 ). P erhaps s ignificantly, S hethin i s o nly 1 * m iles n orth o f S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 8 ), a nother t ransitional r ing. R eferences C oles, 1 902, 5 26-7, n o. 3 2; K eiller, 1 980, 1 70-1, B 1/10 ( Fountain H ill).

9 9

1 934,

4 ;

T hom ,

T hom

& B url,

( after C oles, a nd T hom,

1 902, , . . : 7 7 . . , . . • : : : : . : . . . • . • . • . • . • : • : • : • : • : • : • : • : • • • • • • •." •

1 980)

\ : : : : : . : : • : • : t : • : • : • • • : • : • : • • • • • • • • • • • t . • . • : • • • • . • . • : • : • . . . . .. v . • : • : • : •

I .

0

1 5

5

FL r 4

WN W

E SE

( after C oles, 1 902)

F rom t he s outh.

( Coles, 1 902)

S OUTH Y THSIE ( Aberdeen 8 )

1 00

A BERDEEN 8 ( Transitional) S OUTH YTHSIE

N J

4 i m iles w est o f E llon,

8 85

3 05

9m iles N E o f I nverurie.

O nly 1 4 m iles s outh o f S hethin ( Aberdeen 7 ) t his l ittle r ing, s ometimes k nown a s t he D ruid T emple a nd s tanding i n D ruid F ield o r P ark ( Ritchie, 1 929, 3 07), i s l ow-lying a nd s urrounded b y h ills a nd s lopes. I t i s l ower d own a h illside a t 2 30 f t ( 170m) O .D. I ts 6 s tones a re b ulky a nd u nshaped. F our a t t he N E, E , S SW a nd W a verage 4 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.5m) i n h eight w hereas t he N W a nd S E b oulders a re n o m ore t han 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) t all. I n t his S outh Y thsie i s l ike t hree o ther c ircles ( Aberdeen 1 , 6 , 7 ) w hich s eem t o b e n either R SCs n or 4 -Posters b ut c ontain f eatures c ommon t o b oth. L ike t hem i t w as e rected w ell a way f rom t he m ain b ody o f R SCs t o t he s outh-west. T he 4 t allest s tones s tand a t t he c orners o f a n i rregular t rapezium a bout 1 9 f t b y 1 1 f t ( 5.8 x 3 .4m) o n a l ong N E-SW a xis. T hey w ere s et o n a c learly-defined m ound a bout 3 6 f t ( 11m) a cross a nd 3 f t ( 1m) h igh. I t m ay h ave b een a r ing-cairn. C oles n oticed a p ossible c ircular c entral s pace s ome 6 f t ( 1.8m) a cross w ith a n e dging-slab a t i ts e ast. T he m ound h ad b een l evelled b y t he t ime T hom s urveyed t he s ite a nd t his e xplains t he d iscrepancies b etween h is a nd C oles' e stimates o f t he s tones ' h eights. I t a lso i ndicates t hat t he m ound h ad b een r aised a fter t he s tanding s tones h ad b een e rected i n t heir s toneholes ( see: K irkcudbright 2 ). T hom ( 1967, 1 36, B 1/9) c onsidered t he d esign o f t he r ing t o b e a T ype B f lattened c ircle o r e ven ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980 , 1 69) a n e llipse. F ive m iles t o t he s outh-east o f R SC o f H ill o f F iddes o f w hich o nly w est f lanker e xist t oday.

S outh Y thsie w as t he s mall t he r ecumbent s tone a nd i ts

R eferences C oles, 1 902, 5 24-6, N o. 3 1; R itchie, 1 926, 3 07; K eiller, 7 ; T hom , 1 967, 1 36; T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 1 68-9, B 1/9.

1 01

1 934,

6 ,

A uchterhouse. F or s ee p age 1 04.

s ketches

o f

t he

A uchterhouse

c upmarked

s tones,

•

g eCupmarked 0

2°

O

0

F t

s tone

5 tM

( after A llen,

1 881a)

E ast f ace

W est f ace

T he s outh—east c upmarked s tone ( Allen , 1 881a)

B ALKEMBACK ( Angus 2 )

1 02

A NGUS 1 ( Uncertain) A UCHTERHOUSE

( The

W itches'

S tone)

6m iles N NW o f D undee,

N O

3 45

3 92

3m iles E SE o f N ewty le.

A t 8 00 f t ( 244m) O .D. o n t he l ower s outh-west s lopes o f A uchterhouse H ill w ere t wo s tanding a nd t wo p rostrate s tones, a ll s mall, a t t he c orners o f a t riangle. I f t here h ad b een a m issing s tone i t w ould h ave s tood a t t he f ourth c orner o f a n arrow r ectangle a bout 1 5 f t 3 i ns b y 6 f t 3 i ns ( 4.7 x 1 .9m). T he s tones, r ather o range i n c olour, w ere o f l ocal s andstone. T he f allen s tone h ad 7 c upmarks o n i t. 1 60 y ards ( 146m) t o t he e ast, u phill a nd o n a k noll, w as a p air o f s tanding s tones 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m) a part. T he S W w as 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh, a nd t he N E, 5 f t ( 1.5m). 1 5 c upmarks w ere c arved o n i t. I t w as m oved 2 5 y ards ( 23m) w hen a s anatorium w as b uilt t here i n 1 903 ( NO 3 46 3 92). T he p resence o f c upmarks, t he ' triangle ', a nd t he j uxtaposition o f a p air o f s tanding s tones s uggest t hat t he t hree s tones m ay h ave b een t he s urvivors o f an ow-destroyed 4 -Poster. R eferences A llen,

1 881a,

2 60-2; O .S. E dinburgh, N O 3 3 N W 7

A NGUS 2 ( Uncertain) B ALREMBACK

N O

3 82

3 84

4 i m iles n orth o f D undee. O n a l evel, s outh-facing t errace a t 6 20 f t ( 190m) O .D. t here a re t wo s tanding a nd t wo f allen s tones a t t he c orners o f a n i rregular r ectangle a pproximately 2 9 f t b y 2 2 f t ( 8.8 x 6 .7m). T hey a lso l ie o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle s ome 3 6 f t ( 11m) i n d iameter, a l ength w hich d oes n ot c onform t o a ny g ood m ultiple o f T hom 's M egalithic Y ard. T he a rea e nclosed i s o ver t hree t imes t hat o f a n a verage 4 -Poster. T he t allest s tone n ow s tanding, t he S E , i s 3 f t 8 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh b ut t he p rone S W s tone i s a t l east 5 f t ( 1.5m) l ong. T he N NW i s 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m ) h igh, a nd t he p illar a t t he N NE i s 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) l ong. Q uite t ypically f or a n e astern 4 -Poster i t i s t hat i s d ecorated w ith 3 7 c ups a nd c up-and-ring m arks. R eference: A llen,

1 881a, 2 60,

2 62.

1 03

t he

S E

s tone

C upmarked s tones a t A uchterhouse

C ircle-stone

• . ,• •

•

O utlying s tone

l a e z z e : f 7 7 7, 0x " r -( e s* " .

r

e 2 ),

_

l eg e e e ( Allen , 1 881a)

S tump

B uried s tone

0

4 0 LF t

0

1 0

M

( after T hom , 1 980)

( Simpson , B LACKGATE ( Angus 3 )

1 04

1 865)

A NGUS 3 ( Uncertain) B LACKGATE

( Pitscandlie)

N O

4 84

5 28

2m iles N NE o f F orfar, 6 i m iles e ast o f K irriemuir. T he c ircle i s a lso k nown a s P itscandlie. A s l ate a s 1 850 t here w as a g reat c airn h ere o n w hich f our s tones s tood. T he N E w as 6 f t 6 i ns ( 2m) t all a nd t he S W , a pproximately 4 0 f t ( 12.2m) a way w as 9 f t ( 2.7m) h igh. T he h eights o f t he o thers a re u nknown. I n 1 885 W arden, a lthough n ot m entioning t he c airn , s aid t hat t wo s tones h ad b een t aken a way b ut t hat t he f our ' when e ntire, w ould h ave f ormed ac ircle' ( Warden , 1 885, 9 8). D uring t he 1 9th c entury t he c airn w as g radually d ug a way t o m ake r oom f or a c ornyard. W hen t he t aller o f t he t wo s urviving s tones f ell d uring a g ale a n u rn c ontaining a shes w as f ound i n i ts h ole. S ubsequent d igging n earby r ecovered a r ough s andstone s lab a bout 1 8 i ns ( 46cm) s quare w hich w as s upposed t o h ave f ractured f rom t he l ower s tone. O n i t ' were i ncised t wo c oncentric c ircles, a nd o ther e nigmatical m arkings' ( Jervise, 1 857, 1 90). T he p iece i s n ow l ost b ut i s i llustrated i n S impson ( 1865, p late 1 6 [ 4]). B y t he t ime T hom s urveyed t he r ing t he c airn h ad b een r emoved r evealing t he e ntire l ength o f t he t wo s tones, t he N E s tanding 8 f t ( 2.4m) a bove g round a nd i ts p artner 1 2 f t ( 3.7m) s howing t hat, l ike S outh Y thsie ( Aberdeen 8 ), t hey h ad b een p ut u p b efore t he e rection o f t he c airn. D espite t he s ite's ' meagre r emains ' ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980 , 3 47) t he s tump o f t he S E s tone h ad b een e xposed a nd, b etween i t a nd t he S W s tone, t here l ay a n a lmost b uried s tone, p erhaps t he o ne m issing f rom t he N W c orner. L ike o ther 4 -Posters i n c entral S cotland t he t wo s tanding s tones a nd t he s tump l ay o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle, i n B lackgate 's c ase o f 5 3 f t 6 i ns ( 16.3m) d iameter. N either t his n or t he p erimeter c onformed t o a ny e xact m ultiple o f t he M egalithic Y ard ( 19.7) o r M egalithic R od ( 24.7). I f B lackgate h ad b een a 4 -Poster i t w as e pemely l arge w ith a n i nternal a rea o f a bout 1 600 s quare f eet ( 113m ) , n early 7 t imes t he n ational a verage. Y et i n t his i t w as n ot g rossly d ifferent f rom t he d ubious s ite o f L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ) 3 0 m iles t o t he s outh a cro 9 t he F irth o f T ay. T hat s ite m ay h ave e nclosed s ome 3 012 s .ft ( 280m ) . D espite B lackgate's g reat s ize i ts f our s tones, i ts c airn, u rn a nd a shes, a nd t he d ecorated e astern s tone m ake i t a p ossible c andidate f or i nclusion a s a4 -Poster. R eferences C outts, 1 970 , 1 8, n o. 5 ; J ervise, 1 857, 1 90-1; 0 .S. E dinburgh , N O 4 5 S E 8 ; S impson, 1 865, 6 1-2; T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980 , 3 46-7, P 3/2 ( Pitscandlie); W arden, 1 885, 9 8.

1 05

A NGUS 4 , 5 BRANKAM H ILL N ORTH

( a,

b )

5 i m iles N E o f A lyth,

N O

3 00

5 59

5 1 m iles w est o f K irriemuir.

O n t he e ast s ide o f t he s ummit o f B rankam H ill a t 1 017 f t ( 310m) O .D. a re t wo t iny 4 -Posters s ide b y s ide. T hat a t t he n orth-east ( Angus 4 ) i s a 5 f t ( 1.5m) s quare. 1 0 f t ( 3m) t o i ts s outh-west i s a nother, e ven s maller, ( Angus 5 ), b eing o nly 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m) s quare. S uch a j uxtaposition o f t wo 4 -Posters i s a lmost u nique b ut m ay b e p aralleled b y t he t wo u ncertain s ites o f C ommonbank N W a nd S E ( Perth 9 , 1 0) 2 0 m iles t o t he S SW . T he c loseness a lso h as s ome s imilarity t o t he t wo F ortingall r ings ( Perth 1 6, 1 7) w hich a re o nly 7 0 f t ( 31m) a part. T he B rankam r ecorded.

H ill

R eference: S herriff,

c ircles

a re

t he

s mallest

4 -Posters

a s

y et

1 986.

A NGUS 6 B RANKAM H ILL S OUTH-EAST

N O

3 01

5 57

1 10 y ards ( 100m) s outh-east o f t he t wo d iminutive 4 -Posters o f B rankam H ill N orth i s a t hird 4 -Poster s tanding o n a n a rtificial p latform a bout 3 3 f t ( 10m) N E-SW b y 1 6 f t ( 5m) N W-SE. T he l argest s tone i n t he r ing i s a t t he w est a nd t he s etting i s a pproximately 5f t ( 1.5m) s quare. T here a re k erb-cairns t o t he s outh-east a nd n orth-west, a nd t he r emains o f ah ut-circle l ie s ome 1 00 y ards ( 90m) t o t he n orth. R eference: S herriff,

1 986.

T he h igh a nd i solated s ituations o f t hese s ites, l ike t hat o f S trone H ill ( Angus 9 ) o nly h alf a m ile t o t he n orth , s uggest t hat t he r ings m ay h ave b een t he h andiwork o f v ery s mall g roups, a b elief t hat i s s upported b y t he e xtreme s mallness o f t he s ites t hemselves.

1 06

A NGUS 7 C ARSE GRAY

N O

1 2 m iles n orth o f F orfar,

4 62

5 38

5m iles e ast o f K irriemuir.

M arked a s ' Standing S tones ' o n t he O .S. m ap t here a re t hree l arge b oulders a t t he N E e nd o f a h ill a t 4 60 f t ( 140m) O .D. T hey s tand s ome 1 2 f t ( 3.7m) a part a t t he c orners o f a s quare f rom w hich o ne s tone i s m issing. T he t allest s tone, a t t he N E , i s 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh, t he N W s tands 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) a bove g round. T he t hird i s f allen. I t i s p ossible t hat t his, l ike A uchterhouse ( Angus 1 ), i s t he r emains o f a4 -Poster t hat h as b een ' christianised'. R eference: 0 .5. E dinburgh , N O 4 5 S E 1 .

A NGUS 8

C OROGLE B URN

( See n ext p age)

A NGUS 9 ( Uncertain) S TRONE H ILL

N O

5 2 m iles N NE o f A lyth,

2 88

5 67

6m iles W NW o f K irriemuir.

O nly h alf a m ile n orth o f t he B rankam H ill N orth 4 -Posters ( Angus 5 , 6 , 7 ) t here i s a s tanding s tone o n S trone H ill, 1 074 f t ( 327m) O .D. I t i s l eaning. T hree o ther p rostrate s tones l ie n ear i t i n a r oughly r ectangular a rrangement s ome 8 f t 3 i ns ( 2.5m) s quare. T his, l ike t hose o n B rankam H ill, m ay b e a nother o f t he m iniature' 4 -Posters w hich a ppear t o b e a f eature o f t his p art o f S cotland. T here a re s everal r ing-cairns i n t he v icinity. R eference:

S herriff,

1 985

1 07

•

N

I

F allen

•

a

\ 0 4°F t

01 1 0 M ( after T hom ,

C OROGLE B URN ( Angus 8 )

1 08

1 966,

3 4)

A NGUS 8 COROGLE BURN

N O

4 i m iles N NW o f K irriemuir,

3 48

6 01

2 i m iles w est o f D ykehead .

O n l evel g round j ust w est o f t he B urn o f C orogle f our l arge s tones a re p laced i n a l ong, s traight S SW-NNE l ine. T he s ite i s i n a g len b etween h igh h ills a t 8 75 f t ( 267m) 0 .D. T wo b ig s tones l ie a t t he S SW 6 f t ( 1.8m) a part. T hey a re b oth a bout 8 f t ( 2.4m ) l ong. 6 5 f t ( 20m) t o t heir N NE t wo m ore s tones s tand 2 4 f t ( 7.3m) p art. T he S SW i s 3 f t 4 i ns ( 1m) h igh a nd i ts p artner t o t he N NE i s 3 f t 9 i ns ( 1.1m) t all. T hey a re t he w estern s tones o f a 4 -Poster o f w hich t he t hird s tone a t t he S E i s 3 f t ( 90cm) t all. I ts p artner a t t he N E i s o nly 8 i ns ( 20cm) a bove g round a nd c overed w ith h eather. I n t he r ectangle, w hich m easures a bout 2 4 x 1 3 f t ( 7.3 x 4 m), t here a re t races o f l ow i ntervening s labs. T he c ombination o f a 4 -Poster a nd a n o utlying p air o f s tones i s p aralleled a t s everal o ther s ites s uch a s K irkcudbright 1 , P erth 1 5, C ork 2 a nd W exford I . T hom ( 1966, 3 4) s uggested t hat t he t wo w estern s tones o f t he 4 -Poster a nd t he o utlying p air h ad b een a ligned o n t he m ost s outherly s etting o f t he m oon ' but s ince n o f oresight w as n oticed t he a ccuracy d epends o n w hat c an b e d etermined f rom t he a lignment i tself' ( Thom , 1 971, 7 0). R eferences C outts, 1 970, 1 9, n o. 7 ; 0 .S. E dinburgh , N O 3 6 S W 2 ; 3 4, f ig. 2 0b, P 3/1, ' Glen P rosen '; i bid, 1 967, 1 00 ; 7 0-1, f ig. 6 .16.

1 09

T hom , i bid,

1 966, 1 971,

0

8

0

F t

2 ( after 0 .S., E dinburgh)

A UCHELEFFAN ( Arran 1 )

1 10

A RRAN 1 AUCHELEFFAN 7 1 m iles S W o f B rodick ,

N R

9 78

2 50

8 m iles E SE o f B lackwaterfoot.

N ow e ngulfed i n a v ast F orestry p lantation t his d elightful 4 -Poster o nce c ommanded a l ovely v iew a cross t he F irth o f C lyde t o t he i sland o f A ilsa C raig 1 6 m iles t o t he s outh. T he f our s tones s tand o n a s outh-facing h ill-shoulder a t a h eight o f 7 40 f t ( 225m) 0 .D. T he r ectangular b ut u ndressed p illars o f l ocal g ranite a re s et a t t he c orners o f a 1 6 f t ( 4.9m) s quare. T he s ides a re a lmost p erfectly a ligned N -S a nd E -W ( Bryce, T .H., 1 903, 6 6), a nother e xample o f t he i nterest s hown i n t he c ardinal p oints b y m any b uilders o f 4 -Posters. T he s tones' h eights a re: N W , 3 f t 7 i ns ( 1.1m); N E, 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m); S E, 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm); a nd, S W , 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m). T hey s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a t rue c ircle 2 2 f t ( 6.7m) i n d iameter, a l ength t hat i s a n i nteresting 8 .08 M egalithic Y ards. ' Aucheleffan ' m eans ' the h alfpenny f ield', a r eflection i ts r ental v alue i n m ediaeval t imes ( McClennan, 1 970 , 9 9).

o f

I n t he s ummer o f 1 902 B ryce ' spent a f orenoon d igging w ithin t he r ing d elving o ut f our d iagonal t renches b ut f ailing t o f ind a c entral c ist o r a nything b ut s ome b oulders. T he s oil i nside t he c ircle w as Il oosish ' f or 2 o r 3 f eet ( 60-90cm) b elow w hich t he g round w as v ery h ard. D isappointed t hat t his w as n ot a nother o f h is ' sepulchral' s tone c ircles B ryce c oncluded t hat ' its n ature a nd p urpose m ust r emain a r iddle'. R eferences B ryce, T .H., 1 903, 6 6-7; i bid, 1 910 , 7 3, 9 9-100; O .S. E dinburgh, N R 9 2 N E 2 .

1 11

1 23-4;

M cClellan,

1 970,

7 0 ,

0

1, 5

0

F t

5 ( after 0 .S., E dinburgh)

B ALLYMICHAEL B RIDGE ( Arran 2 )

12

A RRAN 2 B ALLYMICHAEL BRIDGE

N R

9 24

3 22

6 i m iles W SW o f B rodick, 3 m iles N NE o f B lackwaterfoot. O nly t hree-quarters o f a m ile e ast o f t he f amous M achrie M oor c omplex o f s tone c ircles a nd o n t he s ame o nce-fertile t riangular s tretch o f l owland t his 4 -Poster a ppears t o h ave b een ' christianised' b y t he r emoval o f i ts N W s tone. T he r ing s tands o n a s light w est-facing s lope b etween t wo s treams t o i ts n orth a nd s outh. T he r ectangle h as s ides v ery c losely a ligned t o N -S a nd E -W i n a m anner s imilar t o A ucheleffan ( Arran 1 ) 5 1 m iles t o t he s outh-east. I n i ts o riginal s tate i t m ust h ave m easured a bout 1 1 f t 6 i ns b y 9 f t 6 i ns ( 3.5 x 2 .9m). L ike m any o f t he T ayside 4 -Posters t he t hree s tones a nd t heir m issing p artner s tood o n t he c ircumference o f a t rue c ircle, i n t heir c ase o ne o f 1 5 f t ( 4.6m) d iameter. T his i s v ery c lose t o 5 1 - o f T hom 's M egalithic Y ards o f 2 .72 f t ( 0.83m). T he s tones a re i rregular b locks o f s andstone. T he N E s tone i s 2 f t 3 i ns ( 70cm) h igh a nd t he S E a nd S W a re 2 f t 7 i ns ( 80cm) t all. R eferences B ryce, T .H., N R 9 3 S W 1 6.

1 910 ,

1 50,

n o.

2 ;

F airhurst,

13

1 977,

9 ;

0 .S.

E dinburgh ,

0

11 5

0

F t

5

T o o utlying s tone

( after C oles,

1 906b)

L AMLASH ( Arran 3 )

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. C oles ( 1909b, 2 99) c onsidered t hat t here m ay o riginally h ave b een a s m any a s s even s tones i n t he c ircle. I t i s j ust a s p ossible t hat L amlash w as a ' christianised' 4 -Poster o n a c ircle 2 2 f t 6 i ns ( 6.9m) i n d iameter, w ith s mall i ntervening s tones o f w hich o nly t he l ow w est b oulder a nd ' two s mall a nd l oose p ieces o f s tone ' i nside t he r ing h ave s urvived. R eferences B ryce, J ., 1 862, 5 13-14; B ryce, T .H., C oles, 1 906b, 2 96-9.

14

1 910,

1 21-2,

1 52;

A RRAN 3 ( Uncertain) L AMLASH

N S l i m iles s outh o f B rodick,

0 18

3 36

1 j- m iles N NW o f L amlash.

O n t he s ummit o f t he r oad a nd m idway b etween B rodick a nd L amlash a t a h eight o f 3 75 f t ( 114m) O .D. t his ' circle' l ies b etween t he h eights o f t he C lauchland H ills t o t he e ast a nd t he t owering C noc D ubh t o t he w est. T here i s a d ramatically n otched s kyline t o t he n orth. T he r ing i s o n t he o pposite s ide o f t he i sland f rom t he M achrie M oor g roup 7 m iles t o t he w est. I t o ccupies a n a ttractive a rea f or p rehistoric p eople. W ithin a m ile t here a re s everal s tanding s tones a nd t hree c hambered c airns, G lenrickard, D un B eag a nd D unan M or. R enfrew ( 1973, 1 34) h as s uggested t hey w ere b uilt i n t he t erritories o f s mall f arming g roups. T he L amlash r ing m ay b e s een a s t he B ronze A ge s uccessor o f t hese N eolithic t ombs, r aised a t t he c entre o f a n e xpanded l and-holding. T hree l arge s tones o f l ocal g ranite o ccupy t he c orners o f a r ectangle f rom w hich t he N E s tone i s m issing. T here i s a l ower b oulder b etween t he S W a nd N W s tones. T he S W s tone i s 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m) h igh, t he N W , 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 0.9m), a nd t he m assive S E b oulder, w hich i s f allen, i s 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m) l ong. I ts b ase i s ' keeled', s haped t o a p ointed b eak t o p rovide a f ulcrum t hat w ould f acilitate t he s tone 's e rection ( Kilbride-Jones, 1 934, 8 8-9), a c onstructional f eature w ell-known i n t he T ayside s tone c ircles ( Stewart, 1 965, 1 4-15; i bid, 1 966, 1 31). 6 4 f t ( 19m) t o t he s outh i s a h uge c onglomerate b oulder 4 f t 5i ns ( 1.4m) h igh. I t h as b een c onsidered a n a stronomical b acksight. I t a nd t he S E s tone a re i n l ine w ith t he s ummit o f G oat F ell 5 * m iles t o t he N NW ; a nd f rom t he S E t o t he N W s tone t here i s a n a lignment t o t he f ine p eak o f B en N uish 6 m iles a way. R ough o rientations f rom s tone c ircles t o h ills h ave b een s uggested f or o ther c ircles o n A rran a nd e lsewhere ( Barnatt & P ierpoint, 1 983, 1 07, 1 13; L ewis, A .L., 1 892, 1 48-51) a nd i t i s p ossible t hat t he s ightlines a t L amlash t owards p rominent h orizons w ere i ntended b y t he r ing 's b uilders. O n 2 8 S eptember, 1 861, B ryce ( 1862) d ug i nto t he c ircle. T here w as a v iolent s torm i n t he a fternoon. ' Exposed i n t his e levated s pot t o t he f ull f ury o f t he s outh w ind a nd f orce o f t he p elting r ain, o ur m en c ould h ardly k eep t heir f ooting, y et d id t hey w ork a way b ravely t ill I h ad f ully e xplored t he r ude c ist... T. M easuring o nly 2 f t 2 i ns b y 1 1 i ns a nd a m ere 1 0* i ns d eep ( 66 x 2 9 x 28cm) i t h ad b een c rudely c ut i nto t he b edrock. I n i t w ere s everal b one f ragments w ith s ome f lint f lakes a bove. B ryce s unk o ther p its b y t he s tones a nd o n e ither s ide o f t he o utlier w ithout s uccess. ' The p lace a ltogether w as v ery u npromising'. C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

1 15

N

P it?

( after 0 .S., E dinburgh)

L ARGYBEG P OINT ( Arran 4 )

1 16

A RRAN 4 ( Uncertain) L ARGYBEG POINT

( The

S ailor's

G rave)

1 0 m iles E SE o f B lackwaterfoot,

N S

0 53

2 33

5 1 - m iles S SE o f L amlash.

T wo u nimpressive s tones s tand o n a k noll o n t he S E c oast. T hey a re s et o n a l ow o val m ound l ong. B oth a re o f s andstone. T hey s tand a bout a part, t he N E , l eaning, 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m) h igh, ( 1.3m) t all.

c lose t o t he b each a bout 4 5 f t ( 13.7m) 9 f t 8 i ns ( 2.9m) t he S E 4 f t 3 i ns

2 4 f t 7i ns ( 7.5m) W NW o f t he S E s tone i s t he s tump o f a t hird. B etween t he s tones a re o thers ' just s howing t hrough t he t urf', a nd t he w estern e nd o f t he m ound a ppears t o h ave b een d ug i nto. S everal s mallish s labs l ie a bout. B ryce ( 1910, 1 52) d escribed t hem a s a ' heap o f .. s tones w hich p robably a t o ne t ime f ormed a c ist'. T he s tones m ay b e t he r emains o f a 4 —Poster 6 4- m iles S SE o f t he L amlash r ing ( Arran 3 ).

o n

a m ound

R eferences B ryce, T .H.,

1 910 ,

1 52, n o.

1 4 ; 0 .S. E dinburgh , N S 0 2 S E 1

17

o nly

0

1 5

0

F t

l e

5R A 4

( planned b y E arthwatch v olunteers)

M ACHRIE B URN ( Arran 5 )

1 18

A RRAN 5 MACHRIE BURN

N R

6 2 m iles w est o f B rodick,

9 08

3 51

4 m iles n orth o f B lackwaterfoot.

F our l ow s tones o f g ranite s tand b elow a c onspicuous f lat-topped h illock o n m oorland a t 3 55 f t ( 108m) 0 .D. S et 2 60 f t ( 80m) e ast o f t he M achrie B urn t hey a re 1 1 m iles n orth o f t he M achrie M oor s tone c ircles. T hey f orm a r ectangle 1 1 f t 2 i ns ( 3.4m) N NE-SSW b y 8 f t 9 i ns ( 2.7m), ' the l ong a xis o rientated a pproximately N -S' ( 0.S. E dinburgh). E ach s tone i s a bout 2 f t ( 60cm) h igh. T he c entre w as e xplored b y B alfour i n 1 909. H e f ound n othing. T here a re h ut-circles w ithin 1 60 y ards ( 150m) t o t he e ast ( Fairhurst, 1 977, 1 0) a nd 1 30 f t ( 40m) N NE o f t he 4 -Poster i s a n o vergrown f ieldwall a nd a D -shaped e nclosure a bout 4 0 f t ( 12m) N -S x3 3 f t ( 10m) w ith a s pread b ank s ome 1 0 f t ( 3m) w ide. T he r ectangle o f f our s tones a nd i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints c onfirm t rue 4 -Poster.

t he c haracteristic A rran t his s mall s etting a s a

R eferences B ryce, T .H., N R 9 3 N W 1 .

1 910 ,

1 54,

n o.

9 ;

F airhurst,

1 19

1 977,

9 ;

0 .S.

E dinburgh,

( planned b y E arthwatch v olunteers)

A t h,

‹ ) .

C ist

2 0

F t

0

F or a p hotograph s ee p age 2 11.

( Anderson,

1 886, 9 8)

M ACHRIE M OOR 4 ( Arran 6 )

1 20

A RRAN 6 ( Dubious) M AX MRIE M

A 4

N R

2 i m iles N NE o f B lackwaterfoot,

9 10

3 24

1 m iles e ast o f T Ormore.

C entrally p laced a mongst t he s ix s tone c ircles a t t he h eart o f M achrie M oor a nd 2 50 f t ( 76m) s outh o f M achrie M oor 3 w ith i ts o ne l ean s andstone p illar s till e rect t he ' circle' o f M achrie M oor 4 i s a n e nigma. ' It c onsists o f f our g ranite s tones o f a bout 0 .9m [ 2 f t 1 0 i ns] i n h eight: J ames B ryce d escribed i t a s e lliptical w ith a l ong a xis o f 6 .4m [ 21 f t]. T he o rientation i s r oughly n orth, s outh, e ast a nd w est' ( McClellan, 1 977, 2 7). F our s tones, i n a s mall s etting, a rranged a t t he c ardinal p oints s eems t o d escribe a n i deal 4 -Poster. T here m ust b e c onsiderable d oubts, h owever, a bout s uch a n i nterpretation d espite t he p resence o f a t l east t wo c ertain 4 -Posters ( Arran 2 , 5 ) w ithin 1 4 m iles. T he a rrangement o f t he s tones i s n ot t ruly r ectangular b ut t rapezoidal a nd m arkedly l onger o n i ts N W s ide, 2 5 f t 7 i ns ( 7.8m) t han o n t he N E, S E a nd S W a ll o f w hich a re 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) i n l ength. H ad t here b een a f ifth s tone a t t he N NW i t c ould h ave s tood e xactly 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) b etween t he S W a nd N NE s tones. I ts a bsence c ould b e e xplained b y t he e vidence o f p eat-cutting w hich c omes v ery c lose t o t he r ing 's N W s ide. T wo p ossibilities a re t herefore a vailable f or t he r ing: a 4 -Poster w hose s tones w ere s et o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 2 1 f t 7 i ns ( 6.6m); o r a d amaged 5 -stone r ing w ith a d iameter o f 2 3 f t ( 7m). B elievers i n t he M egalithic Y ard o f 2 .72 f t ( 0.83m) w ill p refer t he f ormer w here t he d iameter i s v ery c lose t o 8M .Y., r ather t han t he l atter, 8 .44 M .Y. O n 2 6 S eptember, 1 861, J ames B ryce d iscovered a n eat c ist a t t he r ing 's c entre - w hich w ould h ave d iffered b y h ardly a f oot ( 30cm) w hether i n t he 4 -Poster o r t he 5 -stone c ircle. T he c ist w as w ell c onstructed, ' the f our s labs p erfectly u pright, t he s ides q uite p arallel, a nd t he s tones a ll n icely f itting ' ( Bryce, J ., 1 862, 5 11). I ts l ong a xis w as N NE-SSW , t he s ame a s t hat o f t he ' 4-Poster'. S herds o f a n a ttractive c ord-impressed f ood-vessel l ay i n o ne c orner. W hen r econstructed i t s tood 6 4 i ns ( 16.5cm) t all. U nder i t w ere s ome f ragments o f b one. B ryce a lso f ound t hree p oorly-struck f lint a rrowheads a nd a b ronze a wl 2 4 i ns ( 98mm) l ong. T he c ist a nd i ts c ontents c ould b e s econdary d eposits. T here i s s uch a n a rchitectural m edley o f s tone c ircles o n M achrie M oor f rom t he 4 -Poster ( Arran 2 ) t o c oncentric r ings, e llipses, c airn-circles, e ven t imber r ings r eplaced b y c ircles o f s tone ( Burl, 1 980b, 2 4) t hat t he s etting a t M achrie M oor 4 c ould a s w ell b e a n i rregular 4 -Poster a s am olested r ing o f f ive s tones. R eferences A bercromby, T .H., 1 903,

1 912, I , 1 18, n o. 6 7; B ryce, J ., 1 862, 5 03-4, 1 72; i bid, 1 910, 1 17-18, 1 51; M cLellan, 1 977,

1 21

5 11; B ryce, 2 7.

A YR 1 THE FOUR S TONES

N S

3 79

5 50

4 i m iles E NE o f K ilbirnie, 3 m iles S E o f L ochwinnoch, 2m iles N E o f B eith. F our s tones s tood i n a r ectangle 8 0 y ards ( 73m) S W o f t he r ound C uff L aw c airn f rom w hich m any f lints w ere r ecovered w hen i t w as l evelled a round 1 830. T he c airn m ay h ave b een r aised o ver a n e arlier k napping s ite. T he C uff L aw l ong c airn o f t he B argrennan g roup l ies h alf a m ile t o t he e ast. T he 4 -Poster w as i n t he ' Lang G reen ' e nclosure o n t he S W s ummit o f C uff L aw h ill a t 6 70 f t ( 204m) 0 .D. T he N E s tone, s ub-triangular i n s hape, w as 4 f t 3 i ns ( 1.3m) h igh. I ts p artner a t t he N W , m ore s quare i n s ection, w as 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m) h igh. T he t wo t o t he s outh w ere v ery m uch l ower, t he S W o nly 2 f t ( 60cm) t all a nd t he S E e ven l ower, a bout 1 f t ( 30cm) i n h eight. T hey e nclosed a n a rea a bout 1 3 f t ( 4m) s quare o n a N -S x E -W a xis, y et a nother 4 -Poster b uilt a pproximately t o t he c ardinal p oints. T he s ite w as d ug i nto a round 1 816 a nd a ' considerable q uantity o f d ark m ould o r e arth ' w as f ound w hich c ontained ' burnt b ones'. L ocal t radition h ad i t t hat h ere ' was t he p lace w ithin t his d istrict a t w hich t he D ruidical p riesthood w ere w ont t o m ake t heir p ublic s acrifices ' ( Love, 1 875, 2 91). E arly i n t he 1 970s t he f armer m oved t wo o f t he s tones, ' so a las, i t i s n ot l onger a " Four-Poster" ' ( A. T hom , p ers c omm , 2 7 O ctober, 1 974). T he f our s tones, h owever, r emain o n t he s ite. R eference: L ove, 1 875, 2 91-2.

—— 1—

•

-

. 47,7 '

4 1. . .4 3 1 , 8

• • •• -

A• •

M 4

( Coles, 1 906a) N orth B urreldales f rom t he w est.

1 22

B ANFF 1 ( Uncertain) NORTH

B URRELDALES

N J

6 76

5 49

4 i m iles N W o f T urriff , 3 4 m iles E NE o f A berchirder. O n t he e ast s ide o f B rownside H ill a t 1 30 f t ( 40m) O .D. a re f our s tones o f g rey g ranite. T he s etting h as h ardly c hanged s ince t he m iddle o f t he 1 9th c entury. ' On t he f arm o f B urreldales t here r emain f our l arge s tones o f a s tone c ircle ' ( Stuart, 1 857, 3 70) a lthough t hey n ow a re r inged b y t rees. A lthough t he g round i s l evel t he s ite i s i nconspicuous. A rranged i n a r ather i rregular r ectangle 2 1 f t 3 i ns b y 2 0 f t ( 6.5 x 6 .1m) o n a l onger N -S a xis t he s tones a re l ow , t he S W a nd N W a bout 3 f t 4 i ns ( 1.2m) h igh a nd t he N E o nly 1 f t 8 i ns ( 53cm). T he S E h as f allen f orward. T here i s a s uggestion o f t he h eights b eing g raded u pwards t o t he s outh-west. T he i nterior i s v ery d isturbed i n t he s outh-east q uadrant.

a nd

s everal

s mallish

s labs

l ie

T he t hree s tanding s tones a nd t he p robable b ase o f t he p rostrate S E s tone a re o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 2 1 f t 7 i ns ( 6.6m) o f w hich T hom o bserved, ' Circular. 8 m .y. i n d iameter'. R eferences C oles, 1 906a, 1 65-7, ' Burreldales '.

n o.

2 ;

T hom ,

T hom

& B url,

1 980 ,

2 36-7,

B 4/2,

aou 0

2 0

F t

0

5 ( after T hom ,

N ORTH B URRELDALES ( Banff 1 )

1 23

1 980 , 2 36)

K ingside H ill

-0

10

o •

•

•

0 C )

Z . 3c]

M ayshiel

60 0

20 2

M ILES

5 40

( The r ings r epresent o ther s tone c ircles.) A s t he m ap s hows, a n a rea 1 m iles s quare r oughly c entred o n t he s mall, r uined r ing o f P enshiel H ill ( NT 6 32642) c ontains n o f ewer t han 8 s tone c ircles. S ix o f t hese m ay h ave b een 4 -Posters. T he g roup i s 9 m iles S SW o f D unbar a nd m iles E SE o f G iffard. T hey s tand a t a n a verage h eight o f 9 50 f t ( 290m) 0 .D., a nd l ie a mongst t he s outh-western f oothills o f S partleton E dge, w atered b y t he W hiteadder t o t he e ast a nd K ell B urn t o t he s outh. A t t he n orth i s t he w recked c ircle o f K ingside H ill, c alled b y T hom ' Kell B urn ' ( G9/11), w ith a p ossible d iameter o f 2 1 f t ( 6.4m). A t t he w est i s t he t iny e mbanked c ircle o f M ayshiel, o nly 9f t ( 2.7m) a cross a nd v andalised b y u nrecorded d igging. O f t he p ossible 4 -Posters o nly t he C row S tones h as a g ood p lan.

G 0 0

5

F t

E AST L OTHIAN 1

0

1

( after T hom , 1 980 , 3 06) C ROW S TONES

N T 6 18 6 52

O n a s outh-facing s lope h alf a m ile s outh-west o f t he K ingside H ill s tone c ircle f our l ow s tones s tand a t t he c orners o f a s quare n o m ore t han 5 f t ( 1.8m) a cross. T hey a lso s tand o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle 5 f t 3i ns ( 1.6m) i n d iameter. R eference: T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980 , 3 06-7, G 9/11b.

1 24

E AST L OTHIAN 2

K INGSIDE

N T 6 43 6 42

I n a w alled e nclosure 1 50 y ards ( 137m) n orth o f K ingside S chool w as a s etting o f f ive s tones. F our s tood o n e nd 9 i ns t o 1 7 i ns ( 23 - 4 9cm) h igh i n a r ectangle 1 0 f t b y 7 f t ( 3 x 2 .1m). T he f ifth s tone l ay i nside t he 4 -Poster. T hom n oticed t hem . ' Note a lso f our s tones i n a r ectangle ' b ut o nly r ecorded t he r emains o f a p ossible f ield w all. R eferences: 0 .S. E dinburgh, N T 6 6 S W 2 ; R CAHM-Scotland, n o. 2 46; T hom , 1 966, 2 6, f ig. 1 0c, G 9/13, ( Kell B urn).

1 924,

E AST L OTHIAN 3

N T 6 41 6 44

P ACKMAN 'S G RAVE ( Dubious)

1 43,

O n t he m oor b etween K ell B urn a nd W hiteadder W ater m ay b e t he r emains o f a 4 -Poster a nd a n o utlying s tone. T wo s tanding s tones, e ach a bout 1 f t 6 i ns ( 50cm) h igh a nd t hree f allen s tones f orm a ' kite-shaped a rea '. F our o f t he s tones f orm a n a pproximate s quare o f 4 f t 7i ns ( 1.4m) s ides. R eference: R CAHM-Scotland, E AST L OTHIAN 4

P ENSHIEL

1 924,

1 42, n o. 2 44.

( Uncertain)

N T 6 41 6 31

O n t he e astern s lope o f P enshiel H ill a re ' four, l arge p rostrate m onoliths', 5 f t 3i ns, 5 f t 7 i ns, 4 f t 7i ns a nd 5 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.6, 1 .7, 1 .4, 1 .8m) l ong. T hey l ie i n ' an a lmost s traight l ine '. A n owd estroyed s tone r ow s tood b y t hem , i ts h eavy b oulders e ntirely d ifferent f rom t he s hifted ' circle' s tones. R eference: R CAHM-Scotland, E AST L OTHIAN 5

1 924,

1 42, n o. 2 43.

P ENSHIEL G RANGE ( Uncertain)

N T 6 41 6 31

J ust n orth o f P enshiel ( East L othian 4 ) i s a s tanding s tone 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m) h igh. T hree o thers, 2 f t 3 i ns, 3 f t a nd 3 f t 3 i ns ( 0.7, 0 .9, l m) l ong l ie a t t he o ther c orners o f a s etting a bout 1 5 f t ( 4.8m) s quare. R eference: R CAHM-Scotland, E AST L OTHIAN 6

1 42, n o. 2 42.

P ENSHIEL H ILL

( Uncertain)

N T 6 32 6 42

O n t he n orth s lope o f P enshiel H ill w ere f our s mall s tones 1 0 i ns t o 2 1 i ns ( 27 - 5 3cm) l ong. T hey l ay i n a r ough a rc w ith a l arge f lat s tone n ear i ts c entre. T he s ite i s d estroyed. R eference: R CAHM-Scotland, I f

t hese

1 924,

1 42, n o.

s mall a nd

2 41.

s adly-mutilated s ites w ere 4 -Posters t heirs I t i s a p ossibility t hat t he ' triangles' o n t he Y orkshire M oors 1 20 m iles t o t he s outh a nd a lso n ear t he e ast c oast m ay h ave f orme ( ' a c omparable e nclave.

w as a u nique c oncentration.

1 25

•

# 0

5 0

0

F t

1 5

R I

( after C oles, 1 903b, a nd T hom , 1 971)

L UNDIN L INKS ( Fife 1 )

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. W hether L undin L inks w as a n e xaggerated f orm o f 4 -Poster, t he F ifeshire ' Avebury' o f i ts d ay, i s i mpossible t o p rove. I t m ay h ave c onsisted o f n o m ore t han f our s tones a nd t hey m ay h ave s tood i n ar ectangle. W ithout e xcavation, t o t he i nconvenience a nd i ndignation o f t he l ady g olfers, t he q uestions r emain u nanswered. R eferences C oles, 1 903b, 2 13-15; T hom , 1 971, 5 5-6, 1 987, 1 69, 1 77, 1 87; W ilson, 1 863, I , 1 30 .

1 26

P4 /1 ; W alker

& R itchie,

F IFE 1 ( Dubious) LUNDIN

L INKS

N O

1 0i m iles S W o f S t A ndrews,

4 04

0 26

7 1 m iles S SE o f C upar.

H ardly a q uarter o f a m ile n orth o f L argo B ay a nd i solated f rom t he o ther F ifeshire s tone c ircles o f B alfarg a nd B albirnie 8 m iles t o t he w est t he s trange s ite o f L undin L inks n ow s tands s edately o n t he f airway o f t he L undin L adies ' G olf C lub. T hree t hin, w rithing p illars o f c oarse r ed s andstone r ise a t t he c orners o f a n e longated r ectangle a bout 1 00 f t b y 3 0 f t ( 31 x 9 .1m) f rom w hich t he N NW s tone i s m issing. A s l ate a s 1 792 i t l ay b y i ts s tump, b roken b y t reasure-seekers ( Wilson, 1 863, I , 1 30). T he N NE i s t he t allest, 1 6 f t 8 i ns ( 5.1m) h igh, t he l eaning S SW s tone i s 1 5 f t ( 4.6m) h igh, b ut t he l owest, a t t he S SE , i s a lso t he b iggest, 1 3 f t 8 i ns ( 4.2m) t all a nd 6 f t 5 i ns ( 2m) t hick. A l ittle c airn a bout 1 8 i ns ( 46cm) h igh s urrounds t he b ase o f e ach s tone. E arly i n t he 1 8th c entury t he s ite w as d ug i nto. A lexander G ordon r ecorded t hat ' my i ngenious a nd h onoured P atron B aron C lark [ sic], h aving e mployed m en t o d ig, s everal c offins w ere f ound, c ontaining b ones o f m en, a nd i n o ne w as f ound a r ound b utton o f s tone o f a v ery c urious s hape' ( Gordon, 1 732, 1 58). T his m ay h ave b een a V -shaped j et b utton f rom a B ronze A ge c ist b ut i t i s l ost w ith n o f urther d etails. S ir J ohn C lerk o f P enicuik w as a n oted a ntiquarian. H is f riend, G ordon, h as b een d escribed a s ' a s hifty a nd n ot o ver-scrupulous a dventurer', w ith ' some l earning, s ome i ngenuity, m uch p ride, m uch d eceit a nd v ery l ittle h onesty' ( Piggott, 1 976, 1 43). P erhaps r eferring t o C lerk 's ' excavation ' t he 1 9th c entury N ew S tatistical A ccount o f F ifeshire a dded t hat ' ancient s epulchres a re f ound n ear' t he s tones s uggesting t hat t he ' ring ' o f L undin L inks h ad b een t he c entre o f f unerary r ituals l ike m any o ther s tone c ircles. T hom ( 1971, 5 5-6).thought t hat t here m ight h ave b een a n a stronomical a lignment f rom t he S E t o t he S W s tone t owards t he m inor s outhern m oonset b ehind C omrie H ill 1 2 m iles a way, a nd a nother f rom t he N E t o t he S E s tone t owards t he m inor s outhern m oonrise b ehind t he B ass R ock 1 5 4 m iles t o t he s outh-east. H e c ommented o n t he v ery l evel g round a t L undin w hich p rovided ' plenty o f r oom f or g eometrical e xtrapolation '. M ore m undanely a nd p robably m ore p erceptively t he s pectacular m egalithic s etting h as b een p erceived a s a ' focal p oint i n t he c ommunity, f or t he t ransportation a nd e rection m ust h ave i nvolved c onsiderable o rganisation ' ( Walker & R itchie, 1 987, 1 69). C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

1 27

#

I 0

5 1F t

0 g

2 I

M

( after R CAHM-Scotland)

A RDILISTRY ( Islay 1 )

1 28

I SLAY 1 A RDILISTRY

N R

1 2i m iles s outh o f P ort A skaig,

4 42

4 91

5 1- m iles E NE o f P ort E llen.

T his b adly-damaged 4 -Poster l ies a t 5 0 f t ( 15.2m) O .D. a q uarter o f a m ile n orth o f A rdlistry B ay a nd j ust e ast o f t he A rdilistry R iver. I t i s o vergrown o n l evel b ut n ow p oorly-drained p eaty s oil t hrough w hich t he s tumps o f f our s tones j ust p rotrude. S et i n a r ectangle s ome 6 f t 9 i ns ( 2.1m) s quare o n a N E-SW a xis o nly t he N E s tone m ay b e u nbroken. I t i s a t runcated p yramid 1 f t 4 i ns ( 40 c m) h igh a lthough h ow m uch i s c oncealed i n t he p eat i s u nknown. T he s tones m ay h ave b een b roken f or u se i n t he n earby f armhouse. T he 4 -Poster i s o nly a q uarter t he s ize o f t he n ational a verage a nd i s i solated f rom a ny o ther, t he n earest b eing A ucheleffan ( Arran 1 ) 3 5 m iles a way t o t he E SE. R eferences R CAHM-Scotland,

1 984, 6 3, n o. 7 6; R uggles,

1 29

1 984,

1 80 , I S37.

• •: : : : :

.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

:

. . .

0

21 5

8

F t

M

( after C oles, 1 900)

7 1

• • •••

A e \\ \

•

\\ • .

\

%

e

\

b o)

C raighead f rom t he s outh . ( Coles, 1 900)

C RAIGHEAD ( Kincardine 1 )

1 30

K INCARDINE 1 CRAIGHEAD

( Badentoy)

N O

9 12

9 77

6m iles S SW o f A berdeen, 4 i m iles E SE o f P eterculter. O ne m ile N NE o f t he s plendid A uchquhorthies R SC t he c onspicuous s etting o f C raighead's f our t all s tones r ises a t t he h ighest p oint o f a f lat-topped h ill. I t i s 7 50 f t ( 229m) O .D. T he s tones o f r eddish g ranite a re p laced o n a n a rtificial p latform q uite s everely p loughed a way a t i ts e dges. I t i s s ome 5 7 f t ( 17.4m) a cross a nd a bout 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) h igh. S uch ' levelling' o f a h ill-slope i s a c haracteristic o f s everal S cottish R SCs ( Burl, 1 976, 1 75) f rom w hose h eartland C raighead i s o nly 2 8 m iles t o t he s outh-east. T he n orth s tone i s 5f t 2i ns ( 1.6m) h igh, t he e ast 4 f t ( 1.2m), t he s outh 7 f t 5 i ns ( 2.3m) a nd t he w est 5 f t 3i ns ( 1.6m). A lthough t hey d o o ccupy r oughly c ardinal p ositions L ewis ( 1888, 4 7) w as u nimpressed. T hey w ere n ow ' at t he c ardinal p oints b y c ompass f rom a c entral p oint' s uggesting t hat t hey h ad q uite r ecently b een m oved. C oles ( 1900 , 1 52) a greed. ' It [ the c ircle] n ow c onsists o f b ut f our s tones, a nd t heir r elative p ositions a re s o p recisely t o t he c ardinal p oints t hat i t i s a lmost c ertain t hey h ave q uite r ecently b een m oved' p ossibly t o a ct a s s tays f or w ires s upporting a c entral f lagpole. T he p resent r ectangle m easures 2 8 f t ( 8.5m) N -S a nd 2 4 f t ( 7.3m) E -W. T he s tones d o n ot s tand o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle. W ithout d oubt t here h as b een i nterference. I n 1 858 T homson s aw o nly t hree s tones b ut c onjectured t hat o riginally t here h ad b een s even. B y 1 875 s ix s tones w ere s hown i n C hristian M aclagan 's H ill-Forts, S tone C ircles e tc. o f A ncient S cotland, p late 2 2. T hirteen y ears l ater t here w ere f our. S uch ' enhancement ' b y 1 8th a nd 1 9th c entury l andowners i s n ot u nknown a mongst s tone c ircles. O n 3 0 S eptember, 1 858, C harles D alrymple, a n e nthusiastic i nvestigator o f s tone c ircles, w ith f riends a nd ' two o r t hree a ctive l abourers, a nd t he n ecessary t ools', ' dug u p t he g round i n t he c entre o f t he c ircle, d own t o t he s olid e arth a bout 2 f eet [ 60cm]. W e f ound t hat i t h ad b een e xcavated a t l east o nce b efore; b ut, n otwithstanding w e d iscovered u nmistakeable t races o f s epulture - h alf-calcined b ones a nd m orsels o f w ood c harcoal' ( Thomson , 1 864, 1 31). T he m id-19th c entury e vidence o f t hree s tones s tanding o n a m ound a nd s et n ear t he c ardinal p oints, t ogether w ith t he p resence o f c remated b one, s uggests t hat C raighead i s y et a nother e xample o f a ' christianised' 4 -Poster. R eferences C oles,

1 900 ,

1 52-3 , n o. 4 ; L ewis,

1 888, 4 7; T homson,

1 31

1 864 ,

1 30-1.

C ist s lab?

\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ : \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ , .•

\

\\ \\ \\

• \\\\ \ W \\\\

•• ••• •

\ \\\ \, \ \\ •\ \ .\ \

..

\ \ \

\ \

\ \

\ \

• \ \. \ \ v .\ \ A , \ , \, \ , \ \

•

\ \ G round f alls :, \ \, \ \\\ s teeply.

t

\* * \\ \\ \ \ \ \ \0 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ W

O utlier

f lM :

-\ 0 \\ \ • : \O \

. e

0

D isturbed o utlier?

e e

n

0

11 0F t

( after C oles,

3 KA

n

1 905; a nd T hom , 1 980)

G lassel f rom t he s outh-east. ( Coles, 1 900) F or a p hotograph s ee p age 2 09.

G LASSEL ( Kincardine 2 )

1 32

K INCARDINE 2 GLASSEL

( Kynoch

P lantation)

4m iles N W o f B anchory ,

N O

6 49

9 97

2m iles S E o f T orphins.

H idden i n t rees a nd i mmediately e ast o f t he B urn o f C anny t his l ittle 4 -Poster s tands o n l evel g round a t a h eight o f 3 60 f t ( 110m) O .D. B ecause o f i ts o utlying s tone i t h as o ften b een m istaken f or a e llipse. K eiller ( 1934, 4 ) c ompared i t w ith I mage W ood, a s mall o val o f s ix s tones 8 m iles t o t he w est n ear A boyne C astle. T hom c alled G lassel a ' boat-shaped r ing w hich h as s imilarities w ith t hose i n S candinavia ' ( Thom, T hom & B url, 1 980, 2 13). T he f act t hat f our o f t he s tones s tand o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle a nd t hat t he f ifth i s s et n ot c ircumferentially b ut r adially t o t he r ing s hows t hat i t w as a n o utlier t o t he 4 -Poster. A t t he e dge o f a s teep w estern b ank f our s tones s tand a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle a bout 8 f t 6 i ns b y 7 f t 6 i ns ( 2.6 x 2 .3m). I n h eight t he s tones a re: S E , 3 f t 3 i ns ( im); S W , 3 f t 2 i ns ( 1m); N W , 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 88cm); a nd, N E , 2 f t 1 1 i ns ( 90cm). T hey a re a ll o f l ocal r eddish g ranite. 8 f t t o t he s outh-east i s a s mall o utlying s tone o nly 2 f t 9 i ns ( 84cm) h igh a nd o f ' playing-card' s hape, i ts l onger a xis p ointing t o t he c entre o f t he 4 -Poster. 8 f t ( 2.4m) t o i ts s outh-west l ies a s quarish b lock w hose r unnelled s urface s uggests t hat i t h ad o nce s tood u pright. I t i s p ossible t hat i t h ad b een a s econd o utlier f orming a p air o n aS E-NW a xis. B etween t he t wo n orthern s tones o f t he 4 -Poster i s a p rostrate s andstone b lock. A nother g ranite s lab l ies n ear t he w esternmost s tone. T hese a re p robably t he r emains o f ac airn a nd c entral c ist. O n 2 0 S eptember, 1 904, C oles c ompletely e xcavated t he r ing w hich h ad p reviously b een e xplored a round 1 879. T he e ntire i nterior w as c overed w ith g ravelly s and. C oles h ad t his t horoughly s ieved b ut o nly o ne s mall f lint f lake a nd s ome c harcoal w ere r ecovered. R eferences: C oles, 1 900, 1 68-71, n o. 1 1; i bid, 1 905, 2 03-5; K eiller, 1 934 , 4 ; S mith , R .A., 1 880 , 3 08-9, n o.13; T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 2 12-13, B 3/6 ( Kynoch P lantation).

1 33

•

0 L

2 0

0

F t

•

5 I M

( after R CAHM-Scotland,

B AGBIE ( Kirkcudbright 1 )

1 34

1 914)

K IRKCUDBRIGHT 1 B AGBIE

N X

4 98

5 64

6 4- m iles w est o f G atehouse o f F leet, 2m iles S E o f C reetown. 3 50 y ards ( 320m ) e ast o f K irkmabreck c hurch t his s mall 4 -Poster s tands a t t he s ummit o f a b road r idge, 5 00 f t ( 152m) O .D. a t t he s outh-west e dge o f B lackmyre M oor. I t i s v ery c lose ( 12m) a cross b ut o nly i ts c rest. 9 f t ( 3m) s tones s et a t f t 7 i ns ( 2.6 f t 6 i ns ( 80cm)

t o a l arge a nd o vergrown r ound c airn, 4 0 f t a bout 3 f t ( 1m) h igh. A b ig s lab l ies n ear

t o t he N E o f t he c airn i s t he 4 -Poster, f our l ittle t he c orners o f a r ectangle 8 f t 6 i ns N NE-SSW b y 5 x 1 .7m). T he t allest s tone, a t t he S W , i s h ardly 2 h igh. T he N E i s f allen a nd s omewhat d isplaced.

2 7 f t ( 8.3m) t o t he s outh a nd i n l ine w ith t he S W a nd N W s tones o f t he 4 -Poster i s a n o utlying p air o f s tones 4 f t ( 1.2m) a part. A f urther 2 00 y ards ( 180m) t o t he s outh i s a t all s tanding s tone 5 f t 5 i ns ( 1.7m) h igh. I t i s ' playing-card' i n s hape, 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m) w ide b ut o nly 1 f t ( 30cm) t hick a t i ts n orth a nd s outh e dges. T hom t hought t hat t his a nd t he f our s tones t o i ts n orth m ight h ave d efined a n a lignment t o t he m eridian b ut a dded c autiously, ' The f act t hat t his l ooks l ike a l ong a lignment m ay b e m isleading. T he m enhir h as a n a zimuth w hich i s a bout 1 2° l ess t han t hat o f t he l ine o f s tones. O bviously m uch h as b een r emoved f rom t his c omplex s ite'. T he j uxtaposition o f a p air o f s tones t o a 4 -Poster i s k nown a t s everal o ther s ites ( see: A ngus 1 ; P erth 1 5 ; C ork 2 ; W exford 1 ). S o i s t he p roximity o f a 4 -Poster t o a r ound c airn , r eaffirming t he c onnection b etween t hese l ate m egaliths a nd f unerary r ites. R eferences R CAHM-Scotland, breck).

1 914,

1 57,

n o.

2 86;

1 35

T hom ,

1 967,

9 8 ,

G 4/13

( Kirkma-

P ITS =

C AIRN 3

M odern h ollow

!C AIRN

/ s ,

1 3 50

P rostrate s tone

D amaged

C D C AIRN

( :)

0

1 0

c p 0

F t

( composite p lan: B url,

3 M

1 972; M cCullagh,

1 987)

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. a ccessory v essel. A nother h eld p ieces o f ac ordoned u rn. 1 ) A c rudely o val c airn a bout 2 9 b y 2 5 f t ( 8.8 x 7 .6m) o f s mall b lue-grey g ranite s tones a nd k erbed w ith p ink g ranite s labs w as h eaped o ver t his u nenclosed c remation c emetery. A f urther c remation p it m ay h ave b een a dded j ust o utside t he c airn. ( 4) T wo f urther s tanding s tones w ere e rected a t t he s outh a nd e ast, h eld u pright b y t he c airn i tself. T he s outh f ell i n 1 986. ( 5) T reasure-seekers, p robably i n h istoric t imes, d ug a h ollow i n t he c entre o f t he c airn d isturbing a t l east f our o f t he p its. R eferences: C oles, 1 895, 3 05-6, n o. 4 ; 0 .S. E dinburgh, N X 6 5 N E 6 ; 1 914, n o. 4 45; M cCullagh, 1 987.

. 36

R CAHM-Scotland

K IRKCUDBRIGHT 2 PARK OF TONGLAND

N X

6 99

5 60

6m iles e ast o f G atehouse o f F leet, 5 2 m iles S W o f C astle D ouglas, 1 ; m iles n orth o f T ongland . A t t he h ighest p oint o f T ongland H ill a nd c onspicuous f rom b elow t his 4 -Poster s tands a t a h eight o f 3 00 f t ( 91m) 0 .D. T he l and f alls a way t o t he s outh a nd w est p roviding l ong v iews a cross a l andscape s trangely r ippled a s t hough a g iant h ad b een t rampling h eavily a cross i t. E xcavation o f t he r ing i n 1 987 p roved i t t o h ave a c omplicated h istory g iving w arning a gainst b eing o ver-reliant o n p resentday s urface a ppearances. W hen C oles ( 1895), w ho m istakenly p laced n orth a t t he e ast o n h is p lan, s aw i t i n 1 894 t here w ere o nly t wo s tanding s tones, o ne a t t he n orth 3 f t ( 90cm) h igh, t he o ther 1 7 f t ( 5.2m) t o t he S SW a lso 3 f t t all. B oth w ere o f l ocal s andstone, p robably f rom o utcrops o nly 5 0 y ards ( 46m) a way. 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) t o t heir e ast a nd m idway b etween t hem l ay a t hird s tone 4 f t 2 i ns ( 1.3m) l ong. A f ew y ears l ater ( RCAHM-Scotland, 1 914) t his h ad b een s et u pright. I t w as 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) h igh a nd q uite p ossibly n ot i n i ts o riginal p osition. B y 1 972, w hen p lanned b y s tudents f rom H ull, a lthough t he s ite w as o vergrown, i t w as p ossible t o m ake o ut s ome o f t he k erbs a nd s tones o f a n i nternal c airn. W hen t he W SW s tone f ell i n 1 986 a nd w as t o b e r einstated i t w as d ecided t o e xcavate t he s ite ( McCullagh, 1 987). T he s tump o f a f ourth s tone, t he w esternmost, w as d iscovered u nder c airn m aterial 6 f t 6 i ns ( 2m) t o t he n orth-west o f t he W SW s tone. B oth i t a nd t he s tone a t t he N NE h ad s tood i n p repared s toneholes b ut t he w estern s tone h ad b roken a lmost i mmediately a nd h ad b een l eft l ying o n t he g round. L ater, a fter a c airn h ad b een h eaped u p e nclosing t he N NE s tone a nd c overing t he s tump o f i ts p rostrate p artner t wo f urther s tones w ere p ut u p n ear t he s outh a nd e ast. T hey w ere s upported o nly b y d umps o f s tone i n t he b ody o f t he c airn. T he N NE a nd s outh s tones w ere 1 7 f t 4i ns ( 5.3m) a part o n t he N NE-SSW a xis o f ar oughly r ectangular 4 -Poster s ome 1 6 f t 1 0 i ns b y 1 6 f t ( 5.2 x 4 .9m). P ark o f T ongland w as a m ulti-phase s ite, i ts s equences n ot n ecessarily t hose o f 4 -Posters i n o ther r egions:( 1) T he N NE a nd w est s tones w ere s et u p i n s ockets. T he w est b roke a nd w as l eft s upine. ( 2) O ver a n u nknown p eriod i n t he B ronze A ge c remations t ook p lace n earby. B urnt p atches, p erhaps o f p yres, w ere o bserved a t t he s outh o f w here t he c airn w ould l ie. T en o r m ore s mall p its j ust t o t he e ast o f t he t wo s tones w ere d ug t o r eceive h uman c remated b one, s ome o f i t s till h ot f rom t he f ire. C harcoal w as m ingled w ith t he b one f ragments . O ne p it a t l east h ad s everal l ayers o f c remations. A nother c ontained s herds o f a c ordoned u rn a nd a l ittle C ontinued o n o pposite p age .

1 37

8

0

0

2

F t ( after C oles, 1 907)

T he B rowland f rom t he n orth-west.

T he B rowland f rom t he s outh-west. ( Coles, 1 907)

T HE B ROWLAND ( Moray 1 )

1 38

L EWIS 1 C LACH

STEIN

( Port

o f

N ess)

N B

5 34

6 41

2 0 m iles N NE o f S tornoway , 2m iles S E o f t he B utt o f L ewis. K nown a s C lach S tein o r ' Stone, S tone', a G aelic a nd S candinavian b ilingual p lace-name, t here a re t wo s tones 4 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.5m) a nd 2 f t 1 i ns ( 90cm) h igh s tanding s ome 1 0 f t ( 3m) f rom e ach o ther. I n 1 852 t here w ere ' four s tanding s tones...about 6 f t [ 2m] a part... f orming a r ectangular f igure'. I n t he 1 930s o r 1 940s a p rostrate b oulder, n ot i n l ine w ith t he t wo s urvivors, w as b roken u p a nd r emoved. C lach S tein i s t he m ost r emote o f a ll t he c ertain 4 -Posters. T he n earest i s N a C lachan B hreige ( Skye 1 ) a lmost 1 00 m iles t o t he s outh a nd s eparated f rom L ewis b y t he d angerous w aters o f t he M inch. R eferences R CAHM-Scotland,

1 928, n o.

1 9; R uggles,

1 984, 7 5, L H1.

M ORAY 1 ( Uncertain) T HE BROWLAND

N J

7 i m iles E NE o f E lgin,

3 38

6 47

5 i m iles w est o f B uckie.

O n t he n orthern o utskirts o f G armouth a nd h alf a m ile f rom t he c oast a t S pey B ay t he s ite c onsists o f t hree s tones a t t he c orners o f a r ough r ectangle f rom w hich t he N E s tone i s m issing. T he r ectangle m easures a bout 1 0 f t 2i ns b y 8 f t 6i ns ( 3.3 x 2 .6m). T he S W s tone, o f g rey g ranite, i s 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m) t all a nd t he S E i s 5 f t 2 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh. T he N W s tone i s f allen a nd h alfb uried w ith o nly 2 f t 8 i ns ( 80cm) o f i ts l ength s howing a bove t he g round. B etween t he s outhern s tones i s a l ow b oulder s et o n e dge, 1 f t 5 i ns l ong a nd 1 0 i ns h igh ( 43 x 2 7cm). I t l ooks v ery l ike a n i ntervening s lab ( see: M oray 2 ). ' Four b oulders... w hich h ave t he a ppearance o f p ossibly b eing t he r emains o f a ' four-poster' s tone s etting ' ( 0.S. E dinburgh). R eferences C oles,

1 907,

1 60-2, n o.

1 5; O .S. E dinburgh, N J 3 6 S W 1 .

1 39

L ower s tanding s tone

0

8

0

F t

M

2

( after C oles, 1 907)

,

•

\

-

A ;.

• \-\ -

. 1K1-1 \

it

.

•

/ • • •• • • • ,.

• • • •

T emplestone f rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 907)

T EMPLESTONE ( Moray 2 )

1 40

M ORAY 2 N J

TEMPLESTONE 1 0 m iles W SW o f E lgin,

0 68

5 68

2 m iles S E o f F ortes.

S tanding o n t he l ower s outh-western s lopes o f B urgie H ill a t 3 30 f t ( 100m) O .D. t his h eavily-overgrown s etting i s a f ine e xample o f a 4 -Poster w ith a ll i ts s tones s urviving a nd w ith a n i nternal k erbed c airn. I ts a nglicised n ame s uggests t hat l ocally i t w as r egarded a s aD ruidical s anctuary. I n a r ectangle 6 f t 4 i ns N W-SE b y 7 f t 2 i ns ( 1.9 x 2 .2m) f ormed b y f our h eavy, t hick b locks t he t allest i s a t t he S W . T his q uartzitic s andstone i s 4 f t 7 i ns ( 1.4m) t all. T he N W i s 2 f t 3 i ns ( 70cm) h igh , t he N E, f allen o utwards, i s a t l east 3 f t ( 90cm) l ong, a nd t he S E i s 2f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) t all. T wo i ntervening k erbstones a re s till v isible i n e ach o f t he S W a nd S E s ides, l ining a n i nner c airn h ardly 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) i n d iameter. I t h as b een d isturbed ' but a t w hat t ime a nd w ith w hat r esults w e c ould n ot l earn' ( Coles, 1 907, 1 69). C oles r ecognised w hat t ype o f ' ring' T emplestone w as. ' Rather a s quare t han a c ircle - o ne o f t hose r ectangular a rrangements, a t a ny r ate, w hich a re m ore f requent i n P erthshire t han i n t he n orthe astern a reas i n S cotland' ( ibid, 1 67). T he f our s tones a re s et o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle 9 f t ( 2.7m) i n d iameter. R eferences C oles,

1 907,

1 67-9, n o.

1 9; S hepherd & R alston,

1 41

1 979,

1 5-16.

S tone w all, n early l evelled.

0

0

t 3 PF

8

. . -

( after R CAHM-Scotland,

1 946, n o. 8 77; a nd T hom & T hom,

1 978,

1 27)

F or a p hotograph s ee p age 2 10.

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. I f t he C omet S tone a nd t he t wo o ther s tones h ad b een a t ype o f 4 -Poster t hen i t w as t he m ost n orthern o f a ll. I t w as a lso v ery s mall a nd v ery a berrant i n f orm , p erhaps n ot s urprising w hen s o f ar a way f rom o thers. T he s ites i n s outh-west I reland a lso h ave m any a rchitectural d ifferences f rom t he ' classic' s ites o f c entral S cotland. I t i s a lso p ossible, h owever, t hat t he C omet S tone s etting, i nstead o f b eing a p eculiar 4 -Poster, w as a t ype o f O rcadian ' Cove' a kin t o t hat i nside t he S tenness s tone c ircle ( Burl, 1 988). R eferences M arwick, 1 975, 6 0; R CAHM-Scotland, 1 973, 1 14-15; i bid, 1 975, 1 06-7.

1 946,

1 42

3 04,

n o.

8 77;

T hom & T hom,

O RKNEY 1 ( Dubious) THE COMET STONE

H Y

2 95

1 32

1 0 m iles W NW o f K irkwall, 3 4 .- m iles N E o f S tromness. J ust n orth o f t he n arrow N ess o f B rodgar b etween t he l ochs o f H array a nd S tenness t hree s tones s tand o n a l ow c ircular p latform . T he s ite i s n early a m ile N W o f t he S tenness s tone c ircle a nd a bout 4 00 f t ( 120m) E SE o f t he R ing o f B rodgar. I n t he i mmediate v icinity a re a d ozen o r m ore r ound c airns. C ists, a c inerary u rn a nd c remated b ones h ave b een r ecovered f rom t hem ( Ritchie & R itchie, 1 978 , 5 1), a ll p resumably o f t he B ronze A ge. T he C omet S tone m ay b e o f t he s ame p eriod. T he p latform o n w hich t he s tones s tand i s a bout 4 5 f t b y 4 2 f t ( 13.7 x 1 2.8m). T he C omet S tone, o f l ocal s andstone, i s 5 f t 9 i ns ( 1.8m) h igh, a nd ' playing-card' i n s hape, 2 f t 6 i ns b road a nd 1 1 i ns t hick ( 76 x 3 0cm) a nd s tands o n a N W-SE a xis. 8 f t 9 i ns ( 2.7m) t o i ts N W i s a b roken s tump w ith i ts b road f ace a t r ighta ngles t o t he C omet S tone. A s imilar d istance t o t he s tump 's S W i s a nother b roken-off s tone a lso a t r ight-angles t o t he t all p illar. H ad t here b een a f ourth s tone a t t he S W c orner o f t he ' rectangle' t he s etting w ould h ave e nclosed a n a rea r ather l ess t han h alf t he s ize o f t he n ational a verage. T he T hor ns ( 1975, 1 06-7) c onsidered t he C omet S tone a nd i ts c ompanions t o b e o f a stronomical i nterest, t he t wo s tumps f orming a n a lignment t o t he n orth-east a nd t he m idsummer s unrise, t he l ong s ides o f t he C omet S tone p ointing t o a n otch o n M id H ill m iles t o t he s outh-east. I t w as i n l ine w ith t he m inor s outhern m oonrise. ' The s tone m ust h ave b een w ell a nd t ruly s et i n a s olid f oundation t o r etain i ts o rientation f or o ver 3 000 y ears'.

3 7 , -

T he n ame i s o f 1 8th c entury d erivation. R eferring t o t he s tone c ircles o f B rodgar a nd S tenness J ohn T oland ( c.1790, 1 24) w rote t hat t hey w ere ' Two T emples, w here t he n atives b elieve b y T radition, t hat t he S un a nd M oon w ere w orshipt: w hich b elief o f t heirs i s v ery r ight, s ince t he l esser T emple [ Stenness] i s s emi-circular'. W ilson ( 1863, I , 1 54-5) s coffed a t ' these m odern a nd s purious d esignations' a nd h e w as r ight. I n 1 695 t here w as n o m ention o f s un o r m oon. ' They a re c alled b y t he p eople, t he a ncient T emples o f t he G ods' ( Aubrey, 1 980, 2 19). N evertheless, i t i s e asy t o s ee h ow a s mall r ing b etween t he ' Sun ' a nd t he ' Moon ' c ould b ecome t he ' Comet'.

C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

1 43

d r

4 ( after C oles,

M

1 911)

B almuick f rom t he s outh-east. -

7 7-

-

( Coles, 1 911)

B ALMUICK ( Perth 1 )

1 44

P ERTH 1 ( Uncertain) B ALMUICK

N N 5 i m iles W NW o f C rieff ,

7 84

2 51

2m iles N NE o f C omrie.

' There a re o n t his l onely s pot s ix S tones w hich a ppear t o h ave f ormed o ne i rregular g roup, f our o f w hich p robably c onstituted t he c ircle p roper' ( Coles, 1 911, 5 2). T he s tones a re a m ile t o t he w est o f B raefordie f arm a t t he s outhern e dge o f t he m ountains a t 1 000 f t ( 305m) O .D . I t i s a n e levated p osition w ith l ong v iews t o t he s outh a nd w est. ' Looking s outh-westwards w e c an d escry, a mong o ther p rehistoric s ites, t hree g reat c airns' ( ibid, 5 4). T he c airns w ere d ug i nto a round 1 880 a nd p roduced m uch B ronze A ge m aterial i ncluding a n u rn, c harcoal, b one f ragments a nd a h andled f ood-vessel ( Boston, 1 884). T he f ood-vessel ' surely c opies a m etal p rototype c lose t o t he W essex I I g old c up f rom R illaton ' ( Clarke, 1 970 , I , 2 48). I t w as t he f irst h andled f ood-vessel t o b e d iscovered i n S cotland ( Anderson, 1 886, 8 1-2). C larke a dded t hat i ts p resence i n S cotland e stablished ' an i ntriguing l ink w ith C ornwall a nd p erhaps w ith C ornish t in ', a n i ntriguing c omment w hen c onsidering t he p ossible a ssociations o f 4 -Posters w ith m etal-ore p rospecting. ' I m ay m ention t hat t here i s a s mall s tone c ircle a bout h alf a m ile f rom t hese m ounds a nd i n s ight o f t hem ' ( Boston, 1 884, 3 08). O f t he s ix s tones t here o nly t he S W s till s tands. I t i s 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) h igh. T he o thers a re f allen, t he N W 6 f t ( 1.8m) l ong, t he E NE 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m), a nd t he S E , o f l ocal g ranite, 6 f t 6 i ns ( 2m) i n l ength. I t a ppears t o h ave f allen o utwards. W hen e rect t hese f our s tones w ould h ave s tood i n a r ectangle a bout 1 2 f t 2i ns ( 3.7m) s quare. B etween t he e astern s tones i s a nother, b roken, 8 f t ( 2.4m) i n l ength, w hich m ay h ave c ollapsed f rom t he e ast. J ust b eyond i t i s a s quarish g ranite b lock w ith a c ircular d epression a t i ts c entre, t he b eginnings o f ah ole c ut f or a m illstone r ing. I t i s p ossible t hat t his i solated g roup w as o nce a 4 -Poster w ith a p air o f o utlying s tones i mmediately t o i ts e ast. I t s eems s ignificant t hat t he i nterior i s s moothly d ished a nd r unning a round t he c ircumference o f a c ircle a bout 1 2 f t 6 i ns ( 3.8m) i n d iameter i s ' a l ow r idge o f s mall b ouldery s tones' ( Coles, 1 911, 5 2-3) v ery l ike t he k erbs o f ar ing-cairn. R eferences B oston,

1 884; C oles ,

1 911,

5 1-4, n o. 5 .

d i p

S mall s tone

V ery l ow s tone

0 J

1 0 I F t

0 I

4

I I M M

3

( after O .S. E dinburgh)

B LAIR A THOLL E AST ( Perth 2 )

1 46

P ERTH 2 B LAIR ATHOLL E AST

N N

4 4 - m iles N W o f P itlochry ,

8 88

6 29

m iles S E o f B lair A tholl.

O n a t errace f acing n orth-eastwards t owards t he v alley o f t he R iver G arry a t 1 100 f t ( 335m) O .D. t here a re f our s tones i n a r ectangle 1 3 f t 1 0 i ns b y 1 0 f t 2 i ns ( 4.2 x 3 .1m). T hey a re s et o n a l onger N NE-SSW a xis. N one i s l arge a nd o nly t he S SE r emains n early e rect. T he l argest s tone, a t t he S W , w as o nce 4 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.5m) h igh b ut i s n ow l eaning t owards t he w est s o m uch t hat i t i s a lmost p rostrate. T he N NW s tone, s lightly s maller, i s s imilar. T he N NE s tone, a l ow t hin s lab, c an j ust b e s een i n t he t urf. T he S SE s tone l eans o nly s lightly. I t i s 2f t 7i ns ( 0.8m) h igh. T here i s a s mall b oulder b etween t he r eminiscent o f t he k erb o f a n i nternal c airn. T he s ite i s a m ile B lair A tholl W ( Perth 3 ).

t o

t he

e ast

o f

t he

N NW

a nd

N NE

p ossible

s tones,

4 -Poster

o f

R eferences D & E S cotland, N N 8 6 S E 2 5.

1 975,

6 5-6;

M itchell,

1 923,

6 1;

0 .S.

E dinburgh,

P ERTH 3 ( Uncertain) BLAIR A THOLL

WEST

N N

8 73

6 27

5m iles N W o f P itlochry , l i m iles s outh o f B lair A tholl. O n a n orth-facing h illside j ust n orth o f a t iny l och t here i s a p air o f s tones, t he o ne t o t he N W 3 f t 7 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh. 8 f t 1 0 i ns ( 2.7m) t o i ts S E i ts p artner i s f allen. B oth a re ' playingc ard ' i n s hape, b road a nd t hin s labs. T here i s a l ow s tone o n e dge b etween t hem 1 f t 8 i ns ( 50cm) l ong. 7 f t 3 i ns ( 2.2m) n orth-east o f t he f allen s tone i s a t hird s tone j ust p rotruding t hrough t he t urf. T he s ite i s s ufficiently l ike a ' christianised' 4 -Poster f or i nclusion h ere. I t i s o ne m ile w est o f t he d efinite 4 -Poster o f B lair A tholl E ( Perth 2 ), a nd s tands a t 1 100 f t ( 335m) 0 .D. 6 00 y ards ( 550m) N NE o f F incastle H ouse. R eferences 0 .S. E dinburgh , N N 8 6 S E 1 6; S tewart,

1 47

1 966,

1 42-3, n o. 1 4, F incastle.

p g .

1 7 c upmarks

\ '

11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

S hallow p its

3c upmarks S tonehole

4

0 ,

Ft

11

2 t F A

l 0

( composite: a fter C oles; S tewart; T hom).

Y e , 4

•

1 7) -7 • 7,

r , i ( m i e . „ . . . „, : „ , . / , ie / 0 ' /

/

•

/

•

•

. •

• -•

C arse F arm N orth f rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908) C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. W ithin t he 4 -Poster t here w ere t hree s hallow p its, t wo b etween t he N W a nd N E s tones, a nother b etween t he S E a nd S W . T heir e dges w ere c lean a nd t hey h ad b een b ackfilled w ith b rown l oam . T he e xcavators t hought t hey m ight h ave ' been u sed f or s tabilising p rops d uring t he e rection o f t he s tones ' ( Stewart, 1 964, 3 9). A s t he h eaviest b lock , t hat a t t he N W , w eighed a bout 6 t ons i t w ould h ave r equired 2 0 t o 3 0 p eople t o d rag i t u pright ( Atkinson, 1 961, 2 98) a nd t he u se o f s uch p rops w ould h ave m ade t heir e xertions s afer. R eferences: C oles, 1 908, 1 25-8, n o. 1 8; S tewart, 1 980 , 3 32-3, P 1/4, ' Weem 's

1 48

1 964 ,

3 9-40; T hom , T hom & B url,

P ERTH 4

B ROUGHDARG

S ee: P ERTH 2 4

P ERTH 5 C ARSE F ARM N ORTH

N N

3 i m iles w est o f A berfeldy ,

8 02

4 88

2 2 m iles N E o f L och T ay .

O n t he ' carse' o r l owland h alf a m ile n orth o f t he R iver T ay t his 4 -Poster w as e xcavated i n 1 964. W hen C oles s aw i t i n 1 907 o nly t hree s mallish s tones r emained s tanding a lthough ' it s eems c lear t hat a t t his s ite t here w ere o riginally f our S tones a s i n s o m any o ther P erthshire g roups' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 26). T he S W s tone w as m issing b ut h alfway b etween t he N W a nd S E s tones a l ong, t hin s lab l ay h alfb uried. C oles n oticed t hat t here w ere c upmarks o n t he t ops o f b oth t he N E a nd S E s tones. T he S E h ad t hree c arvings b ut t he t op o f t he N E h ad n o f ewer t han 1 7, t he l argest ' cup' b eing 4 b y 3 1 i ns ( 10 x 9 c m). I n t he g roup w ere t wo ' dumb-bells'. I n t he s ame f ield t he f armer h ad d ragged a way a b uried s tone w hich a lso w as c upmarked. O f t he t hree s tanding s tones t he N E i s 3 f t 1 1 i ns ( 1.2m) h igh; t he S E, 5 f t 1 i ns ( 1.6m); a nd t he N W , 4 f t 1 i ns ( 1.3m). T hese h eights ( Stewart, 1 964, 3 9) a re a lmost d ouble t hose c ited b y C oles ( 1908, 1 26). T he 1 964 e xcavation d iscovered t he S W s tonehole. T he 5 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.8m) l ong s tone l ying a t t he c entre o f t he 4 -Poster w as e rected i n i t, a t ask m ade e asier b y t he f act t hat i ts b ase h ad b een k eeled ( see A rran 3 ). T he b ase w as u nweathered s howing t hat t he s tone h ad b een t oppled i n q uite r ecent t imes a s h ad t he s tones o f t he t wo F ortingall 4 -Posters ( Perth 1 6, 1 7) 3 i m iles t o t he W SW. T he f our s tones s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 1 2 f t b y 8 f t ( 3.7 x 2 .4m) o n a l ong E NE-WSW a xis. T hey a lso s tood o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle 1 4 f t 5 i ns ( 4.4m) i n d iameter. A t apering p it w as d iscovered a gainst t he i nner f ace o f t he N E s tone, a bout 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) a cross a nd 1 f t 2i ns ( 37cm) d eep. I t w as f illed w ith c remated b one a nd s ticky b lack e arth a nd c harcoal. A t t he b ottom a c ollared u rn l ay o n i ts s ide, i ts r im d ecorated i n g eometrical d esigns. A f lint f lake l ay n ear i t. C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

1 49

R evealed o nly a fter c onsiderable e xcavation '.

0

•

2c upmarks

0

0

21 5 F t

8

. ( after C oles,

/,

_

) ,

-----

f i

M

1 910 ; a nd C ash)

. , _

„

/

0 ) , \

0

4 W l i i ‘

Uit t ; J , . , ( » ,

fi e l

. e l ') \ .

9 i'

i4 f / 1 kd r il j

l

l i h i

( Coles, 1 910,

C ARSE F ARM S OUTH ( Perth 6 )

1 50

' Tegarmuchd ')

P ERTH 6

( Uncertain)

CARSE F ARM S OUTH

( Tegarmuchd)

3 i m iles w est o f A berfeldy ,

N N

8 02

4 85

2 i m iles N E o f K enmare.

L ike C arse F arm N ( Perth 5 ) t his b adly w recked s ite l ies o n l owland j ust n orth o f t he R iver T ay a nd s ome 2 00 y ards ( 180m) s outh o f t he C arse F arm N 4 -Poster. I t w as p artly e xcavated i n 1 964. P reviously ' christianised' b y t he r emoval o f i ts n orth s tone i t w as s ubsequently w recked ' to i mprove t he a gricultural p otential o f t he a rea ' ( Stewart, 1 964, 4 0). T oday o nly o ne s tone r emains e rect. T wo o thers l ie a t t he s outh a nd w est. I t i s a d ifficult s ite t o d escribe b ecause C oles m istook e ast f or n orth o n h is p lan ( Coles, 1 910, 1 51); C ash ( 1911) t ransformed t he p robable 4 -Poster i nto a l arge c ircle o f 7 6 f t ( 23.2m) d iameter; a nd S tewart ( 1964, 4 0) w as u nspecific a bout t he d isposition o f t he s tones i n h er i nterim r eport. T he s tone s till s tanding, o f q uartziferous s chist, i s 6 f t 3 i ns ( 1.9m) h igh . I ts l onger f aces a re a ligned N W-SE. 3 2 f t 6 i ns ( 9.9m) t o i ts S W i s a l arge p rostrate b lock, s ub-elliptical a nd a bout 8 f t l ong a nd 4 f t 3 i ns w ide ( 2.4 x 1 .3m). I t h as p robably f allen o utwards. I f s o, w hen s tanding n ear t he t op o f i ts i nner f ace w ere f our c upmarks i n ac ross-pattern. A bout 3 2 f t ( 9.8m) t o i ts N W i s a f allen a nd e normous s chist s lab, 1 1 f t l ong a nd 5 f t w ide ( 3.4 x 1 .5m). I t a lso a ppears t o h ave t oppled o utwards. N ear t he b ottom o f i ts i nner f ace a re t wo c upmarks ( Cash , 1 911, 3 87). T he s ituation o f t hese t hree s tones s uggests t hat t hey o nce s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle s ome 3 2 f t ( 9.8m) s quare, t he p illars o f a h uge 4 -Poster n early s ix t imes t he n ational a verage a nd w ith a n i nternal a rea t en t imes b igger t han t he s mall 4 -Poster j ust t o i ts n orth. E xcavation i n 1 964 f ound t he s ocket f rom w hich t he g reat p rostrate s lab h ad b een d ragged ( Stewart, 1 964, 4 0). C ash h ad n oted t he p resence o f a s mall s tone i nside t he r ing a bout 2 0 f t ( 6.1m) w est o f t he s tanding s tone. I t p roved t o b e 4 f t ( 1.2m) s quare w ith a c arefully d ressed f ace. I t h ad b een s et u pright, s tanding a bout 1 f t 4 i ns ( 41cm) a bove t he g round. T hree s ides o f t he w orked f ace ' had b een c arefully c hiselled a way t o a s traight e dge '. I t m ay h ave b een a s lab l ining t he i nner c entral s pace o f a d estroyed r ing-cairn. B urnt b one w as f ound n ear i t. T here w as a lso a r ounded r iver p ebble w ith a w orked h ollow o n o ne s ide, p erhaps t he t op-stone o f a b owd rill l ike t hat p reviously d iscovered a t t he L undin F arm S E 4 -Poster ( Perth 2 2). R eferences C ash, 1 911, 3 86-8 ; C oles, 1 908, 1 28, n o. 1 9; i bid, 1 910, n o. 1 5; C oles & S impson, 1 965, 4 8, n o. 1 4; S tewart, 1 964, 4 0.

1 51

1 49-53,

S tonehole . .

. 9 7 -of s tanding-s tene

E rratic s lab< :

0

8 (F t

Z

: P 2)

0

( after H enshall & S tewart)

C lach n a T iompan f rom t he e ast. ( Coles,

C LACH N A T IOMPAN ( Perth 7 )

1 52

1 911)

P ERTH 7 CLACH N A T IOMPAN

N N

1 0 m iles S SW o f A berfeldy ,

8 31

3 29

7 2 m iles N NE o f C omrie.

I n t he n arrow g len o f t he R iver A lmond a t 9 30 f t ( 284m) 0 .D. w ith m ountains o vershadowing i t t o n orth a nd s outh t his l ittle 4 P oster s tands o n a t errace a bove t he r iver. I t w as e xcavated i n t he S pring a nd A utumn o f 1 954. 1 43 f t ( 44m) t o i ts n orth-west i s a n e normous c hambered t omb n early 2 00 f t ( 61m ) l ong. P ossibly o nce o f f our s eparate r ound c airns l ater t o b e e ngulfed w ithin t he m ound i t a lso w as e xcavated, w ith o nly a f ew f inds, i n 1 954. ' If, a s s eems l ikely, t he b uilders o f C lyde-Carlingford t ombs w ere i n s ome w ay l inked w ith e arly p rospecting f or c opper a nd t in, t hen i t i s s ignificant t hat c opper o ccurs a t A rdtalnaig' 9 m iles t o t he W NW o n t he s outh s hore o f L och T ay ( Henshall & S tewart, 1 956, 1 13, 1 21). I t m ay h ave b een e ven m ore s ignificant f or t he s mall g roup o f p eople w ho p ut u p ' several D ruidic s tones' c lose t o t he c airn. W hen C oles v isited t he s ite o nly o ne s tone w as o bvious, 5 f t 2 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh o f r ough d ark w hin s tanding a t t he e dge o f a l ow c airn w hich s eemed t o h ave b een d isturbed. W ith t he r oad a longside i t w as a n o bvious q uarry. E xcavation p roved t he c airn t o b e b oulder-lined, 1 2 f t ( 3.7m) i n d iameter b ut m ade d eceptively h igher b y b eing b uilt o n a n atural g ravel m ound ( Henshall & S tewart, 1 956, 1 23). N ear i ts c entre w ere s ome s mall p ieces o f w ood a nd c harcoal a nd s ome t hin p atches o f b urning. O ver a h undred w hite q uartz p ebbles w ere f ound. T he s tanding s tone, e xactly w est o f t he c entre, h ad b een p artnered b y a s tone 8 f t ( 2.4m) t o i ts N E o f w hich o nly t he s tonehole s urvived. T he s tump o f a t hird s tone w as u ncovered a t t he e ast a nd t he h ole o f a f ourth w as l ocated a t t he s outh. T he o riginal 4 -Poster, o n a l onger S E-NW a xis, h ad b een a n i rregular s quare w ith t hree s ides 1 0 f t 3 i ns ( 3.1m) l ong b ut w ith a s horter, 8 f t 2 i ns ( 2.5m) a t t he N W . T he m id-points o f t he f our s tones h ad b een p laced o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 1 3 f t 6 i ns ( 4.1m) i n d iameter, v ery c lose ( 4.96) t o 5o f T hom 's M egalithic Y ards. D espite i ts r uinous s tate C lach n a T iompan, ' the s tone o f t he r ounded k noll', w ith i ts f our s tones a t t he c ardinal p oints, i ts q uartz p ebbles a nd i ts m ound h ad b een a t ypical T ayside 4 -Poster. A n ' erratic s lab ' w hich m ay o nce h ave b een a n o utlier l ay 6 f t ( 1.8m) a way t o t he s outh. R eferences C oles,

1 911, 9 6-100, n o. 3 5; H enshall & S tewart,

1 53

1 956,

1 22-4.

0

1 5

2 01

0

F t

5 iM

0 ( after T hom ,

2 0 1'

2 02°

1

2 03°

2 04°

1 967, 1 54)

2 0S°

1-

9 0

8 0 '

B en n a G a in imh

M ea l n am F uaran

7 0 '

6 0 '

S O

4 0 '

( Thom , 1 967)

( Wilson,

C LACHAN A N D IRIDH ( Perth 8 )

1 54

1 863 ,

1 65)

P ERTH 8 CLACHAN

AN

D IRIDH

( Fonab

M oor)

NN

9 25

5 53

3m iles w est o f P itlochry , m iles N NE o f G rantully , a longside L ochan n a M oine M oire. S tanding a t t he e dge o f a t errace 1 170 f t ( 357m) 0 .D., t his d amaged 4 -Poster c ommands a w ide v iew o f t he c ountryside b elow i t. W hen D aniel W ilson, t he S cottish a ntiquarian, s aw i t i n t he m id1 9th c entury h e w rote, ' Amid t his w ild H ighland l andscape t he h uge s tanding s tones, g rey w ith t he m oss o f a ges, p roduce a s ingularly g rand a nd i mposing e ffect; a nd f rom t he i dea o f l ofty h eight w hich t he d istant m ountains s uggest, t hey c onvey a s tronger i mpression o f g igantic p roportions t han i s p roduced e ven b y t he f irst s ight o f t he g iant m onoliths o f S alisbury P lain' ( Wilson, 1 863, 1 65-6). E ven i n h is t ime t he N NW s tone w as m issing, p robably r emoved d uring t he fc hristianisation' o f t he p agan s ite i n t he e arly 1 800s. F ragments o f i ts b ase a re s till v isible n ear i ts o riginal p osition. T he t hree r emaining s labs o f l ocal q uartziferous s andstone a re o f ' playing-card' t ype w ith t heir l onger s ides o n a N NE-SSW a xis. T heir r espective h eights a re: N NE, 3 f t 3 i ns ( lm); S SE, 5 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.8m); a nd S W, 6 f t ( 1.8m). A lthough a rranged i n a r ectangle m easuring 1 4 f t 6 i ns b y 1 3 f t 7 i ns ( 4.4 x 4 .2m) t hey w ere p robably s et o ut o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 2 0 f t ( 6.1m) i n d iameter. T he n ame ' Clachan a n D iridh', t he s tones o f t he a scent, v ery a ccurately r eflects t he s teepness o f t he s lope a bove w hich t he s labs r ise. M ore p rosaically, t he r ing w as a lso k nown a s ' The F our S tones' i n W ilson 's t ime p roving t he f ormer e xistence o f a 4 -Poster. T here i s n o r ecord o f a ny e xcavation. A lexander T hom o nce t hought t hat t he s etting h ad c ontained a S SW s ightline t owards t he m ajor s outhern m oonset b ehind M eall D ubh m ountain t en m iles a way b ut a dded t hat ' the e xact o rientation o f t he s tones i ntended b y t he e rectors c annot b e d etermined a ny c loser t han + ..but i t c annot b e f ar f rom 2 01 ° ( Thom , 1 967, 1 58). H e l ater a mended t his a nd i ndicated i nstead a l arge s tone o n t he N NE h illside s tanding i n n o s ignificant a stronomical p osition ( Thom, T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 46). W ith t he s tones o f t he 4 -Poster h ardly m ore t han 7 f t ( 2.1m) a part i t i s u nlikely t hat a ny p recise a lignment c ould h ave b een i ntended. R eferences C oles F .R., 1 908, 1 08-12; M itchell, 1 923, 5 7; T hom , 1 967, 1 40, 1 58-9; T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 46-7, P 1/18; W ilson, 1 863, 6 .

1 55

1 54, 1 65-

P ERTH 9 ( Uncertain) N O

COMMONBANK N ORTH-WEST

1 75

2 48

4m iles e ast o f P erth. O n a s outh-east f acing s lope a t t he n orth-eastern e nd o f K innoull H ill a re t he r emains o f t hree m egalithic s ettings, t wo o f w hich m ay b e r uinous 4 -Posters. T hey a re a t 5 50 f t ( 168m) O .D. T hat t o t he n orth-west i s d escribed a s a c ircular a rea a bout 1 2 f t ( 3.1m) a cross w ith f our l arge a nd t wo s mall s tones o n i ts c ircumference. T he d escription c ould a pply e qually w ell t o a P erthshire 6 -stone r ing o r a4 -Poster w ith l ow i ntervening s labs. J ust t o t he w est i s w hat a ppears t o b e a n u prooted r ow o f t hree s tones l ying E -W , t he b iggest a bout 6 f t 4i ns ( 1.9m) l ong. R eference: 0 .S. E dinburgh , N O 1 2 S E 2 3.

P ERTH 1 0

( Uncertain)

C OMMONBANK S OUTH-EAST

N O

1 77

2 47

2 50 y ards ( 230m) t o t he s outh-east o f P erth 9 i s a n i rregular r ectangular s etting o f f our p rostrate s tones. T he s ides o f t his t rapezoid a re r oughly 2 0 f t 4 i ns ( 6.2m), 3 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 10m), 1 3 f t 2i ns ( 4m), a nd 3 7 f t 9i ns ( 11.5m) l ong. S uggestive o f t he b elief t hat t he s tones c ould b e t he t oppled r elics o f a 4 -Poster i s t he f act t hat t he s outh-east s tone h as s even c upmarks o n i ts u pper s urface. R eference: S tevenson,

—

1 973.

-

. J12, , , •• • • •

C omrie B ridge f rom t he e ast. ( Coles,

1 56

1 910)

P ERTH 1 COMRIE B RIDGE

N N

7 87

4 68

4 i m iles W SW o f A berfeldy , 3m iles e ast o f P ortingall.

• O utlying p air o f s tones

1

1 1

.

0

O 0

11 0F t

3 ( after C oles, 1 910)

O n t he l owland a t t he t ip o f t he V -bend m ade b y t he R iver T ay a s i t f lows i nto L och T ay t here w ere s everal l arge b oulders. T hey w ere j ust t o t he n orth o f T aymouth C astle a nd a m ile s outh o f C omrie C astle a t 3 50 f t ( 107m) 0 .D. F rom d escriptions w ritten i n t he e arly p art o f t his c entury t hey a ppear t o h ave b een t he r emains o f a 4 -Poster w ith a p air o f o utlying s tones t o i ts e ast. T he 4 -Poster h ad b een ' christianised', a c ommonplace p ractice o n T ayside. T he N E s tone w as m issing. T he S E w as 3 f t 3 i ns ( 1m) h igh, t he S W 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 88cm) a nd t he N W 2 f t 3 i ns ( 69cm). T he t hree s tood ' on t he c ircumference o f a t rue c ircle w hose d iameter i s 2 6 f t [ 7.9m ]' ( Coles, 1 910, 1 37). I f C oles ' p lan i s a ccurate t hey w ould a lso h ave s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 1 3 f t 6 i ns S E-NW b y 1 f t 7i ns ( 4.1 x 3 .5m). 2 0 f t ( 6.1m) t o t he e ast w ere t he t wo o utliers N -S o f e ach o ther. T he n orthern s tood 3 f t ( 90cm) t all. I ts p artner w as p rostrate b ut a pparently w as e rect a t t he b eginning o f t he c entury ( Mackenzie, 1 900). T he e ntire c omplex h as n ow b een r emoved. R eferences C oles,

1 910,

1 36-8 , n o.

1; M ackenzie,

1 57

1 900, 3 27-8.

1 1/1 1 1P 0

1 11 1 5

F t

0

1 11/1 5 t ( after A llen, 1 881b)

F rom t he s outh-east. C RAIGHALL M ILL ( Perth 1 2)

1 58

P ERTH 1 2 C RAIGHALL M ILL

N O

4m iles w est o f A lyth,

1 85

4 81

2m iles n orth o f B lairgowrie.

K nown a lso a s C ourthill a nd, m istakenly, a s G lenballoch t his 4 -Poster l ies a t t he f oot o f B road M oss h ill a t a h eight o f 6 20 f t ( 190m) O .D. E ven t hough s et i n a s light h ollow a t t he e nd o f a f lattish r idge t he s ite i s a c onspicuous o ne. H ills s urround t he s etting w hose f our t umbled s tones o nce s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle a bout 1 6 f t ( 5m) s quare. O riginally t hey m ay h ave s tood v ery c lose t o t he c ardinal p oints. T heir r espective l engths a re: S SW , s plit, 6 f t ( 1.8m); W , 6 f t 3 i ns ( 1.9m); N NW , 6 f t ( 1.8m); a nd E , 6 f t 3 i ns ( 1.9m). C oles w as u nsure w hether t hey w ere e rect o r f allen. ' In P erthshire t here a re n umerous s mall m ore o r l ess c ircular g roups o f f our o r s ix S tones a ll r ude i n s hape a nd l ow i n h eight' ( Coles, 1 909, 1 04). T he m idpoints o f t he s tones n ow l ie o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle a bout 2 2 f t 5 i ns ( 6.8m). C oles e stimated t he d iameter, t o b e 2 3 f t 6 i ns ( 7.2m) a nd T hom t hought i t c ould b e 2 2 o r 2 3 f t ( 6.7 o r 7 m), a nd d rew i t a s 2 2 f t w ith a d iameter o f 8 .1 M egalithic Y ards a nd a p erimeter o f 1 0.2 M egalithic R ods ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 52). 2 20 y ards ( 200m) t o t he n orth o f t he 4 -Poster i s al arge f allen s tone n early 1 0 f t ( 3m) l ong. I t w as s till s tanding, 8 f t 6 i ns ( 2.6m) h igh w hen C oles s aw i t i n 1 908. O n i ts s outh-east f ace, t owards t he v alley, t here w ere 1 3 c upmarks n ear t he b ase a nd a l ong, a rtificial v ertical g roove. S ituated w here i t i s a t t he s outhern e nd o f G len S hee t he 4 P oster o f C raighall M ill m ay b e o ne o f t he e arliest ' rectangles' i n T ayside. R eferences A llen, 1 881b, 8 9-92, ' Glenballoch '; C oles, 1 909, T hom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 52-3, P 2/4, ' Courthill'.

1 03-6,

n o.

1 0;

C raighall M ill f rom t he n orth. ( Coles, 1 909)

1 59

I C

-

b ase?

c upmarked s tone

1 5

9

F t

4

( Burl,

C RAMRAR ( Perth 1 3)

1 60

M

1 970)

P ERTH 1 3 C RAMRAR

N N

7 23

4 52

8 4 m iles W SW o f A berfeldy . O n t he w estern s lopes o f t he l ong D rummond H ill t his r uined 4 -Poster s tands o n a t errace a t 5 25 f t ( 160m) O .D. h alf a m ile n orth o f L och T ay. I t o verlooks a s mall t riangle o f f ertile l and c entred o n F earnan. F our p rostrate b oulders l ie i n a c rude r ectangle, i ts l ong s ides E NE-WSW. I n i ts p resent d isposition t he s etting m easures a bout 2 8 f t ( 8.5m) b y 1 4 f t ( 4.3m) ( NNW-SSE). T he S W s tone, f allen o utwards t o t he s outh, i s 8 f t ( 2.4m) l ong, t he N W , p ossibly f allen i nwards, 5 f t 8 i ns ( 1.7m), t he N E, a lso f allen f orwards t o t he s outh, 5 f t 8 i ns ( 1.7m), a nd t he S E , f allen i nwards a nd w ith i ts ' keeled' b ase t o t he e ast, i s 5 f t 7 i ns ( 1.7m). T he ' ring ' w as p ossibly g raded t owards t he s outh-west. O n w hat m ay h ave b een t he o uter f ace o f t he S E s tone t here a re t wo l arge c upmarks a nd u p t o n ine s maller w eathered m arkings. 1 10 y ards ( 100m) t o t he s outh a t N N 7 23 4 51 t wo l arge s tones l ie o n a s mall k noll. T hey a re a bout 1 0 f t ( 3m) a part. T he h uge b oulder a t t he N NE, 5 f t 9 i ns l ong b y 4 f t 4 i ns w ide ( 1.8 x 1 .3m) h as t wo l arge a nd a t l east 1 4 c upmarks o n i t ( Coles, 1 910 , 1 26). T he m ound a ppears t o h ave b een d ug i nto. T he f our s tones, ' rectangular' s etting, c upmarks a nd o utlying p air o f s tones s how C ramrar t o b e a d espoiled 4 -Poster. L arge, e ven b y T ayside s tandards, t he r ing c an b e c ompared w ith t he t wo b ig F ortingall s ites ( Perth, 1 6, 1 7) 1 i m iles t o t he n orth-east a nd w ith C arse F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ) 5 i- m iles E NE. A ll t hese 4 -Posters s tand o n l ow-lying f ertile l and t hat w ould h ave s upported m ore p eople t han t he t hin s oils o n w hich t he s maller h illside 4 -Posters w ere e rected. R eferences C oles, 1 910 , 1 24-6, n o. 7 ; D & E S cotland, 1 967, 4 0 ; m ost a bove n otes a re b ased o n p ersonal f ieldwork i n J uly, 1 970.

1 61

o f

t he

0

11 0F t

0

•

t

4

R d

( after C oles ,

1 911)

( Coles,

1 911)

. - --

L

•

_

£ 9 * 5 1H2 2 e 7 r > '

D unmoid f rom t he s outh—east.

D UNMOID ( Perth 1 4)

1 62

P ERTH 1 4 D UNMOID

N N 5 41 m iles w est o f C rieff ,

7 80

2 12

m ile S E o f C omrie.

B y t he m iddle o f t he 1 9th c entury t hree o f t he f our s tones h ere w ere p rostrate. A round 1 876 m asons f rom C omrie r e-erected t hem. W hen C oles v isited t he s ite i n 1 910 t wo s tones h ad f allen a gain, a nd b y 1 966 o nly o ne r emained e rect. O riginally f our s tones s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle o n a m ound s ome 7 5 f t ( 23m) a cross a nd 2 f t ( 60cm) h igh. C oles ' p lan s howed t he N W s tone s tanding 5 f t 4 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh a nd t he S E, o pposite, 5 f t 2 i ns ( 1.6m), w ith t he t hick N W s tone p rostrate, 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) l ong, w ith t he m ore s lender S W p illar a lso s upine a nd 4 f t ( 1.2m) l ong. T he l onger S E a nd N W s ides o f t he o blong w ere r oughly 9 f t 6 i ns ( 2.9m) l ong a nd t he o thers 9 f t ( 2.7m) i n l ength. T he c ircle o n w hich t he s tones h ad b een p laced h ad a d iameter o f 1 3 f t 2i ns ( 4m), o f w hich t he M egalithic Y ard i s n ot a n i nteger. I t i s q uite p ossible t hat t he ' reconstruction ' w as f aulty a nd t hat D unmoid h ad b een o ne o f t hose s trange 4 -Posters i n w hich t wo s tones w ere m arkedly t aller t han t heir p artners ( see: A yr 1 ). I t i s s aid t hat a round 1 840 a n u rn f illed w ith a shes w as d iscovered i n t he m ound. I t m ay h ave b een a ssociated w ith a c ist 3 f t 7 i ns b y 1 f t 8 i ns b y 1f t 3 i ns d eep ( 1.1m x 5 1cm x 3 8cm) t hat l ay i n f ront o f t he N W s tone. A t high-bone w as f ound i n i t. D unmoid m ay m ean ' the h ill o f j udgement'. t he s ite h as a lso b een c alled, ' Roundel'. R eferences: C oles, 1 911, E dinburgh N N 7 2 S E 6 .

5 6-9,

n o.

9 ;

M acpherson,

M ore

p rosaically,

1 896,

1 66;

0 .S.

•

D unmoid f rom t he n orth. ( Coles, 1 911)

1 63

0

2 5

I

0

F t

8

R A

( after C oles, 1 911)

,

-4! :4

) 1 / f \•

n ,e / )

•I

_

/ : 11

F erntower f rom t he e ast.

F ERNTOWER ( Perth 1 5)

1 64

( Coles, 1 911)

P ERTH 1 5 F ERNTOWER

N N

8 74

2 26

1m ile N E o f C rieff . O n a S E-facing t errace a t 4 00 f t ( 122m) O .D. t his r ing, l ike L undin L inks ( Fife 1 ), h as b een i ncorporated i nto a g olf-course. I t i s a 4 -Poster w ith a n o utlying p air o f s tones t o i ts e ast. ' The c omplex, b eing a f eature o f a g olf-course, i s s lightly " suspect" ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 43). I t i s t hought t hat t he o utliers m ay h ave b een m oved a s t hey w ere o bstructions o n t he f airway. C ertainly t he l ow N W s tone t hat C oles r ecorded h as b een s hifted a nd n ow l ies j ust w est o f t he n orthernmost o utlier. A ccording t o C oles, i n 1 910 t he s etting c onsisted o f f our s tones i n a n i rregular t rapezoid w ith s ides m easuring 1 0 f t 3 i ns ( 3.1m) o n t he s outh ; 8f t 1 1 i ns ( 2.7m), w est; 2 4 f t ( 7.3m), n orth ; a nd 1 3 f t 9i ns ( 4.2m) e ast. N one o f t he s tones w as h igh , t he N W o nly 1 f t ( 30cm) t all, t he N E 2 f t 1 0 i ns ( 86cm), t he S E 2 f t 3 i ns ( 69cm), a nd t he S W 2 f t 4 i ns ( 71cm), a pparently g raded c rudely t o t he s outh-west. T he f our s tones ' lie o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle' ( Coles, 1 911, 7 7) w ith a d iameter o f a bout 2 5 f t 4 i ns ( 7.7m ), a l ength o f n o r elevance t o t he M egalithic Y ard. 2 6 f t 3 i ns ( 8m) t o t he e ast i s t he i ns ( 2.4m) a part a nd a rranged o n a S E-NW i ns ( 2m) h igh a nd t he S E 6 f t ( 1.8m).

p air o f o utliers 7 f t a xis. T he N W i s 6 f t

9 5

T he N E a nd S E s tones o f t he 4 -Poster a re s eamed w ith q uartz. I n t he p ast a n a ttempt h as b een m ade t o b last t he l atter a nd a d rillh ole c an s till b e s een i n i t. A longside i s a c upmark, y et a nother e xample o f a d ecorated s tone o n t he e astern s ide o f a 4 -Poster. T he d isturbance t o w hich a ll s ix s tones m ay h ave b een s ubjected w arns a gainst t oo m uch r eliance b eing p laced o n a ny o f t he d imensions c ited h ere. R eferences: C oles, 1 911, 7 5-8, n o. n o. 1 3.

2 4; S tewart,

5

1 966,

1 42-3,

v s

•

N

•

0

• le

0

51 0

F t

I i s h

I

( after T hom , 1 980)

T HE F ORTINGALL S ITES ( Perth 1 6, 1 7, a nd S outh)

1 66

P ERTH 1 6,

1 7

F ORTINGALL NORTH-EAST,

a nd S OUTH-WEST

N N

7 47

4 70

i t m iles w est o f A berfeldy . S tanding o n a l ow-lying t errace a t 4 10 f t ( 125m) 0 .D . j ust w est o f t he R iver L yon t hese t wo 4 -Posters h ave b een s trangely n eglected. T here i s n o m ention o f t hem i n A nderson ( 1886), W ilson ( 1863) o r i n F ergusson 's R ude S tone M onuments... ( London , 1 872). Y et t hey a re e xtremely i mportant b oth i n t erms o f t he o rigins o f 4 -Posters a nd t heir a ssociations w ith r ecumbent s tone c ircles ( RSCs), a nd i n t he c lues t hey o ffer a bout p opulation s ize a nd t he w ay i n w hich 4 -Posters w ere u sed. T hey w ere t otally e xcavated i n 1 970. W hen C oles ( 1908, 1 21-5) v isited t he s ites i n 1 907 t hey w ere s tanding i n c orn a nd h e w as a ble t o p lan o nly F ortingall N orth-East ( Perth 1 6). T he c rop a lso m isled h im i nto t hinking t hat t he t hree s tones o f F ortingall S outh, a v ariant R SC, w as t he o ther 4 -Poster ( Perth 1 7). B etween h is t ime a nd 1 970 l ittle a ttention w as p aid t o t hese B ronze A ge r ings. ' The S trathtay s ites a re w ell s cattered b etween L och T ay a nd D unkeld, b ut a lmost a ll o ccur a t l ow l evels o n t he l ower t erraces o f t he r ivers. T wo n oteable c oncentrations o ccur, o ne o n t he R iver L yon n orth o f L och T ay, t he o ther a t t he c onfluence o f t he L yon a nd t he T ay. T he f irst g roup c onsists o f t hree s tanding s tones, o ne r ound a nd o ne l ong b arrow , t he o ther g roup h as t hree r ound b arrows a nd t hree s tone c ircles i ncluding t wo o f t he ' four-poster' t ype... T he ' four-posters' s eem , o n t he b asis o f t he p ottery... t o b e a s econd m illennium f orm o f m onument' ( Coles & S impson , 1 965, 4 4). T his h ad n ot b een a d ensely p opulated a rea i n t he N eolithic. A m ile t o t he w est ( NN 7 29 4 65) t here w as a s mall l ong b arrow ( Henshall, 1 972, 4 78), p arallel-sided, 1 05 f t ( 32m) l ong a nd p ossibly d itched. T welve m iles t o t he e ast ( NN 9 28 5 33) w as t he P itnacree N eolithic r ound b arrow ( Coles & S impson, 1 965) b ut t hese w ere r are e arly m onuments w hen c ontrasted w ith t he B ronze A ge s ites n ear F ortingall, a r ound b arrow w ith a c upmarked s tone a t N N 7 31 4 65 ( Stewart, C ., 1 884, 3 76-7, C oles, 1 910 , 1 21-3), a nd h alf a m ile t o i ts e ast a t N N 7 40 4 69, a nother s mall r ound b arrow , a s tone o n i ts t op c ommemorating 1 4th c entury p lague v ictims. A s l ate a s t he 1 8th c entury H allowe'en w as c elebrated b y l ighting a b onfire o n i ts t op ( Folklore, M yths, 1 973, 4 38). T here w as a f ine s tanding s tone 6 f t 6 i ns ( 2m) h igh a t D alreoch , N N 7 31 4 64 ( Coles, 1 910, 1 23-4, n o. 5 ), a c upmarked s tone i n F ortingall c hurchyard ( ibid, 1 20-1, n o. 3 ) a nd t here w ere t he 4 -Posters o f C arse F arm N orth a nd S outh, C ramrar, a nd T irinie F arm ( Perth 5 , 6 , 1 3, 2 8) a ll w ithin f our m iles o f t he F ortingall r ings. T here a re t hree s tone c ircles a t F ortingall, t wo 4 -Posters 8 2 f t ( 25m) a part a nd, 1 58 f t ( 48m) t o t he s outh, a v ariant R SC. B oth t he 4 -Posters a re r ectangles, t he N orth-East h aving i ts l onger a xis N E-SW w hereas t he S outh-West r ing i s a ligned S SE-NNW . N either a ppears t o h ave b een a stronomically a ligned.

1 67

B efore e xcavation.

A fter e xcavation.

F ORTINGALL N ORTH-EAST ( Perth 1 6)

1 68

P ERTH 1 6. F ORTINGALL N ORTH-EAST. W hen C oles s aw t his s etting o nly t hree s tones w ere v isible, ' three g reat, s mooth-sided, r ounded, a nd w ater-worn b oulders... T he i nference s eems j ustifiable t hat a f ourth, o nce i n t he N .W . a ngle, h as b een r emoved' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 22). H is p lan, f rom a s urvey t aken i n t he b arley, s uggests t he t hree s tones s tood o n a c ircle 3 8 f t 5 i ns ( 11.7m) i n d iameter. O verlooked b y h im t here w as a v ery l ow s tone j ust v isible b etween t he S E a nd S W s tones. T he s tanding s tones w ere b etween 3 f t 1 0 i ns a nd 4 f t 4i ns ( 1.2 - 1 .3m) h igh. H e w as p erceptive i n a ssuming t hat t he o riginal s etting h ad b een r ectangular. W hat h e c ould n ot k now w as t hat i t h ad c onsisted n ot o f f our b ut e ight s tones, f our l arge a t t he c orners o f a n o blong 2 0 f t 9 i ns N E-SW b y 1 6 f t 5 i ns ( 6.3 x 5 m) w ith a n e xtra l ow s tone i n t he m iddle o f e ach s ide. E xcept f or t he N E p illar t hey w ere a ll m icaceous g neiss f rom t he R iver L yon 2 60 y ards ( 235m) t o t he e ast. O f t he t hree s tanding s tones t he S E w as 5 f t 5 i ns ( 1.7m) h igh; t he S W 5 f t 1 1 i ns ( 1.8m), a nd t he N W 6 f t 1 i n ( 1.9m) h igh , o ver 1 f t 9 i ns ( 52cm) t aller t han C oles h ad b een a ble t o r ecord. F ive o thers h ad b een p ushed o ver i nto p its 3 f t ( 1m) d eep, w ell b elow p lough-level. T he m issing N W c orner s tone w as 7 f t 3 i ns ( 2.2m) l ong. T he ' side' s tones w ere: E , 3 f t ( 90cm) l ong; S , s emi-erect, 4 f t 4 i ns ( 1.3m); W , 4 f t 1 1 i ns ( 1.5m); a nd N , 5 f t 1 i n ( 1.6m) i n l ength. I t s eems, t herefore, t hat t he s ite h ad b een g raded u p t owards t he n orth. N ear t he i nterior's c entre t here w as a b urnt p atch a bout i ns ( 46cm) a cross c ontaining c harcoal, s ooty e arth a nd b urnt b one.

1 8

P ERTH 1 7. F ORTINGALL S OUTH-WEST. L ying 8 2 f t ( 25m) s outh-west o f F ortingall N orth-East t his 4 -Poster a lso h ad h ad f ive o f i ts e ight s tones b uried i n t he 1 9th c entury, t he d ating e vidence f or t his c oming f rom s ome b roken b rowng reen b eer-bottle g lass u nder t he s outh s tone. A c ow 's b one i n g ood c ondition l ay n ear i t. T he r ectangle h ad i ts l onger s ides S SE-NNW a lmost a t r ighta ngles t o t hose o f i ts n eighbour. T hree s tones s till s tood a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle 2 5 f t 1 i n l ong b y 1 9 f t 3 i ns ( 7.7 x 5 .9m). T he N W s tone w as m issing. T he b uried s tones l ay 2 f t 6 i ns ( 76cm) d own o n t he s andy s ub-soil, d eliberately t oppled i nto p its p repared f or t hem. T his a ccounted f or t heir u niformly h orizontal p ositions. T he u pcast f rom t heir b ig p its h ad r aised t he h eight o f t he s urrounding l and h iding t he l ower p arts o f t he s tanding s tones. T he N NE p roved t o b e 6 f t 9 i ns ( 2.1m) t all, t he S SE 5 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.8m), a nd t he S SW 6 f t 8 i ns ( 2m). A t a d epth o f 1 f t 6 i ns ( 46cm) t he o utlines o f t he m odern p its c ould b e c learly s een. T he l engths o f t he p rostrate s tones w ere: E , 5 f t 9 i ns ( 1.8m); S , 7 f t ( 2.1m); W , 7 f t 1 1 i ns ( 2.4m); t he m issing N NW c orner, 7 f t 7i ns ( 2.3m); a nd t he N , 5f t 9i ns ( 1.8m).

1 69

O

•

C harcoal a nd e ie : b urnt b one

G

0

F t

4

o p

1 5 1

•

ON E

0

M

5

•

S

S W

( after D .D.A. S impson)

F ORTINGALL N ORTH-EAST a nd S OUTH-WEST ( Perth 1 6,

1 70

1 7)

A fter e xcavation.

A erial v iew o f e xcavation. F ORTINGALL S OUTH-WEST ( Perth 1 7)

1 71

T he s outh-west t o t he n orth-east r ing.

T he s outh-west t o t he s outh r ing.

T HE T HREE F ORTINGALL S ITES.

1 72

F rom t he s outh—west.

m W

T he s tonehole w est o f t he w est f lanker.

F ORTINGALL S OUTH, P erthshire

1 73

N S tonehole

I M ajor s outhern m oonset? 0 k

F t

2I 0

0 i

M

5 4

( Burl, 1 970)

F ORTINGALL S OUTH, P erthshire

1 74

A c oncentration o f s mall p ebbles w as n oticed i n t he N E c orner o f t he r ectangle, t he a verage s ize o f t he s tones b eing a bout 4 b y 3 i ns ( 10 x 7 cm). M ore o f t he s ame s ize w ere u ncovered i n t he N E q uadrant a bout 1 8 i ns ( 46cm) b elow t he p resent l and-surface a nd t oo c losely s et t o s pade o ut. T hey r esembled a l ayer o f f looring w ithin t he r ing. P art o f a n I ron A ge j et r ing w as f ound 2 2 i ns t he S W q uadrant, a nd s everal q uartz p ebbles, n atural t o l ay a round t he b ase o f t he S SW s tone. T he s tonehole f or S s tone w as 1 4 i ns ( 36cm) d eep a nd c ontained m any s cattered a round t he b ottom o f t he s tone.

( 56cm) d own i n t he l ocality, t he p rostrate p acking-stones

T he b iggest s tone i n t his r ing, t he S SW w ith a g irth o f f t ( 4m) w eighed s ome 1 0 t ons, d emanding t he s trength o f a bout p eople t o d rag i t f rom t he r iver a nd h aul i t u pright.

1 3 4 0

1 36 f t ( 42m) t o t he s outh-east o f t his 4 -Poster w as t he s etting t hat C oles ( 1908, 1 22-5, n o. 1 7) h ad s een. I t w as c omposed o f t hree s tones, a lmost i n l ine, i n a r ow 2 0 f t ( 6.1m) l ong o n a S E-NW a xis. T he t wo o uter s tones a re a bout 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh a nd s tand S W-NE a t r ight-angles t o t he b oulder i n b etween t hem . T his, ' the b roadest a nd r oundest o f t he t hree' i s o nly 4 f t ( 1.2m) h igh b ut 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) l ong. I t s tands s lightly t o t he S W o f t he l ine. T he s etting, a lbeit s maller, w as r eminscent o f a n A berdonian r ecumbent s tone a nd i ts t wo t aller f lankers. F or t his r eason a l imited e xcavation w as m ade 1 5 f t ( 4 .6m) t o t he n orth-west o f t he N W ' flanker' i n t he h ope o f f inding a m issing c ircle-stone o r i ts h ole. T he s tonehole w as l ocated t here, 6 f t l ong a nd 2 f t d eep ( 1.8 x 0 .6m) a nd h alf-f W _ed w ith c obbles t hat p ossibly h ad c ome f rom al evelled i nternal r ing-cairn. T he R SC w ould h ave b een a bout 4 8 f t ( 14.6m) t he r ecumbent s tone a t i ts S SW a round 2 05 ° .

i n

d iameter

w ith

T his a ssociation o f a n R SC w ith t wo 4 -Posters i s v ery s uggestive o f t heir A berdonian o rigins. T he v ariant R SC o f C roft M oraig ( Coles, 1 910, 1 39-47, n o. 1 3, P iggott & S impson, 1 971) w ith i ts c upmarked s tone a nd s trewn q uartz i s o nly 3 i m iles t o t he e ast, a nd a nother p ossible R SC a t C oilleachur ( Coles, 1 910, 1 47-9, n o. 1 4) i s a f urther 3m iles i n t he s ame d irection. As econd o bservation t o b e m ade i s t hat t he F ortingall 4 -Posters l ike t heir n eighbours, C arse F arm S outh a nd T irinie F arm , b oth 3 1 :m iles E NE, C ramrar, l e m iles S W a nd e ven L undin F arm N orth-West, a re a ll l ow-lying a nd a ll m uch l arger t han t he n ational a verage. T his s uggests t hat a r ing's i nternal a rea w as a r eflection o f t he s ize o f i ts p opulation , t hat a ctivities t ook p lace i nside t he r ing i tself, a nd t hat t he w hole c ommunity, o f a dults c ertainly, w ere p articipants i n t he r ituals. R eferences: C oles,

1 908,

1 21-5; T hom , T hom & B url,

1 75

1 980 , 3 36-7, P 1/6.

F or t he G lenballoch F arm c ordoned u rn, s ee p age 1 78.

2

6

0

11 1Ze iz> .1 1

_

( Allen,

T he c upmarked p illar e ast o f G lenballoch F arm .

1 76

-0 1 881b)

P ERTH 1 8 ( Possible) G LENBALLOCF I FARM

n ear

4m iles w est o f A lyth,

N O

1 82

4 82

1m ile n orth o f B lairgowrie.

O n aw est-facing t errace a bove t he R iver E richt a t 7 30 f t ( 223m) O .D. t here u sed t o b e a s tone c ircle. I t w as 3 00 y ards ( 274m) n orthw est o f t he 4 -Poster a t C raighall M ill ( Perth 1 2) b ut i t w as d estroyed w ithout r ecord b efore 1 870. F rom i t c ame a m agnificent c ordoned u rn, n ow i n t he R oyal M useum o f S cotland, 2 f t 1 1- i ns ( 65cm) h igh a nd 1 f t ( 31cm) w ide a t t he r im . I t w as f ull o f b ones ' and p rotected b y s tones b uilt a round i t i n a b eehive f orm '. W hen A llen v isited t he s ite i n 1 880 t he s herds w ere l ying i n a d isused d og-kennel. A llen t ook t hem t o t he N ational M useum i n E dinburgh i n a n o ld g arden b asket. A pSimon ( 1964, 4 0) h as c ompared t he u rn 's d ecoration t o t hat o n t he L yles H ill f oodv essel ' except f or t he p endant t riangles'. T here i s a s eed i mpression o n t he r im ( Cowie, 1 978, 1 32). T he c ircle w as n ot m any y ards t o t he w est o f t he i mpressive s tanding s tone a t G lenballoch, 8 f t 6 i ns ( 2.6m) h igh a nd 1 4 t ons i n w eight ( Coles, 1 909, 1 02). O n i ts S E s ide t here a re 1 3 c upmarks a nd g rooves ( Allen, 1 881b, 8 9). A s n o d escription o f t he r ing s urvives i t i s n ot p ossible t o c laim i t a s a 4 -Poster. B ut i ts p osition o n a t errace, i ts c ordoned u rn a nd a shes, i ts n earness t o a s tanding s tone, a nd t he f act t hat w ithin f our m iles t here a re a t l east f our c ertain 4 -Posters ( Perth 1 2, 2 0, 2 4, 3 0) m akes i t p ossible t hat G lenballoch F arm w as a nother o f t hose e asily-destroyed r ings. T he n earby e xistence, h owever, o f r uinous s tone c ircles a t B road M oss a nd T ullymurdoch t hat w ere n ot 4 -Posters d emands a r etreat f rom o ver-optimism . R eferences: A bercromby, 1 912, I I, f ig. n o. 8 ; C owie, 1 978, 1 32.

3 0;

A llen,

1 77

1 881b,

8 9;

C oles,

1 909,

1 01,

1 2—

C entimetres

— 30

-0

0

T he c ordoned u rn f rom G lenballoch F arm .

• 0 I

•

2 0

t

F t

0 1

1

n

( after O .S. E dinburgh) K INLOCH ( Perth 2 0)

1 78

P ERTH 1 9 ( Uncertain) G LENSHERVIE B URN

N N

8 25

3 30

1 0 m iles s outh o f A berfeldy . ' Barely a m ile t o t he w estward.., i s a s imilar t ype o f m onument t o t he r uined s ite a t C lach n a T iompan ' ( Henshall & S tewart, 1 956, 1 24). T his r eferred t o ' a s mall c ircle, h itherto u nrecorded, p rotruding t hrough t he w aterworn m aterial o f a l ow c airn '. T he s ite i s a ctually a bout 5 00 y ards ( 450m) w est o f t he C lach n a T iompan 4 -Poster ( Perth 7 ). O n l ow-lying p asture t here a re t wo s tones s et o n e dge o n a r ound r ubble c airn 1 6 f t ( 5m) i n d iameter. E ach s tone i s a bout 1 f t ( 30cm) h igh a nd ' are p robably a ll t hat s urvive o f aF our-Poster' p erhaps o nce s ome 8 f t 3i ns ( 2.5m) s quare. R eferences: H enshall & S tewart,

1 956,

1 24; 0 .S. E dinburgh N N 8 3 S W 3 .

P ERTH 2 0 K INLOCH

N O 6 4 - m iles N E o f D unkeld ,

1 17

4 75

4m iles N W o f B lairgowrie.

C onspicuous o n a r idge a t 7 50 f t ( 230m) O .D. t his 4 -Poster s tands o n a t errace a bove t he L ornty B urn. A ll f our s tones a re l ow , t wo o f t hem a lmost p rostrate. W hen e rect t he t wo t allest a t t he w est w ould h ave b een n o m ore t han 2 f t 7 i ns ( 0.8m) h igh. T he r ectangle i s i rregular, i ts l ongest s ide, 1 2 f t 6 i ns ( 3.8m) b eing a t t he S W . T he s tones a re o n ac ircle 1 5 f t 9i ns ( 4.8m) i n d iameter. T he s ite m ay h ave b een l evelled b efore t he e rection o f s tones. T here a re m any h ut-circles a nd c airns i n t he v icinity. R eference: O .S. E dinburgh, N O 1 4 N W 2 9.

1 79

t he

R oad t o L undin s outh-eastwards.

f

F,

, Lundin B urn tCupmarked o utcrop

10 IFt

0

0

K 4 ( after C oles, 1 908)

(

•

•

• •• • ••• •• . . . .. ,

F rom t he s outh-east. ( Coles, 1 908) L UNDIN F ARM N ORTH-WEST ( Perth 2 1)

1 80

P ERTH 2 1 L UNDIN

FARM N ORTH-WEST

N N

8 82

5 06

1 2 m iles N E o f A berfeldy . 8 0 y ards ( 73m) n orth o f t he L undin F arm S E 4 -Poster ( Perth 2 2) t his d espoiled r ing s tands o n a t errace, 4 30 f t ( 130m) 0 .D ., a q uarter o f a m ile s outh o f t he R iver T ay. I t i s a f urlong ( 201m) e ast o f t he G rantully s tanding s tone, 3 f t 9 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh, w ith a h ollowed t op a nd i nconspicuously s ituated o n l ow g round. T he 4 P oster i s i n a n a rea r ich i n p rehistoric r emains ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 26-7). I t w as f irst r ecognised b y C oles. ' The e yes o f t he w atchful a ntiquary a re a rrested b y t wo g reat b locks o f s tone, o ne o n e ither s ide o f t he r oad, a nd b etween t he t wo.., l ies a g reat f lat s lab b earing s everal d istinct c up-marks' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 32). A s t he p lan s hows , t he s tones a re n ot i n l ine a nd c annot b e c onsidered a s a p air o f s tanding s tones. E ach i s ' playing-card' i n s hape a nd s et o n a n E -W a xis. T heir d isposition s uggests t hat t hey a re t he N W a nd S E c orner-stones o f aw recked 4 -Poster. T he N W i s 3 f t 8 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh, t he S E 2 f t ( 0 .6m). I t h as b een a rtificially ' shouldered' ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 45). T he o riginal s etting m ay h ave b een a r ectangle 1 9 f t ( 5.8m) E -W b y 1 7 f t 6 i ns ( 5.3m) N -S, t he s tones s tanding o n ac ircle 2 6 f t ( 7.9m) i n d iameter. B etween t hem i s a s ub-ovoid o utcrop o f w hich s ome 9 f t ( 2.7m) i s e xposed. O n i t t here a re s ix s hallow c upmarks. ' It i s p robable t hat b elow t he t urf, w hich c losely c overs t he o uter e dges o f t he S tone, o thers m ay b e f ound', w rote C oles w ho h ad n o t ools t o e xplore f urther. N early s ixty y ears l ater M argaret S tewart w as d eterred f rom s imilar i nvestigation ' as t he r oad w as i n c onstant u se'. T he j uxtaposition o f t wo 4 -Posters i s a p henomenon k nown e lsewhere i n T ayside a nd A ngus. R eferences: C oles,

1 908,

1 32, n o. 2 2; S tewart,

1 966,

1 81

1 27,

1 44-5, n o.

1 9.

F or a p hotograph a nd s ketches o f f inds, s ee p ages 1 84-5.

T-1 e ‘

N atural m ound

• • • . • . •• : • •

D itch

•• :• • : .• : •' / • •

/

•

•

r errt i si Ttr

0

\

T o c upmarked o utlier

0

11 5F t

( after S tewart,

1 966; a nd T hom , 1 980)

L UNDIN F ARM S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 2 2)

C ontinued f rom o pposite p age. O n t he s upposition t hat t he A OC s herds w ere l ate r elics t he 4 -Poster m ay b e d ated b y t he c ollared u rn t o a p eriod c . 1 975 t o 1 710 B C ( 1600-1400 b c) t owards t he e nd o f t he E arly B ronze A ge. 8 0 f t ( 24m) N NE o f t he r ing i s a n atural o utcrop b earing s ix c upmarks. 3 9 f t ( 12m) t o t he 4 -Poster's s outh-east l ies a s tone 7 f t ( 2.1m) l ong. I t h as a t l east 4 3 c upmarks o n i t ( Cash, 1 911, 3 90). T his s tone, o nce s tanding a bout 1 40 ° f rom t he r ing a nd w ith t he m ountainous s kyline o f G rantully H ill b ehind i t, m ay h ave s tood i n l ine w ith t he m idwinter s unrise. T he p resence o f c upmarks t o t he e ast o f a 4 -Poster h as b een r emarked a t s everal o ther s ites o n T ayside ( see: P erth 5 , 6 ). R eferences: C oles, 1 908 , 3 38-9, P 1/7,

1 33-5, n o. 2 3; S tewart, 1 966; T hom , T hom & B url, ' Aberfeldy'.

1 82

1 980,

P ERTH 2 2 N N

L UNDIN FARM S OUTH-EAST

8 82

5 05

1 2 m iles N E o f A berfeldy . T his f amous 4 -Poster s tands o n a n orth-west f acing t errace o verlooking t he R iver T ay. P reviously d ug i nto i t w as p roperly e xcavated i n 1 963 ( Stewart, 1 966). O n a h illside 4 26 f t ( 130m) 0 .D., f our s tones f orm a t rapezoid w hose N a nd S s ides m easure 1 5 f t 6 i ns ( 4.8m), t he E 1 0 f t 1 i ns ( 3.3m) b ut t he W o nly 7 f t 4 i ns ( 2.2m). T hom c onsidered t he s tones t o s tand o n a c ircle 1 8 f t 1 0 i ns ( 5.7m) i n d iameter, n either t hat n or t he c ircumference c omposed o f a n i ntegral n umber o f M egalithic Y ards ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 39). I n f act, s oon a fter i ts e rection t he N W s tone h ad s lipped o ut o f i ts s ocket a nd w as c arefully r eset o ver 2 f t ( 60cm) f rom i ts f irst p osition ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 36). O riginally t he 4 -Poster h ad b een a f airly g ood r ectangle a bout 1 5 f t 6 i ns b y 1 0 f t ( 4.7 x 3 m) o n a c ircle 1 8 f t 6 i ns ( 5.6m) a cross. T his d id n ot i mprove t he s tatus o f t he M egalithic Y ard. T he s tones w ere o f l ocal q uartziferous s chist, t he t allest s tanding a t t he N E , 7 f t 3 i ns ( 2.2m) h igh. I ts b ase w as ' keeled' t o f acilitate i ts e rection. T he S E s tone i s 5 f t 2 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh, t he S W 4 f t 3 i ns ( 1.3m) a nd t he N W 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m). B etween t he e astern s tones i s a l ow b lock o nly 1 f t 7 i ns ( 48cm) i n h eight. T he s tones s tand o n a n atural m ound o f m orainic g ravel 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh. E xcavation s howed t hat i t h ad b een d eturfed, i ts t op h ollowed a nd a d itch d ug a round i ts b ase. I t w as t hen d eliberately c overed w ith a h eavy l ayer o f s mall s tones t o g ive i t t he a ppearance o f am anmade c airn a bout 2 4 f t 6i ns ( 7.5m) a cross. O rganic m aterial, c remated h uman b one a nd s herds h ad b een p laced i n a p it j ust n orth o f t he " cairn 's" c entre. I n i t w ere t hree h uman t eeth. A s econd c remation w as f ound b y t he N W s tone. A n a rea o f b urning s pread o n t he s outhern s lope o f t he m ound. A p erforated b ut b roken s tone d isc o f a t ype o ften a ssociated w ith f unerary r ites ( Burl, 1 981, 7 7-8) w as f ound n ear t he S E s tone. E lsewhere, s herds h ad b een d ropped o r s cattered n orth o f t he h ollow , a nd s everal q uartz p ebbles w ere s trewn a t t he s outh. S herds l ying b etween t he e astern s tones w ere t hose o f ac ollared u rn w ith p laited c ord o rnamentation. O thers f rom a n A OC b eaker ( Clarke, 1 970, I I, 5 20, 1 737.1) l ay b eneath t he d ensely-packed s tony c apping S E o f t he h ollow . N ear i t w as a r ounded s tone 5 1 b y 4 i i ns ( 14 x 1 2cm) h ollowed o n b oth s ides a s t hough i t h ad b een u sed a nd r e-used a s a b ow-drill ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 34). T he c oncentration o f f inds i n t his e astern a rea w here t here i s a b reak i n t he e ncircling d itch s uggested t hat t here h ad b een a n a ccepted e astern e ntrance b etween t he t wo t allest a nd m ost i mposing s tones ( ibid, 1 31).

C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

1 83

L undin F arm S E f rom t he s outh-east s howing t he f allen o utlier.

I l /

, i t i f r /

i l p i l i g/ _

I

' )W l f i if e i d f i

, , , , , v . „ ‘ „ , -A i f , : 5 2 e .w s „ _ — • . . . _ . , . . . , , , • , , , \ L: , ; % :, _ z . . , ,1 t 7 . . , . , , , 4 , ._ . --_ 7,7. 7z . 2 : ,, , . _ , . ,,> . -, . _• % . , _ _. , „ . . 24. , ,-, , , , , ,t , - ., . : , \J : 2 . _ _, . . j . „ 4 2 . t . „ ,, , , . , ,7 4. . , " . , , ; _ t ,r 2 ,N , ‘ , , , , . ., 2 ; -; ; ' . z -i x : , , , , _ , , -_ — _z . . . ,,7 , .z .vA t \ _,, e _ z ; -3 e , . , ) ‘-, ,> , \ ,1: . . : . . , , -

- " L "» '

. .

7 7: : eeZ 7 : '

-. . . ›" < - '. ._-, . . . :

_ , . . , « .

. . . „ ;, - . . . ,,, 4

•' -

. \ .,

:-'-' , ' ‘ , . . • -

' ,' 4 e --. . ,), z 7, . , z _ › . • : -7 . „ --- z2 : = . 4 „ . • •. , e , .7 12 s . . _ : 4. I •-•_.-_ _ , .„ . t . . . 3 7 7 , .— . , 1 .. ., . . . . _. , -. . _ , _ . . . . ,9 1 . 4 . -' " "P .' •, -

.. ‚e

-

F rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908)

L UND1N F ARM S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 2 2)

1 84

C ollared u rn ( 0.3 a ctual s ize)

B ow-drill ( about 0 .25 a ctual s ize) ( Stewart, 1 966)

F inds f rom L undin F arm S outh-East

1 85

\ l c ) , \1

1 \

/ / z7 ,7 / 0,

7 ( 7

\ L .\ 0

0

/ / ,

0

2Ö

-

rF t

( after C oles,

1 9 608 R ) A

F rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908) N A C ARRAIGEAN E DINTIAN ( Perth 2 3)

1 86

P ERTH 2 3 N A C ARRAIGEAN E DINTIAN

N N

8 39

6 20

3m iles s outh-west o f B lair A tholl, o n am oor n ear L ochan n a L eathainn. F our r ugged b oulders o f q uartziferous s chist s tand o n t he m oor o f M eall n an C lachan a t a h eight o f 1 390 f t ( 424m) 0 .D. T hey a re v ery c onspicuous. ' Here s ite, s cenery, m egalithic r emains, a nd s urroundings a ll c ombine t o r ender t he i nvestigation o f t his g roup m emorable a nd s pecially i nteresting' ( Coles, 1 908, 1 05-6). ' From t he C ircle n o f ewer t han s ixty s eparate a nd d istinct h ill-summits, p eaks, k nobs, k nocks.., c an r eadily b e s een ' ( ibid, 1 07) f rom B en V rackie t o F arragon, a nd i ncluding t he b eautiful, m ountain o f S chiehallion. C oles t hought i t a n i deal s etting f or a p rehistoric ' Star-and-Hill w orshipper' w ho, n evertheless, e rected ' only f our g reat u nshapely, s omewhat s quat, a nd v ery r ough b oulders'. N ot u nusually f or a T ayside 4 -Poster t hey w ere p ut u p o n a l ow c ircular m ound s ome 5 5 f t ( 17m) i n d iameter a nd k erbed w ith c oarse b oulders. T he f our p illars, p laced a t t he c orners o f a r ectangle a bout 1 0 f t ( 3m) s quare, a re g raded, t heir d imensions b eing: N W , f allen o utwards, 3 f t 2 i ns ( 1m) l ong; N E, a lso f allen, 3 f t 2 i ns ( 1m); S E, 3 f t 4 i ns ( 1.1m); a nd S W, 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m) h igh. S uch a n e mphasis u pon t he s outh-west i s a c haracteristic o f t he 4 -Posters c lose t o t he R iver T ay. T he s tones w ere s et o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 1 4 f t 2 i ns ( 4.3m) i n d iameter, a n u nappealing 5 .2 M egalithic Y ards. T he c entre o f t he m ound i s s lightly h ollowed a nd i s e ither t he o vergrown c entral s pace o f a r ing-cairn o r, m ore p robably, t he r esult o f s ome u nrecorded ' investigation '. T he s ite w orship '.

i s

a lso

k nown

a s

N a

C lachan-Aoraidh,

' the

s tones

R eferences: C oles,

1 908,

1 05-9; W atson,

1 915,

1 9-20.

F rom t he w est. ( Coles,

1 87

1 908)

o f

0

2 0

1

F t

0

( after C oles, 1 909)

•

P arkneuk f rom t he e ast.

P ARKNEUK ( Perth 2 4)

1 88

( Coles, 1 909)

P ERTH 4 B ROUGHDARG

N O

1 31 m iles E NE o f P itlochry ,

1 38

6 71

2 g m iles S E o f t he S pittal o f G lenshee.

A t 1 200 f t ( 366m) O .D. a nd o verlooking t he S hee W ater t o i ts w est t his r uined 4 -Poster s tands o n a h ill-shoulder 2- m iles S E o f t he S pittal o f G lenshee 4 -Poster ( Perth 2 6). L ike t he d espoiled r ing o f L undin F arm N orth-West ( Perth 2 1) t he t wo s tanding s tones h ere d o n ot s tand i n l ine. T hey a ppear t o b e t he N E a nd S W p illars o f a 4 -Poster o nce a bout 9 f t 9 i ns ( 3m) s quare. B oth a re 5 f t 2 i ns ( 1.6m) h igh. T hey a re r eputed t o b e t he s urvivors o f am egalithic r ing, a nd t he s ite i s k nown a s t he R ed o r B loody C ircle. R eferences: M iller, 1 929, 4 6; O .S. E dinburgh, 3 , n o. 4 ; S mith, M ., 1 894, 9 9.

N O

1 6

N W

1 ;

S tewart,

1 966,

1 42-

P ERTH 2 4 P ARKNEUK

N O 4m iles N NE o f B lairgowrie,

1 95

5 15

3 1 m iles W NW o f A lyth.

A t 9 00 f t ( 274m) O .D. a t t he n orth-eastern s ummit o f a h ill o verlooking O lies B urn t his 4 -Poster i s o nly a bout 8 0 y ards ( 73m) N E o f t he r avaged s tone c ircle o f T ullymurdoch ( Coles, 1 909, 9 79 , n o.4). S ituated o n a n e minence w ith c onsiderable v iews a ll r ound t he r ing i s i n q uite g ood c ondition. O f t he f our s tones t he N NE h as f allen f orwards i nto t he r ectangle w hich m easures 1 4 f t 1 0 i ns o n i ts S SW a nd N NE s ides b y 1 2 f t 6 i ns ( 4.5 x 3 .8m), ' a t ruly c ircular g roup h aving a d iameter o f 1 9 f t' ( 5.8m). T his c orresponds e xactly t o 7 M egalithic Y ards. T he s ides o f t he o blong a re f airly w ell a ligned t o t he c ardinal p oints. T he s tones a re h eavy b locks o f g rey g ranite. T he p rostrate s tone i s 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m) l ong. T he h eights o f t he s tanding s tones a re: S SE, 3 f t 1 0 i ns ( 1.2m); S SW , 4 f t ( 1.2m); a nd N NW, 3 f t 4 i ns ( 1m), s o t hat t hey a re c rudely g raded t o t he S SW . O n t he H ill o f D rimmie a t hird o f a m ile S SW o f P arkneuk i s t he 4 -Poster o f W oodside ( Perth 3 0), a f urther i nstance o f t wo T ayside 4 -Posters b eing w ithin e asy w alking d istance o f e ach o ther. 3 00 y ards ( 274m) S SE o f P arkneuk a t g lacial b oulder o f g arnet m ica s chist. 1 0 c upmarks o n i ts u pper s urface ( Lye, 1 982). R eference: C oles,

1 909, 9 5-9, n o.

3 .

1 89

N O f t

1 96 5 11 i s a l arge ( 3m) l ong i t h as 1 0

t o

0

N

S 0 I

a

2 5 iF t

0 i

8 1M ( after T hom , 1 980)

S PITTAL O F G LENSHEE ( Perth 2 6)

1 90

P ERTH 2 5 ( Dubious) S T MARTINS . q m iles N NE o f P erth,

N O

1 60

3 12

7m iles S SW o f C oupar A ngus.

I n t he s outh c orner o f a p artly c leared w ood o n a n e ast-facing s lope a t a bout 3 00 f t ( 90m) O .D . t here a re t hree l arge s tones, t wo o f t hem f allen. T hey a re i n a r oughly s traight l ine r unning N NES SW. N earby i s a f ourth p rostrate s tone i n a b oundary b ank. S tewart ( 1965, 2 1) s uggested t hat t hey h ad o nce f ormed a r ing a pproximately 2 4 f t 6 i ns ( 7.5m) i n d iameter. D ifferent o pinions h ave b een t hat i f t here h ad b een a ' circle' i t w as p robably l arger. R eferences: O .S. E dinburgh, N O 1 3 S E 9 ; S tewart,

1 965, 2 1, n o.

1 2.

P ERTH 2 6 S PITTAL O F GLENSHEE

N O

1 6 m iles n orth o f B lairgowrie,

1 17

7 02

1 3 m iles s outh o f B raemar.

O n a S W-facing h ill-shoulder a t 1 250 f t ( 380m) O .D. f our l ittle s tones, ' simply n atural b oulders t aken f rom t he a djacent h illside' ( Smith, M ., 1 895, 9 6), s tand o n a n o val m ound o verlooking t he S hee W ater. T he m ound i s n atural, c omposed o f g lacial d etritus, 6 0 f t E -W b y 4 6 N -S ( 18 x 1 4m). I t i s a bout 1 8 f t ( 5.5m) h igh. T he s tones f orm a n i rregular r ectangle, t hree s ides a bout 8 f t 3 i ns ( 2.5m) l ong, t he N W b eing 1 f t 3 i ns ( 38cm) l onger. T he s tones' h eights a re: S E , 1 f t 2 i ns ( 36cm); S SW , 2 f t 3 i ns ( 69cm); N W , 2 f t 2 i ns ( 67cm); N NE, 2 f t 3 i ns ( 69cm), t he S SW b eing t he l argest i n b ulk a nd t hus g iving t he i mpression o f g rading. T he s tones s tand o n ac ircle 1 2 f t 6i ns ( 3.8m) i n d iameter. T he s ite w as d ug i nto b etween 2 8 a nd 3 1 A ugust, 1 894, b y w hich t ime t he s haft w as 2 2 f t ( 6.7m) d eep a nd c ompletely u nproductive. T he r ing i s a lso k nown a s D iarmid's G rave, G aelic h ero w ho w as k illed i n ab oar-hunt.

a r eference

R eferences: S mith, M .,

1 895, 9 6-8 ; T hom , T hom & B url,

1 91

1 980, 3 62-3, P 2/14.

t o

t he

P ERTH 2 7 T IRINIE FARM

N N

7 96

4 84

4m iles w est o f A ber f eldy . T his m onument w as o n t he l owland a q uarter o f a m ile w est o f t he R iver L yon a nd 2 e m iles n orth-east o f t he e nd o f L och T ay. N ow d estroyed i t c onsisted o f a ' circle' o f f our s tones, t hree o f t hem o f w hite-veined q uartz. A ll h ad b een b roken o ff j ust a bove t he t urf. T hey f ormed a l arge t rapezo id 2 7 f t 1 0 i ns b y 2 2 f t 1 1 i ns b y 1 8 f t 4 i ns b y 2 1 f t 1 1 i ns ( 8.5 x 7 x 5 .6 x 7 m) i n s ize n ot u nlike t he b ig 4 -Poster o f C arse F arm S outh ( Perth 6 ) o nly a q uarter o f a m ile t o t he E NE. T he s pacious s ites a t F ortingall ( Perth 1 6, 1 7) a re 3 * m iles W SW a nd C ramrar ( Perth 1 3), a lso w ell a bove a verage i n a rea, i s 5 m iles s outh-west. T irinie F arm , t herefore, w ith i ts l arge i nterior, f its c omfortably w ithin t his g roup s ituated o n t he f ertile c arseland b y t he r iver. A n e xcavation ( Stewart, 1 974b) f ailed t o f ind a nything. T he f our s tumps h ave n ow b een d isplaced a nd l ie w ith o thers a round t he b ase o f a n a djacent r ound c airn. R eferences: C oles & S impson, 1 965, 4 8, n o. 8 , ' Carse '; E dinburgh N N 7 4 N E 5 0; S tewart, 1 974b.

1 92

D & E 1 964,

3 7;

O .S.

P ERTH 2 8 T ULLYBANNOCHER

N N

7 55

2 25

1m ile w est o f C omrie. L ow-lying a nd j ust e ast o f a s mall l och e m ile n orth-east o f t he R iver E arn t his m onument h as b een b adly d amaged. I n t he m id1 9th c entury t here w ere f our s tones h ere b ut w hen C oles v isited t he s ite i n 1 910 o nly t wo r emained. A s l ate a s 1 893 t here w ere s till t hree b ut o ne f ell a nd w as r emoved b ecause i t w as o bstructing t he p lough ( Coles, 1 911, 5 0). T he t wo t hat s urvive a re h igh a nd h eavy p illars, t he N W o f q uartziferous s chist b eing 4 f t 8 i ns ( 1.4m) h igh, t he S E , ' a v ery b road-based r ugged b lock ', 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh. T hey s tand 1 9 f t 6 i ns ( 5.9m) a part a nd i f t he o riginal s etting h ad b een a s quare t he f our s tones w ould h ave b een o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 2 7 f t 3 i ns ( 8.3m) a cross, a d iameter a lmost e xactly 1 0 M egalithic Y ards i n l ength. I t s hould b e s tressed, t herefore, t hat t he d iameter i s e ntirely s peculative. O n t he v ery s mooth e ast f ace c upmarks ( Stewart, 1 966, 1 45), t he f or c upmarking i n 4 -Posters.

o f t he S E s tone t here a re f our e astern p osition b eing c ustomary

T hom ( 1967, 1 00), w ho b elieved t hat t his w as a c haracteristic T ayside s etting o f p aired s tones, s uggested t hat l ooking f rom t he S E t o t he N W s tone t here c ould h ave b een a s ightline t o t he m inor n orthern m oonset; a nd, i n t he r everse d irection, a v ery q uestionable a lignment t owards s unrise i n l ate O ctober. H e a dded c autiously t hat a lthough t he m oonset l ine w ith a d eclination o f + 18 ° . 2 w as t he b etter ' it m ight b e l unar b ut i t i s n ot a c onvincing s ite. T he s tones d o n ot l ie a long t he l ine '. R eferences: C oles, 1 911, 5 0-1, n o. 4 ; 1 00 , 1 39, P 1/8, ' Comrie l .

S tewart,

1 966,

1 44-5,

n o.

2 6 ;

T hom ,

1 967,

1 . 2 / 7

: ' ,, • •: 7 ,, -f ' -

: . if 4 . > / , / f r ,

' , ' . "1, 4 , , . , / , ‚ , i

i

' 1 H 1 lv1

A

-

.:• • , , , „ , , ,,2. , / jA ; , . .L .. . . . . ., _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; : - T ullybannocher f rom t he s outh-south-east. ( Coles, 1 911)

1 93

P robable N orth

A

F our-Poster s tones

•

. • • \

-

0 L

1 0 1F t

, . .... / . .f i i

3 iM

( after C oles, 1 909; a nd T hom , 1 980)

2 7.

0

"

• ••

• •

42 ' 1 ,4 1 0 i • • • • • • • • • A .'s -, • •

• • ‘. -

• •" • ••

•-

-

• • •• ••

• • -

•• • • •• -

-

• •4/ • • • • • •• •-

1

1 . • • • • • • • •

1-

„ , •• • •

•

F rom t he s outh-east. ( Coles, 1 909)

W OODSIDE ( Perth 2 9)

1 94

m mnm

2 9

WOODSIDE

( Hill

o f

D rimmie)

3 2 m iles W NW o f A lyth,

N O

1 85

5 01

3m iles n orth o f B lairgowrie.

O n t he H ill o f D rimmie a t a h eight o f 8 18 f t ( 249m) O .D. t his r uinous 4 -Poster l ies a t t he s outhern e nd o f t he G lenshee P ass. A lthough i n a n e levated p osition ' little o r n o p rospect i s o btained f rom t his s pot' ( Coles, 1 909, 9 9). T here a re s everal o ther s mall 4 -Posters ( Perth 1 2, 1 8, 2 0, 2 4) w ithin a f ew m iles. F our b ig s tones l ie t umbled a round t he c ircumference o f a r ing a bout 1 8 f t 9 i ns ( 5.7m) a cross, w hich T hom t hought m ight c orrespond t o 7 o f h is M egalithic Y ards ( Thom , T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 56), a dding t hat i t w as a ' Poor r ing, p erhaps c ircle d istorted b y f orestry f ence' ( ibid, 3 57). ' Rather u nusually, t hese f our S tones a re s et a lmost e xactly t o t he f our m ain p oints o f t he c ompass' ( Coles, 1 909, 1 00). A n i nterest i n t he c ardinal p oints i s q uite c ommonly f ound i n 4 -Posters. I t s hould b e n oted, h owever, t hat C oles w as a rtistic r ather t han s cientific w hen t aking b earings. R egrettably, T hom m islaid h is f ieldn otes a nd r eversed n orth a nd s outh i n h is o wn p lan. T he N s tone, o f g rey g ranite, p ossibly f allen i nwards, i s 6 f t 9 i ns ( 2.1m) l ong; t he E , f allen o utwards, i s o nly 3 f t 9 i ns ( 1.2m) l ong; t he S . a g reat r ectangular s lab o f q uartzose s chist, i s 6 f t 9 i ns l ong b y 3 f t 6 i ns b y 1 f t 2 i ns ( 2.1 x 1 .1 x 0 .4m), a nd m ust w eigh n early t wo t ons. T he W s tone i s 6 f t 4 i ns ( 1.9m) l ong. T he a rchitectural e mphasis, t herefore, i s m arkedly t owards t he s outh-west q uadrant. A t t he t ime o f C oles' v isit t here w as a l ow s lab b etween e ach o f t he N W a nd S E s ides, l ooking v ery l ike i ntervening k erbs. T hom 's s urvey s howed o thers e mbedded a nd o vergrown a round t he r ing. R eferences: C oles, 1 909, 9 9-100, ' Hill o f D rimmie'.

n o.

6 ;

T hom,

1 95

T hom & B url,

1 980,

3 56-7,

P 2/5,

0

0 1

1 2 F t

N

0

4 1M ( after T hom ,

N A C LACHAN B HREIGE ( Skye 1 )

1 96

1 980)

S KYE 1 N A CLACHAN B HREIGE 7 i m iles S W o f B roadford ,

N G

5 43

1 76

4 - m ile W SW o f S trathaird H ouse.

O n a p eninsula t o t he w est o f a s mall l och t his 4 -Poster s tands o n a w ide, h eather-covered m oor a t a h eight o f 8 0 f t ( 24m) O .D. T he r ing w as p ut u p o n a s mall p atch o f f ertile l and a bout 1 m ile ( 11 -km) s quare, s urrounded b y m ountains e xcept a m ile t o t he s outhe ast w here t here i s a s heltered b ay. T he e xistence o f c airns a nd a d un r eveal t he a ttraction t his p rotected a rea h ad i n a n o therwise i nhospitable c ountryside. T here w ere o nce f our s tanding s tones h ere. T oday t hree a re e rect, t he t allest a t t he W , 5 f t ( 1.5m) h igh. A f ourth, 1 1 f t 6 i ns ( 3.5m) l ong, l ies a t t he S E i n t he t hick h eather. T he t allest s tone i s o f r ed g rit, t he o thers o f w hite q uartzose s chist l ike s everal o thers i n t he v icinity. T he r ectangle w as a bout 1 2 f t 2 i ns b y 1 0 f t 2i ns ( 3.7 x 3 .1m), t he l ong a xis b eing N NE-SSW . B ecause o f t he v egetation T hom w as u nable t o m ake a g ood p lan . ' The c ircle a lmost c ertainly b elongs t o t he 8 -MY d iameter g roup b ut o f c ourse n o a ccuracy i s p ossible' ( Thom , 1 967, 4 3). B efore 1 863 ' a P olished B lack S tone, a bout 1 * i ns [ 3cm] l ong, a nd r ounded i n s hape, s omewhat r esembling a s mall p estle... w as d ug u p s everal y ears a go w ithin a s tone c ircle, o r s o-called D ruidical T emple '. I t m ay h ave b een a b ead f rom a n E arly B ronze A ge j et n ecklace. T he n ame, N a C lachan B hreige, h as b een v ariously t ranslated a s ' the j udicial s tones', a p lace w here m ediaeval l aw-courts w ere h eld, a s i n s everal o ther S cottish r ings. I t h as a lso b een i nterpreted a s ' the s tones o f l ies, o r f alsehood'. T his m ay h ave t he s ame d erivation a s ' Fir B hreige ', t wo s tanding s tones n ear L och S teaphain o n N orth U ist, a nd t he 3 -stone r ow , ' Na F ir B hreige ' 7 1 m iles t o t he e ast, t he r emains o f m en t urned i nto s tone f or d eserting t heir w ives ( Grinsell, 1 976, 1 94). R eferences: P SAS 5 , 1 862-4, 1 4; R CAHM-Scotland, 1 928, &B url, 1 980 , 3 18-19, H 7/9, ' Strathaird'.

1 97

2 14,

n o.

6 67;

T hom ,

T hom

B

N

A i

• •

o

, 0

0

l

0 ;

2 0 1 F t

I 0

r

1M 5

1 5 M

N

A 2

.

1 5 iF t

S cots 9

3

4

3

4.

?

9

9

t o Fur

( Tait, 1 868) B . B ALNAKEIL ( Sutherland 2 )

A . A BERSCROSS ( Sutherland 1 ) 1 98

S UTHERLAND 1 ( Uncertain) A BERSCROSS

N H

6m iles N NW o f D ornoch,

7 70

9 91

4m iles w est o f G olspie.

T his l ow-lying r ing s tands a t t he e ntrance t o S trathfleet g len a t a h eight o f 2 0 f t ( 6.1m) O .D . I t i s a t t he w estern f oot o f t he p icturesque C raigmore H ill. T hree s tones s tand o n a l ittle a rtificial p latform w ith t wo o ther s tones l ying n ear t hem . T he N E s tone i s 3 f t 6 i ns ( 1.1m) h igh, t he N W , w hich i s t he h eaviest, 4 f t 6 i ns ( 1.4m), a nd t he t all w ide S E s lab, 6 f t 6 i ns ( 2m). T hey o ccupy t hree c orners o f a r ectangle 2 0 f t 4 i ns b y 1 4 f t 3 i ns ( 6.2 x 4 .3m), t he l ong a xis b eing N NW-SSE. A 5 f t ( 1.5m) l ong s tone l ies b etween t he N E a nd S E p illars, a nd a nother o f a bout t he s ame l ength i s j ust o utside t he r ing t o t he s outh. T he u pright s tones a re o n t he c ircumference o f a c ircle 2 4 f t 7i ns ( 7.5m) i n d iameter, c lose t o 9M egalithic Y ards. I t i s j ust p ossible t hat t his i s a r uinous 4 -Poster w ith a f allen o utlier. I t w as d ug i nto, b y m eans o f a n E -W t rench , o n 7 M ay, 1 867. F lint f lakes h ad b een s trewn a ll o ver t he i nterior. ' In t he c ircle c entre e xactly ' 1 f t 8 i ns ( 50cm) d own t here w as a c remation h eavily m ixed w ith c harcoal. T he s urviving h eads o f a h umerus a nd r adius s howed t he r emains t o h ave c ome f rom a n a dult. J ust b elow t he d eposit w as a n i rregular c onglomerate s lab w hich p roved t o b e a c ist-cover. T he c ist i tself, o val, a nd m easuring 3 f t 6 i ns b y 2 f t 7 i ns b y 2 f t 2i ns d eep ( 1.1m x 8 5 c m x 6 8 c m) a nd s et a lmost p recisely E -W w as e mpty e xcept f or s ome r ainwater. T he f act t hat t he c ist w as n ot q uite c entral b ut a l ittle t o t he n orth ' seems ..to s how t hat t hese m onumental c ircles w ere m ade f irst, a nd t hat t he b urials w ere a dapted t o t hem '. R eferences: T ait, 1 868; R CAHM-Scotland 1 911, 1 980, 3 26-7, N 2/2, ' The M ound'.

9 9,

n o.

2 91;

T hom ,

T hom

& B url,

S UTHERLAND 2 ( Uncertain) B ALNAKEIL

N C

3 92

6 73

1 4 m iles N W o f T ongue, b y D urness. O n a l imestone p rominence a s tony m ound a bout 3 0 b y 2 0 f t ( 9 x6 m) h as a c entral h ollow 8 b y 4 f t 6i ns ( 2.5 x 1 .4m). I ts c orners a re m arked b y f our s tones e ach a bout 2 f t 6 i ns ( 75cm) h igh. T hree a re o f g neiss, t he N E b eing l imestone. R eference: D & E S cotland,

1 972, 4 4.

1 99

0

5 rF t

0 i

G lentirrow f rom t he n orth-west. G LENTIRROW ( Wigtown 1 )

2 00

2 M

W IGTOWN 1 G LENTIRROW

N X

5 4 - m iles E NE o f S tranraer,

1 46

6 25

4 2 m iles N W o f G lenluce.

A t 4 30 f t ( 130m) 0 .D. t his d elightfully p erfect l ittle 4 -Poster s tands o n a t errace i n a n e xpanse o f m oorland t o t he e ast o f t he P inwherrie B urn. T here i s a n o utlying s tone 4 0 f t ( 12m) t o t he n ortheast. T he s mall r ectangle i s 9 b y 8 f t ( 2.7 x 2 .4m) w ith t he t allest s tone, 2 f t 3 i ns ( 69cm) h igh, a t t he S E. T he l ower S W s tone i s n oticeably b ulkier. T he d iameter o f t he c ircle, 1 2 f t ( 3.7m), o n w hich t hey s tand i s a n u nlikely 4 .4 M egalithic Y ards. T he c entre o f t he r ing h as b een d isturbed. T here a re m any r ound c airns i n t he n eighbourhood i n a ' truly s ingular' l ine, s uggesting a l arge l ocal p opulation i n t he B ronze A ge. R eferences: R CAHM-Scotland,

W IGTOWN 2

1 912, 2 7, n o. 4 8; M urray,

1 981,

2 4-7.

( Uncertain)

M ILTONISH

N X

i ij m iles N E o f S tranraer ,

1 92

7 40

7 2 m iles S E o f B allantrae.

I ncongruously s et w here t he r ailway l ine c rosses t he C ross W ater o f L uce, a nd b etween t he r iver a nd t he P ilwhirn B urn t he s ite o f t his p robable 4 -Poster w as i n a v alley b ottom a t a bout 5 50 f t ( 168m) O .D. D espite t he l ow s ituation t he s ite c ommanded l ong v iews. I f t his h ad b een a 4 -Poster i t w as o ne o f t he s mallest, i ts f our s tones i n a r ectangle n o m ore t han 3 b y 2 f t ( 90 x 6 0cm). N one w as m ore t han 3 f t ( im) h igh. T hey s tood b y a r ing-cairn s ome 2 9 f t ( 9m) a cross i n w hich t here w as a s hort c ist. N othing i s k nown o f i ts c ontents. T he c airn w as l evelled a nd t he s tones r emoved b etween 1 898 a nd 1 912. R eferences: P SAS 3 3, 1 898-9, 1 84; R CAHM-Scotland, 1 912, burgh, N X 1 7 S E 2 ; M urray, 1 981, 2 7-8.

2 01

9 9,

n o.

2 72;

0 .S.

E din-

( after T hom ,

1 980)

0

e ; ( z

1 5

I

0

F t

4

•

r. 1 • )

I v -

. . 4

f

-

•

. 2 -4, 1 „ ;„

tt

1

-

I -

•—

? "7 " )

_

44 , - • 5 = 71-

( Banks,

1 874)

C ontinued f rom t he o pposite p age. w hose c apstone w as c arved i nto a f ont f or O ld R adnor c hurch ( Barnwell 1 864) d espite t he f act t hat s uch s tone w as t oo b rittle t o b e s haped ( Banks, 1 874). L ocal t radition c laimed t he s tones w ere t he g raves o f k ings k illed i n b attle, a s tory o ddly l ike t hat o f t he T hree K ings ( Northumberland 2 ). E ven m ore i mprobably, t he b oulders a re s aid t o g o d own t o H indwell P ool t o d rink w henever t hey h ear t he b ells o f O ld R adnor c hurch a m ile a way ( Grinsell, 1 976, 2 65). A lexander T hom n oted t hat t he f our s tones s tood o n t he c ircumference o f ac ircle 1 7 f t 3i ns ( 5.3m) i n d iameter. F rom t he s hape o f t he s etting a nd t he p resence o f c upmarks, r are i n W ales, t he s ite i s b est i nterpreted a s a 4 -Poster, p ossibly t o b e a ssociated w ith t he u ncertain r ings o f P owys 1 a nd S hropshire 12 0 m iles N W a nd 2 4 m iles N NE r espectively. R eferences B anks, 1 874; B arnwell, 1 864; T hom & B url, 1 980, 3 84-5, W 8/3.

R CAHM-Wales,

2 02

1 913,

n o.

6 15b;

T hom ,

P OWYS 1 ( Uncertain) C WM S AESAN

S TONES

S N

9 64

7 76

6m iles n orth o f R hayader, 4 i m iles s outh o f L lanidloes. I n t he v alley o f t he A fon D ulas a t 9 60 f t ( 290m) 0 .D. t here i s a g reat s tanding s tone. I t i s 8 f t 2 i ns ( 2.5m) h igh, ' playingc ard' i n s hape w ith b road n orth a nd s outh f aces. I t i s t he s urvivor o f f our s tones, ' dau f raich a n d eu l aw ', t wo l arge a nd t wo s mall s tones o nce i n a r ectangular s etting. T he s ite i s a lso k nown a s t he S t H armon S tones. J ust t o i ts w est w as a r ow o f e ight s tanding s tones. R eferences A nthony,

1 973, 7 9; R CAHM-Wales,

1 913,

1 42, n o. 5 86.

P OWYS 2 T HE F OUR

S TONES,

W ALTON

S O

2 45

6 07

4m iles N W o f K ington, 4 2 m iles S W o f P resteigne, 2m iles e ast o f N ew R adnor. A lmost a t t he c entre o f a r ectangular p lain s ome 8 m iles s quare s urrounded b y m ountains w ith a p ass a t t he e ast t his 4 -Poster s tands i n a n i mportant B ronze A ge r egion. T here a re s tanding s tones a nd 1 m ile t o t he N W , o thers 1) 4 -m iles n orth , a nd c airns 1 m ile t o t he e ast a nd s outh. ' The s urrounding a rea i s r ich i n r ound b arrows a nd s tanding s tones, a nd t he n umerous f lint i mplements..., a lthough p redominantly B ronze A ge, i nclude s ome o f N eolithic d ate', ( Arch C amb 1 08, 1 959, 1 58).

e

T he s ite h as b een k nown a s t he F our S tones s ince t he 1 7th c entury. F our e rratic b oulders o f v olcanic r ock f rom H anter o r S tanner 2 m iles t o t he s outh s tand a t t he c orners o f a n i rregular r ectangle a bout 7 f t 3 i ns b y 5 f t 7 i ns ( 2.2 x 1 .7m). T he b iggest a t t he N W w eighs a bout 1 0 t ons a nd w ould h ave d emanded t he s trength o f t hirty o r f orty p eople t o r aise i t t o t he v ertical. I n h eight t he s tones m easure: N W , 6 f t ( 1.8m); N E , 4 f t ( 1.2m); S E, 4 f t 9 i ns ( 1.5m); a nd, S W , 5 f t ( 1.5m). T hey a re u nshaped. T he S E w as f ound t o b e b edded 2 f t ( 60cm) i n t he g round. T here a re t hree c upmarks o n t op o f t he S W s tone. S uch d ecoration i s r are i n W ales. I t i s i nteresting, t herefore, t hat a nother c upmarked s tone w as f ound a t L lanerch F arm o nly 5 4 m iles t o t he W SW ( Dunn & P ye, 1 968). T here h as b een m uch d ispute a bout t he o riginal s tate o f t he m onument. I t h as b een c laimed t o b e t he r emains o f ac hambered t omb C ontinued o n o pposite p age.

2 03

A DDENDUM P LACE-NAME E VIDENCE T he s ites o f d estroyed F our-Posters m ay s ometimes b e i ndicated b y p lace-names s uch a s F orston o r F eatherstone, c orruptions o f O .E. F eoder-stan, ' four s tones '. I n t he a bsence o f a rchaeological r emains a nd h istorical e vidence n othing d efinite c an b e c laimed f or s uch n ames b ut t hey a re l isted h ere a nd i ndicated o n t he d istribution m ap t o r ecord t heir e xistence. P roof o f t he v alue o f p lace-names i n t his r espect c omes f rom t wo v illages t hat a re c lose t o p rehistoric r ows o f t hree s tones. T relleck, t ri-llech , ' three s tones', 4 ! m iles s outh o f M onmouth, h as a 3 -stone r ow a t S O 4 98052 i mmediately t o i ts w est. T rillick, t ri-h ag, i n C o. T yrone, i s 2. m iles N NE o f t he D erryallen 3 -stone r ow a t H3 09531. P ossible s ites o f v anished F our-Posters a re:F eatherstone, S taffs. S J 9 34 0 57. F eatherstone, N orthumberland. N Y 6 60 6 25. F eatherstone, Y orkshire. S E 4 32 2 28. F orston, D orset. S Y 6 66 9 56. E kwall ( 1959, 1 84), t he n ame f rom f orsardestan, ' Forsard 's t un '.

h owever,

d erives

F ourstones h amlet, N orthumberland. N Y 8 88 6 80. I t m ay b e s ignificant t hat i n t he 1 3th c entury r oyal j ustices f rom C arlisle w ould m eet h ere ( Craster, 1 907, 2 10 ; 1 926, 9 5). O ther s tone c ircles s uch a s O ld R ayne, A berdeenshire, w ere u sed a s a ccepted p laces o f a ssembly f or j udicial p roceedings ( Grinsell, 1 976, 2 11). S ee: S kye 1 . F our S tones H ill n ear B ampton, W estmorland. T here a re m any s tanding s tones a nd s tone c ircles w ithin a f ew m iles.

-

• , " /

f r

' Jr

" e r, /

' 4 / 1 i t

4 1

I

t

d

e N s

!i f

-

' V A

—

t e c •ew • dr ee l

. . ( 1

) T he T hree K ings ( Northumberland 2

2 04

" . ' " 3,

•

'

• -

• •• •

' / k n . . •

• • , • f‚r ;/ . ' r ' s

•; : • •• • • 4 1 . . . ., . . _, . .› . :1

_ ,

‘K

" Z i (

9t r

4 e f l

ee -L /

T HE F OUR S TONES, W alton, O ld R adnor ( Powys 2 ) Av iew f rom t he s outh—east.

L UNDIN L INKS ( Fife 1 ) Av iew f rom t he s outh.

2 05

•4

'

7 0

•

AP P E N D I X F EATURES B ONES

A ND

F INDS

I N

F OUND I N 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 1 , P erth 1 4, P erth 1 6, P erth 1 8,

F OUR-POSTERS

3 , A berdeen 5 , S utherland 1 .

A rran

3 ,

F ife

C AIRNS I N 4 -POSTERS: K irkcudbright 1 , M oray 2 , P erth 1 , P erth 2 (?), P erth 6 ( ?), P erth 7 , P erth 1 9, P erth 2 2, Y orkshire 1 ( ?), N orthumberland 1 ( ?), N orthumberland 2 . C ARDINAL P OINTS, L AYOUT O F 4 -POSTERS T O : A berdeen 7 , A rran 1 , A rran 2 , A rran 5 , A rran 6 , A yr 1 , K incardine 1 , K incardine 2 , P erth 7 , P erth 1 2, P erth 2 4, P erth 3 0, C umbria 1 , Y orkshire 1 , D evon 3 , C ork 4 . C HARCOAL I N 4 -POSTERS:

A berdeen 5 ,

A ngus 3 , K incardine 1 ,

2 , K irkcudbright 2 , P erth 5 , P erth 7 , P erth P erth 1 8, S utherland 1 , S hropshire 1 , D own 1 .

1 4,

K incardine P erth

1 6,

C HRISTIANISATION. 4 -POSTERS W ITH O NE S TONE M ISSING: A berdeen 2 , A ngus 1 , A ngus 7 , A rran 2 , A rran 3 , P erth 3 , P erth 6 , P erth 8 , P erth 1 1, P erth 1 6, P erth 1 7, D erbyshire 1 . C IRCLES, 4 -POSTERS L AID O UT O N: A ngus 2 , A ngus 3 , A rran 1 , A rran 2 , A rran 6 , B anff 1 , E ast L othian 1 , M oray 2 , P erth 5 , P erth 7 , P erth 8 , P erth 1 1, P erth 1 2, P erth 1 4, P erth 1 5, P erth 2 0, P erth 2 1, P erth 2 2, P erth 2 3, P erth 2 4, P erth 2 6, P erth 2 7, P erth 2 9, S utherland 1 , W igtown 1 , D evon 1 , D evon 2 , D evon 3 , D evon 5 , N orthumberland 2 , C ork 4 , C ork 5 , C ork 6 , W exford 1 , D own 1 , P owys 1 . C ISTS

I NSIDE 4 -POSTERS: A rran 3 , A rran 4 ( ?), K incardine 1 ( ?), P erth 1 4, S utherland 1 .

A rran 6 ,

F ife

1 ( ?),

C REMATIONS I N 4 -POSTERS: A yr 1 , K incardine 1 , K irkcudbright P erth 5 , P erth 6 , P erth 2 2, S utherland 1 , D own 1 .

2 ,

C UPMARKS O N S TONES O F 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 4 ( E), A ngus 1 ( ?), A ngus 2 ( SE), P erth 5 ( NE, S E), P erth 6 ( SW?, N W?), P erth 1 0 ( SE), P erth 1 3 ( SE), P erth 1 5 ( SE), P erth 2 1 ( outcrop), P erth 2 2 ( outcrop), P erth 2 9 ( SE), N orthumberland 1 ( NE), P owys 2 ( SW). E XCAVATIONS O F 4 -POSTERS: A rran 1 ( 1901), A rran 3 ( 28.9.1861), A rran 6 ( 26.9.1861), A yr 1 ( c.1816), F ife 1 ( early 1 8th C .), K incardine 1 ( 30.9.1858), K incardine 2 ( 20.9.1904), K irkcudbright 2 ( 1987), P erth 5 ( 1964), P erth 6 ( 1964), P erth 7 ( 1954) P erth 1 4 ( c.1840), P erth 1 6 ( 1970), P erth 1 7 ( 1970), P erth 2 2 ( 1963), P erth 2 6 ( 28-31.8.1894), P erth 2 8 ( 1974), S kye 1 ( pre-1863), S utherland 1 ( 7.5.1867), N orthumberland 1 ( post1 932), N orthumberland 2 ( 16-26.7.1971).

2 06

F INDS F ROM 4 -POSTERS: A ccessory v essels A OC b eaker A wl, b ronze B owdrill F lint a rrowhead F lint s craper F lints

K irkcudbright 2 P erth 2 2 A rran 6 P erth 6 ( ?), P erth 2 1 A rran 6 N orthumberland 2 A rran 3 , K incardine 2 ,

F ood-vessels J et b ead J et b utton J et r ing S herds S tone d isc U rn, b ucket U rns, c ollared U rns, c ordoned U rns, u ndescribed

A rran 6 , S hropshire 1 ( ?) S kye 1 ( ?) F ife 1 ( ?) P erth 1 7 A berdeen 5 P erth 2 2 D own 1 ( secondary?) K irkcudbright 2 , P erth 5 , P erth 2 2 K irkcudbright 2 , P erth 1 8 A ngus 3 , P erth 1 4

1

P erth 5 ,

S utherland

I NTERVENING S LABS I N 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 7 , A berdeen 8 , A ngus 8 , A rran 3 , M oray 1 , M oray 2 , P erth 2 ( ?), P erth 3 , P erth 9 , P erth 1 6, P erth 1 7, P erth 2 2, P erth 3 0, B rittany 1 . M OUNDS, 4 -POSTERS O N: A berdeen 2 , A berdeen 6 , A berdeen 7 , A berdeen 8 , A ngus 3 , A ngus 6 , A rran 4 , K incardine 1 , K incardine 2 ( ?), O rkney 1 , P erth 1 4, P erth 2 2, P erth 2 3, P erth 2 6, S utherland 1 , S utherland 2 , Y orkshire 1 , W exford 1 ( ?), B rittany 1 O UTLIERS. S INGLE S TONES O UTSIDE 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 4 , A rran 3 , E ast L othian 3 , K incardine 2 , P erth 7 ( ?), P erth 1 2, P erth18, P erth 2 2, S utherland 1 ( ?), W igtown 1 , D evon 5 , C ork 1 , C ork 2 , C ork 5 , K erry 1 , W exford 1 , D own 1 . O UTLYING S TONES A LIGNED O N 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 3 , K irkcudbright 1 , D evon 3 ( round b arrow).

4 ,

A ngus

8 ,

A rran

P AIRS O F S TANDING S TONES O UTSIDE 4 -POSTERS: A ngus 1 , A ngus 8 , K irkcudbright 1 , P erth 1 , P erth 1, P erth 1 3, P erth 1 5, C ork 2 . P ITS I N 4 -POSTERS: K irkcudbright 2 , P erth 5 , P erth 2 2, D own 1 . Q UARTZ I N 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 1 , A berdeen 7 , P erth 2 2, P erth 2 8, W exford 1 , B rittany 1 .

P erth

7 ,

P erth

1 7,

T ALL S TONE. O NE S IGNIFICANTLY H IGHER : C ork 2 , C ork 6 , K erry 1 . T WO S TONES H IGHER T HAN T HE O THERS I N 4 -POSTERS: A berdeen 1 , A berdeen 6 , A yr 1 , P erth 1 4, P owys 1 ( ?).

2 07

A CCESSION N UMBERS M any o f t he a rtefacts r ecovered f rom 4 -Posters h ave b een l ost. T hose t hat a re n ow i n m useums a re l isted b elow . ( 1) R oyal M useum o f S cotland, Q ueen S treet, E dinburgh E H2 1 JD. G lenballoch F arm ( Perth 1 8) u rn. A ccession N o. N MS: E A 2 .

( 2) M useum & A rt G allery, G eorge S treet, P erth P H1 5 LB. L undin F arm S outh ( Perth 2 2) a rtefacts. A ccession N os: 1 985 1 41-2, A OC b eaker s herds; 1 985 1 43-44, t hree r im s herds a nd t hree b ody s herds f rom c ord-decorated u rn ; 1 985 1 45, f our s herds o f u ndecorated p ot; 1 985 1 46.1, b ow d rill s tone; 1 985 1 46.2, b roken s tone f lake, p artly p erforated; 1 985 1 47, n ine c harcoal s lide s amples; 1 985 1 48, l ump o f d aub; 1 985 1 49, s mall g rey f lint f lake; 1 985 1 50 1 -6, c remated b one f rom s ix f ind-spots; 1 985, 1 51, c harcoal. T he m useum a lso n otes: ' We a lso h old a s election o f m aterial f rom o ther s ites h eld o n l oan d uring D r. S tewart 's l ifetime a nd s ince d onated b y M r. S tewart. T hese i tems h ave n ot b een a ccessioned o r i t h as b ecome c lear t hat i n s everal c ases t hey d o n ot r epresent t he e ntire s ite a rchive... N egotiations a re u nder w ay t o l ocate s ome i dentified m issing i tems. I t i s h oped t hat t hese w ill b e a dded t o t he m aterial h ere...' L etter, 2 J une, 1 988.

G lassel ( Kincardine 2 )

,

•

Je t 1 1 /32 - ^, .1 9 . „

• • • •

•

•.

." • • • • • • -

'I

‘1 4 • -,

'

1 . • • PAW " '

C arse F arm N orth ( Perth 5 ) f rom t he w est.

2 09

( Coles,

1 908)

T he C omet S tone ( Orkney 1 ) T he R ing o f B rodgar c ircle-henge i s i n t he b ackground.

•

•

•I I

•

s

.

3

c

• ( ;• e

%,

•

.

C .

. 2>

. •, . •

,

2 3›

4 1 /L.

( V e "

•

" 7 . 1

••

. •

.

•

• -

• -

C raighall M ill ( Perth 1 2) f rom t he s outh. ( Coles, 1 909)

2 10

M achrie M oor 4 ( Arran 6 )

f . /

C lachan a n D iridh ( Perth 8 ) f rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908)

2 11

A BBREVIATIONS A rch A el A rch C amb

A rchaeologia A eliana A rchaeologia C ambrensis

D & E

D iscovery & E xcavation,

J BAA J CHAS

J ournal o f t he B ritish A rchaeological A ssociation J ournal o f t he C ork H istorical a nd A rchaeological S ociety J ournal f or t he H istory o f A stronomy J ournal o f t he R oyal S ociety o f A ntiquaries o f I reland

J HA J RSAI

S cotland

O NB O S

O ld N ame B ook O rdnance S urvey

P PS P RIA P SAN P SAS

P roceedings P roceedings P roceedings P roceedings

R CAHM

R oyal C ommission M onuments

S AF S AR

S cottish A rchaeological F orum S cottish A rchaeological R eview

T CWAAS

T ransactions o f t he C umberland & W estmorland A ntiquarian & A rchaeological S ociety T ransactions o f t he D evonshire A ssociation T ransactions o f t he D umfriess & G alloway N atural H istory & A ntiquarian S ociety T ransactions & P roceedings o f t he P erthshire S ociety o f N atural S cience T ransactions o f t he S hropshire A rchaeological S ociety T hom , A ., A .S., & B url, H .A.W. M egalithic R ings: P lans & D ata f or 2 29 S ites. O xford, 1 980

T D ev A ss T DGNHAS T PPSNS T S hrops A S T TB

o f o f o f o f

t he t he t he t he

P rehistoric R oyal I rish A ntiquaries A ntiquaries f or

S ociety A cademy o f N ewcastle o f S cotland

A ncient

U JA

U lster J ournal o f A rchaeology

W AM

W iltshire A rchaeological M agazine

Y AJ

Y orkshire A rchaeological J ournal

2 12

&

H istorical

B IBLIOGRAPHY A bercromby, H on. J . ( 1912). A S tudy o f t he B ronze A ge P ottery o f G reat B ritain & I reland. I , I I. O xford. A llcroft, A .H. ( 1927). T he C ircle a nd t he C ross. L ondon. A llen, J .R. ( 1881a). ' Notice o f p rehistoric r emains n ear T ealing i n F orfarshire'. J BAA 3 7, 2 54-61. A llen, J .R. ( 1881b). ' Notice o f t hree c upmarked s tones, a nd t he d iscovery o f a n u rn, i n P erthshire'. P SAS 1 5, 1 880-1, 8 2-92. A llen, J .R. ( 1882). ' Notes o n s ome u ndescribed s tones w ith c upm arkings'. P SAS 1 6, 1 881-2, 7 9-143. A nderson, J . ( 1886). S cotland i n P agan T imes. T he B ronze a nd S tone A ges. E dinburgh. A nthony, I .L. ( 1973). D iscovering R egional A rchaeology - W ales. P rinces R isborough. A pSimon, A . w ith C ase,H. ( 1969). ' The N eolithic a nd e arlier B ronze A ges i n t he n orth o f I reland'. U JA 3 2, 3 -72. A ubrey, J . ( 1980). M onumenta B ritannica. 1 665-93. I . M ilborne P ort. B anks, R .W. ( 1874). ' The F our S tones, O ld R adnor'. A rch C amb 5 ( 4th S eries), 2 15-17. B arber, J .W. ( 1972). ' The s tone c ircles o f C ork a nd K erry. A s tudy, I , I I'. U npublished M A t hesis, C ork U niversity. B arnatt, J . ( 1982). P rehistoric C ornwall: t he C eremonial M onuments. W ellingborough. B arnatt, J . ( 1987). ' The d esign a nd d istribution o f s tone c ircles i n B ritain'. U npublished P hD t hesis, S heffield U niversity. B arnatt, J . & P ierpoint, S .(1983). ' Stone c ircles. O bservatories o r c eremonial c entres?'. S AR 2 ( 2), 1 01-16. B eckensall, S . ( 1974). T he P rehistoric C arved R ocks o f N orthumberland N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. B eckensall, S . ( 1986). R ock C arvings o f N orthern B ritain. P rinces R isborough. B erriman, A .E. ( 1953). H istorical M etrology. O xford. B oston, T . ( 1884). ' Notes o n t hree s epulchral m ounds o n t he f arm o f B almuick...' P SAS 1 8, 1 883-4, 3 06-8. B owen, E .G. ( 1972). B ritain a nd t he W estern S eaways. L ondon. B owen, E .G. & G resham , C .A. ( 1967). H istory o f M erioneth, I . D olgellau. B rowne, S ir T . ( 1658). H ydriotaphia. U rne B uriall. e d. ( Herford C .H.). L ondon, 1 906. B ryce, J . ( 1862). ' An a ccount o f e xcavations w ithin t he s tone c ircles o f A rran '. P SAS 4 , 1 860-2, 4 99-524. B ryce, T .H. ( 1903). ' On t he c airns o f A rran'. P SAS 3 7, 3 6-67. B ryce, T .H. ( 1910). ' The s epulchral r emains). i n: ( ed. B alfour, J .A.). T he B ook o f A rran. A rchaeology. G lasgow. 3 3-155. B url, A . ( 1971). ' Two " Scottish" s tone c ircles i n N orthumberland'. A rch A el 4 9, 3 7-51. B url, A . ( 1972). ' Torhousekie s tone c ircle, W igtownshire: a l ink b etween A berdeen a nd C ork '. T DGNHAS 4 9, 2 4-34. B url, A . ( 1974). ' The r ecumbent s tone c ircles o f n orth-east S cotland' P SAS 1 02, 1 969-70 , 5 6-81. B url, A . ( 1976). T he S tone C ircles o f t he B ritish I sles. L ondon. B url, A . ( 1979a). R ings o f S tone. L ondon.

2 13

B url, A . ( 1979b). P rehistoric A vebury. L ondon. B url, A . ( 1980a). ' Science o r s ymbolism : p roblems o f a rchaeo-astronomy'. A ntiquity 5 4, 1 91-200. B url, A . ( 1980b). ' Prehistoric s tone c ircles o n M achrie M oor'. A rran N aturalist 4 , 2 1-6. B url, A . ( 1981). R ites o f t he G ods. L ondon. B url, A . ( 1985). M egalithic B rittany. A G uide. L ondon. B url, A . ( 1987). T he S tonehenge P eople. L ondon. B url, A . ( 1988). ' Coves: s tructural e nigmas o f t he N eolithic '. W AM 8 2. B url, A . & J ones, N . ( 1972). ' The e xcavation o f t he T hree K ings s tone c ircles, N orthumberland'. A rch A el 5 0, 1 -14. C aseldine, J . ( 1974). ' Early l and c learance i n s outh-east P erthshire' S AF 9 , 1 -15. C amden, W . ( 1695). B ritannia. ( ed. G ibson, E .). L ondon. C ash, C .G. ( 1911). ' Archaeological g leanings f rom A berfeldy...', P SAS 4 5, 1 910-11, 3 86-97. ude s tone m onuments C hanter, R ev. J .F. & W orth, R .H. ( 1905). ' The r ss 3 7, 3 75-97. o f E xmoor, a nd i ts b orders. P art 1 '. T D ev A ude s tone m onuments C hanter, R ev. J .F. & W orth, R .H. ( 1906). ' The r ss 3 8, 5 38-52. o f E xmoor, a nd i ts b orders. P art 2 '. T D ev A eig s tone C hilde, V .G. ( 1933). ' Trial e xcavations a t t he O ld K c ircle, A berdeenshire '. P SAS 6 7, 1 932-33, 3 7-53. rehistoric C hitty, L .F. ( 1929). ' Notes o n r ecent a cquisitions t o t he p s ection, S hrewsbury M useum '. T S hrops A S 4 5, 6 1-74. C hurcher, I . ( 1985). ' A s urvey o f s tone c ircles i n s outhern L einster' U npublished B A t hesis, D urham U niversity. ritain & I reland, C larke, D .L. ( 1970). B eaker P ottery o f G reat B I , I I. C ambridge. C oles, F .R. ( 1895). ' The s tone c ircles o f t he S tewartry o f K irkcud bright'. P SAS 2 9, 1 894-5, 3 01-16. C oles, F .R. ( 1900). ' Report o n s tone c ircles i n K incardine ( North)'. P SAS 3 4, 1 899-1900, 1 39-98. C oles, F .R. ( 1901). ' Report o n t he s tone c ircles o f t he n orth-east o f S cotland'. 7 P SAS 3 5, 1 900-1, 1 87-248 . n A berdeenshire'. C oles, F .R. ( 1902 —r f e3ort o n s tone c ircles i P SAS 3 6, 1 901-2, 4 88-581. f n orth-eastern ircles o C oles, F .R. ( 1903a). ' Report o n t he s tone c S cotland'. P SAS 3 7, 1 902-3, 8 2-142. tanding s tones a t O ld nd s C oles, F .R. ( 19 ). ' Notice o f a c airn a idlothian a nd F ife'. n M L iston, a nd o ther s tanding s tones i P SAS 3 7, 1 902-3, 2 01-15. ircles i n K incardine', tone c C oles, F .R. ( 1905). ' Excavation o f t wo s P SAS 3 9, 1 904-5, 1 90-218. urveyed i n t he n orthC oles, F .R. ( 1906a). ' Report o n s tone c ircles s 0 , 1 905-6, e ast o f S cotland, c hiefly i n B anffshire'. P SAS 4 1 64-206. Notices o f s tanding s tones, c ists a nd h itherto C oles, F .R. ( 1906b). ' n v arious l ocalities '. P SAS u nrecorded c up- a nd r ing-marks i 4 0, 1 905-6, 2 91-327. C oles, F .R. ( 1907). ' Report o n s tone c ircles s urveyed...(Banffshire a nd M oray). P SAS 4 1, 1 906-7, 1 30-72. C oles, F .R. ( 1908). ' Report o n s tone c ircles s urveyed i n P erthshire -n orth-eastern s ection '. P SAS 4 2, 1 907-8, 9 5-162. C oles, F .R. ( 1909). ' Report o n s tone c ircles s urveyed i n P erthshire ( SE d istrict)'. P SAS 4 3, 1 908-9, 9 3-130. 2 14

C oles, F .R. ( 1910). ' Report o n s tone c ircles s urveyed i n P erthshire. A berfeldy d istrict'. P SAS 4 4, 1 909-10, 1 17-68. C oles, F .R. ( 1911). ' Report o n s tone c ircles i n P erthshire, p rincipally S trathearn '. P SAS 4 5, 1 910-11, 4 6-116. C oles, J .M . & S impson, D .D.A. ( 1965). ' The e xcavation o f a N eolithic r ound b arrow a t P itnacree, P erthshire, S cotland'. P PS 3 1, 3 45 7. C outts, H . ( 1970). A ncient M onuments o f T ayside. D undee. C outts, H . ( 1971). T ayside B efore H istory. D undee. C owie, T .G. ( 1978). B ronze A ge F ood-Vessel U rns. O xford. C raig, J . ( 1950). ' The s tone c ircles o f t he L adieswell o f B alronald a nd o f K nocksoul'. A berdeen U niversity R eview 3 3, 4 28-30. C raster, H .H.E. ( 1907). A H istory o f N orthumberland, V II. L ondon. C raster, H .H.E. ( 1926). i bid, X II. L ondon. D avidson, J .L. & H enshall, A .S. ( 1983). ' A N eolithic c hambered l ong c airn a t E dinchip, P erthshire'. P SAS 1 13, 1 982-3, 3 5-9. D obson, D .P. ( 1931). T he A rchaeology o f S omerset. L ondon. D unn, C .J. & P ye, W .R.A. ( 1968). ' Cup-marked b oulder a t L lanerch F arm...Radnorshire, a nd i ts W elsh c ontext'. T ransactions o f t he R adnorshire S ociety 3 8, 6 1-3. D ymond, C .W . ( 1881). ' Mayburgh a nd K ing A rthur's R ound T able'. T CWAAS 1 1 ( 0.S.), 1 87-219. E ardley-Wilmot, H . ( 1979). ' Looking f or E xmoor's p ast'. E xmoor R eview 2 0 , 6 4-7. E kwall, E . ( 1959). E nglish P lace-Names. O xford. E lgee, F . ( 1930). E arly M an i n N orth-East Y orkshire. G loucester. E lgee, F . &H .W . ( 1933). T he A rchaeology o f Y orkshire. L ondon. E udes, O . ( 1981). D olmens e t M enhirs d e B retagne. P aris. E vans, E .E. ( 1966). P rehistoric a nd E arly C hristian I reland. L ondon. F ahy,

E .M . ( 1959). ' A r ecumbent-stone c ircle a t D rombeg, C o. C ork. J CHAS 6 4, 1 -27. F airhurst, H . ( 1977). ' Stone c ircles ( Four P osters)'. D & E , 9 , 1 0. F eachem , R . ( 1977). G uide t o P rehistoric S cotland ( 2nd e dition), L ondon. F leming, A . ( 1971). ' Territorial p atterns i n B ronze A ge W essex '. P PS 3 7, 1 38-66. F olklore, M yths ( 1973). F olklore, M yths a nd L egends o f B ritain ( no a uthor c ited). R eader's D igest, L ondon. F ox, S ir C . ( 1959). L ife a nd D eath i n t he B ronze A ge. L ondon. G iot, P -R. ( 1960). B rittany. L ondon. G ordon, A . ( 1732). I tinerarium S eptentrionale. L ondon. G rinsell, L .V. ( 1970). T he A rchaeology o f E xmoor. N ewton A bbot. G rinsell, L .V. ( 1976). F olklore o f P rehistoric S ites i n B ritain. N ewton A bbot. H adingham , E . ( 1974). A ncient C arvings i n B ritain. A M ystery. L ondon. H arris, J . ( 1984). ' A p reliminary s urvey o f h ut c ircles a nd f ield s ystems i n S E P erthshire'. P SAS 1 14, 1 99-216. H eelis,A.J. ( 1912). ' Mayburgh a nd K ing A rthur's R ound T able'. T CWAAS 1 2, 1 46-54.

'5

H eggie, D .C. ( 1981). M egalithic S cience. L ondon. H enshall, A .S. ( 1972). T he C hambered T ombs o f S cotland, I I. E dinburgh H enshall, A .S. & S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1956). ' Excavations a t C lach n a T iompan, W ester G len A lmond, P erthshire'. P SAS 8 8, 1 12-24. H erity, M . &E ogan, G . ( 1977). I reland i n P rehistory. L ondon. H icks, R . ( 1977). ' Thom 's m egalithic y ard a nd t raditional m easurements'. I rish A rchaeological F orum 4 ( 1), 1 -7. H oneyman, H .L. ( 1932). ' Goatstones'. P SAN 5 , 3 04-6. J ervise, A . ( 1857). ' Notices d escriptive o f t he l ocalities o f c ertain s culptured s tone m onuments i n F orfarshire ( Part 1 ). P SAS 2 , 1 854-7, 1 87-99. J obey, G . & T ait, J . ( 1966). ' Excavations o n p alisaded s ettlements a nd c airnfields a t A lnham , N orthumberland'. A rch A el 4 4, 5 4 8. K eiller, A . ( 1934). M egalithic M onuments o f N .E. S cotland. L ondon. K ilbride-Jones, H .E. ( 1934). ' Stone c ircles: a n ew t heory o f t he e rection o f t he m onoliths'. P SAS 6 8, 8 1-96. K ilbride-Jones, H .E. ( 1950). ' The e xcavation o f a c omposite E arly I ron A ge m onument w ith ' henge ' f eatures a t L ugg, C o. D ublin '. P RIA 5 3C, 3 11-32. K irk , W . ( 1953). ' Prehistoric s ites a t t he S ands o f F orvie, A berdeenshire'. A berdeen U niversity R eview 3 5, 1 50-71. K nox, R . ( 1855). E arly Y orkshire e tc. L ondon. L ewis, A .L. ( 1888). ' Stone c ircles n ear A berdeen '. J ournal o f t he A nthropological I nstitute 1 7, 4 4-57. L ewis, A .L. ( 1892). ' Stone c ircles o f B ritain '. A rchaeological J ournal 4 9, 1 36-54. L ewis, A .L. ( 1914). ' Standing s tones a nd s tone c ircles i n Y orkshire'. M an 1 4, 1 63-6. L ockyer, S ir N . ( 1906). S tonehenge a nd O ther B ritish S tone M onuments A stronomically C onsidered. L ondon. L ove, E . ( 1875). ' Notices o f t he s everal o penings o f a c airn o n C uffhill...'. P SAS 1 1, 1 874-5, 2 72-97. L ye, D . ( 1982). ' Heatheryhaugh. C upmarked s tone'. D & E , 3 4. L ynch, A . ( 1981). M an a nd E nvironment i n S .W. I reland. O xford. L ynch, F . ( 1975). ' The i mpact o f l andscape o n p rehistoric m an'. i n: ( eds. E vans, J .G., L imbrey, S ., & C leere, H .). T he E ffect o f M an o n t he L andscape: t he H ighland Z one. L ondon. 1 24-6. M ackenzie, J .B. ( 1900). ' Notes o n s ome c up-marked s tones a nd r ocks n ear K enmore, a nd t heir f olklore'. P SAS 3 4, 1 899-1900 , 3 253 4. M cMann, J . ( 1980). R iddles o f t he L andscape. L ondon. M acpherson, J . ( 1896). C hronicles o f S trathearn. M arwick, E . ( 1975). T he F olklore o f O rkney a nd S hetland. L ondon. M asters, L . ( 1977). ' Excavations a t t he W ren 's E gg, P ort W illiam , W igtown d istrict'. T DGNHAS 5 2, 2 8-43. M cClellan, R . ( 1970). T he I sle o f A rran. N ewton A bbot. M cClellan, R . ( 1977). A ncient M onuments o f A rran. E dinburgh. M cCullagh, R . ( 1987). ' Park o f T ongland'. D & E , 5 . M iller, R ev. T .D. ( 1929). T ales o f aH ighland P arish. M unro P ress. M itchell, H . ( 1923). P itlochry a nd D istrict. A berfeldy.

2 16

M ogey, J .M . ( 1949). ' Preliminary r eport o n e xcavations i n M ullaghmore t d., C o. D own '. U JA 1 2, 8 2-8. M ogey, J .M . & T hompson, G .B. ( 1956). ' Excavation o f t wo r ing-barrows i n M ullaghmore t d, C o. D own '. U JA 1 9, 1 1-28. M orris, R .W .B. ( 1981). T he P rehistoric R ock A rt o f S outhern S cotland. O xford. M ountford, G . ( 1932). ' Standing s tones o n S tapley H ill'. T S hrops A S 4 6, 2 00-3. M urray, J . ( 1981). ' The s tone c ircles o f W igtownshire'. T DGNHAS 5 6, 1 8-30. O 'Dell, A .C. & W alton, K . ( 1962). T he H ighlands a nd I slands o f S cotland. L ondon. O gston, S ir A . ( 1919). ' The c airns i n C romar, A berdeenshire'. P SAS 5 3, 1 75-9. O gston, S ir A . ( 1931). P rehistoric A ntiquities o f t he H owe o f C romar. A berdeen. O 'Nuallain, S . ( 1975). ' The s tone c ircle c omplex o f C ork a nd K erry '. J RSAI 1 05, 8 3-131. O 'Nuallain, S . ( 1984a). ' A s urvey o f s tone c ircles i n C ork a nd K erry' P RIA 8 4C, 1 -77. O 'Nuallain, S . ( 1984b). ' Grouped s tanding s tones, r adial-stone c airns a nd e nclosures i n t he s outh o f I reland'. J RSAI 1 14, 6 3-79. O 'Nuallain, S . ( forthcoming). ' A s urvey o f s tone r ows i n t he s outh o f I reland'. P icard, G .C. & C . ( 1968). T he L ife a nd D eath o f C arthage. L ondon. P ierpoint, S . ( 1981). ' Land, s ettlement a nd s ociety i n t he Y orkshire B ronze A ge'. i n : ( ed. B arker, G .). P rehistoric C ommunities i n N orthern E ngland. S heffield. 4 1-55. P iggott, S . ( 1976). R uins i n aL andscape. E dinburgh. P iggott, S . & S impson, D .D.A. ( 1971). ' Excavation o f a s tone c ircle a t C roft M oraig, P erthshire, S cotland'. P PS 3 7, 1 -15. R aistrick, A . ( 1929). ' The B ronze A ge i n W est Y orkshire'. Y AJ 2 9, 3 54-65. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1911). S utherland I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1912). G alloway, I . W igtownshire I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1914). G alloway, I I. K irkcudbright I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1924). E ast L othian I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1928). O uter H ebrides I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1933). F ife, K inross a nd C lackmannan I nventory. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1946). O rkney & S hetland I nventory, I , I I. R CAHM-Scotland ( 1984). A rgyll I nventory, V . R CAHM-Wales ( 1913). R adnorshire I nventory. R enfrew , C . ( 1973). B efore C ivilisation. L ondon. R itchie, A . &G . ( 1978). T he A ncient M onuments o f O rkney. E dinburgh. R itchie, J . ( 1918). ' Cupmarks o n t he s tone c ircles a nd s tandings tones o f A berdeenshire a nd p art o f B anffshire '. P SAS 5 2, 8 6-121. R itchie, J ( 1926). ' Folklore o f t he A berdeenshire s tone c ircles a nd s tanding s tones'. P SAS 6 0, 3 04-13. R itchie, J .N.G. ( 1974). ' Excavation o f t he s tone c ircle a nd c airn a t B albirnie, F ife'. A rchaeological J ournal 1 31, 1 -32. R itchie, J .N.G. ( 1976). ' The S tones o f S tenness, O rkney '. P SAS 1 07, 1 -60.

2 17

R oss, A . ( 1986). T he P agan C elts. L ondon. R uggles, C .L.N. ( 1984). M egalithic A stronomy. A N ew A rchaeological a nd S tatistical S tudy o f 3 00 W estern S cottish S ites. O xford . R uggles, C .L.N. & B url, H .A.W . ( 1985). ' A n ew s tudy o f t he A berdeenshire r ecumbent s tone c ircles. 2 : i nterpretation '. J HA 8 , S 25-S60. S couezec, G . l e. ( 1979). G uide d e l a B retagne M ysterieuse. P aris . S hepherd, I .A.G. ( 1986a). P owerful P ots. B eakers i n N orth-East P rehistory. A berdeen. S hepherd, I .A.G. ( 1986b). E xplaining S cotland's H eritage. G rampian. E dinburgh. S hepherd, I .A.G. ( 1987). ' The e arly p eoples '. i n: ( ed. O mand , D .). T he G rampian B ook. G olspie. 1 19-30. S hepherd, I .A.G. & R alston, I .B.M . ( 1979). E arly G rampian. A berdeen. S herriff, J .R. ( 1985). ' Tayside. S trone H ill'. D & E , 6 0. S herriff, J .R. ( 1986). ' Brankam H ill, T ayside '. D&E , 4 2. S impson , J .Y. ( 1865). ' On a ncient s culptings o f c ups a nd c oncentric r ings & c et'. P SAS 6 , 1 864-6. A ppendix. 1 -147. S impson, S ir J .Y. ( 1867). B ritish A rchaic S culpturings. E dinburgh. S mith, J . ( 1895). P rehistoric M an i n A yrshire. L ondon. S mith, R .A. ( 1880). ' Notes o n s tone c ircles i n D urris, K incardine, a nd i ts n eighbourhood'. P SAS 1 4, 1 879-80, 2 94-309. S mith, W .M . ( 1895). ' Recent a ntiquarian r esearch i n G lenshee ', P SAS 2 9, 1 894-5, 9 6-9. S omerville, C aptain H .B. ( 1909). ' Notes o n as tone c ircle i n C ounty C ork '. J CHAS 1 5, 1 05-8. S omerville, C aptain H .B. ( 1912). ' Prehistoric m onuments i n t he O uter H ebrides, a nd t heir a stronomical s ignificance'. J ournal o f t he R oyal A nthropological I nstitute 4 2, 3 2-52. S omerville, R ear-Admiral H .B. ( 1923). ' Instances o f o rientation i n p rehistoric m onuments o f t he B ritish I sles'. A rchaeologia 7 3, 1 93-224. S omerville, V ice-Admiral H .B. ( 1930). ' Five s tone c ircles o f W est C ork '. J CHAS 3 5, 7 0-85. S pain, G .R.B. ( 1912). ' The T hree K ings o f D enmark '. P SAN 5 , 2 347 . S tevenson, J . ( 1973). ' Kilspindie. S tone-setting'. D & E , 4 4. S tewart, C . ( 1884). ' Notice o f s epulchral m ounds a nd c up-marked s tones, n ear F ortingall, i n G lenlyon , P erthshire'. P SAS 1 8, 3 76-8. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1959). ' Strathtay i n t he s econd m illennium B .C. - f ield s urvey'. P SAS 9 2, 7 1-84. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1964). ' Carse F arm 1 a nd 2 '. D & E , 3 9-40. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1962). ' The e xcavation o f t wo c ircular e nclosures a t D alnaglar, P erthshire'. P SAS 9 5, 1 34-58. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1965). ' Excavation o f a c ircle o f s tanding s tones a t S andy R oad, S cone, P erthshire'. T PPSNS 1 1, 7 -23. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1966). ' The e xcavation o f a s etting o f s tanding s tones a t L undin F arm , n ear A berfeldy, P erthshire'. P SAS 9 8 , 1 26-49. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1974a). ' The p rehistory o f P erthshire i n t he 4 th, 3 rd a nd 2 nd m illennia B C '. T PPSNS ( Special I ssue), 5 -13. S tewart, M .E.C. ( 1974b). ' Tirinie F arm . " Fourposter" s etting'. D&E , 4 9.

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S tuart, J . ( 1854). ' On t he e arlier a ntiquities o f t he d istrict o f C romar i n A berdeenshire'. P SAS 1 , 1 852-4, 2 58-63. S tuart, J . ( 1857). ' Notice o f t he e arly e cclesiastical s ettlement o f t he c ountry o n t he D everon'. P SAS 2 , 1 854-7, 3 68-76. S tukeley, W . ( 1740). S tonehenge. A T emple R estor'd t o t he B ritish D ruids. L ondon. S tukeley, W . ( 1776). I tinerarium C uriosum, I I. L ondon. T ait,

L . ( 1868). ' Notice o f t he o pening o f a s tone c ircle a t C raigmore i n S trathfleet, S utherlandshire'. P SAS 7 , 1 866-8, 4 73-5. T hom , A . ( 1966). ' Megalithic a stronomy: i ndications i n s tanding s tones'. V istas i n A stronomy 7 , 1 965, 1 -57. T hom, A . ( 1967). M egalithic S ites i n B ritain. O xford. T hom, A . ( 1971). M egalithic L unar O bservatories. O xford. T hom, A ., & A .S. ( 1973). ' A m egalithic l unar o bservatory i n O rkney: t he R ing o f B rogar a nd i ts c airns'. J HA 4 , 1 11-23. T hom, A ., & A .S. ( 1975). ' Further w ork o n t he B rogar l unar o bservatory T . J HA 6 , 1 00-14. T hom, A ., A .S., & B url, H .A.W. ( 1980). M egalithic R ings: P lans a nd D ata f or 2 29 S ites. O xford. T homas, N . ( 1976). G uide t o P rehistoric E ngland. L ondon. T homson, A . ( 1864). ' Notice o f a g roup o f f our c ircles o f s tanding s tones i n t he s outh c orner o f t he p arish o f B anchory-Devenich, c ounty o f K incardine'. P SAS 5 , 1 862-4, 1 30-5. T oland, J . ( c. 1 790). A C ritical H istory o f t he C eltic r eligion... C ontaining a n A ccount o f t he D ruids. L ondon. T ulloch, A . ( 1983). ' The r ecumbent s tone c ircle t radition o f t he n orth-east o f S cotland'. U npublished M A t hesis, E dinburgh U niversity. W ainwright, G .J. ( 1979). M ount P leasant, D orset. E xcavations, 1 9707 1. L ondon. W alker, B . & R itchie, G . ( 1987). E xploring S cotland's H eritage. F ife a nd T ayside. E dinburgh. W arden, A .J. ( 1884). A ngus o r F orfarshire, V . W atson, W .J. ( 1915). ' Circular f orts i n L orn a nd N orth P erthshire..' P SAS 4 9, 1 9-20. W hybrow, C . ( 1970). A ntiquary's E xmoor. D ulverton. W ilson, D . ( 1863). P rehistoric A nnals o f S cotland, I . L ondon. W orth, R .H. ( 1967). W orth's " Dartmoor". ( eds. S pooner, G .M. & R ussell F .S.). N ewton A bbot.

2 19

N a C arraigean E dintian ( Perth 2 3) f rom t he e ast. ( Coles, 1 908)

Ir

M ayburgh ( Cumbria 1 ).

[ The e ntrance i s a t t he e ast, n ot s outh]. ( Aubrey, 1 980)

2 20

I NDEX N ames o f F our-Posters a re i n c apital l etters. U nderlining i ndicates a n i llustration. B old t ype r efers t o a m ajor e ntry . A berdeensh ire . 1 0 , 1 5-21 , 9 0-101 ' Aber feldy ' . s ee : L undin F arm S outh-East A BERSCROSS ( Suther land 1 ) . 7 , 1 2 , 2 5 , 1 98-9 A ccessory v esse ls . 3 1 , 4 7 , 1 37 , 2 07 A griculture . 1 9 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 9 , 4 5 , 7 7 , 1 61 , 1 77 A ngus . 2 4 , 1 02-9 ARDILISTRY ( I s lay 1 ) . 6 , 8 , 1 28-9 A rran . 2 5 , 2 6 , 2 8 , 3 8 , 4 7 , 4 9 , 1 10-21 A stronomy . 2 , 3 , 3 3 , 3 4-8 , 4 6 4 7 , 6 7 , 1 09 , 1 15 , 1 82 , 1 93 A tk inson , J .C.A. 4 9 A ubrey , J ohn . 1 8 , 2 6 , 5 9 , 1 43 AUCHELEFFAN ( Arran 1 ) . 2 6 , 1 10-11 , 1 13 , 1 29 AUCHTERHOUSE ( Angus 1 ) . 6 , 1 02-3 , 1 07 A xes , s tone . 9 1 , 9 4

1 27 ,

1 35 ,

1 43 ,

B ACKHILL OF DRACHLAW ( Aberdeen 1 ) . 8 , 1 4 , 1 6-17 , 9 0-1 , 9 7 B AGBIE ( Kirkcudbr ight 1 ) . 8 , 3 6 , 6 3 , 1 34-5 B ALKEMBACK ( Angus 2 ) . 8 , 2 4 , 3 4 , 3 7 , 1 02-3 B ALLY MICHAEL BRIDGE ( Arran 2 ) . 6 , 2 6 , 1 12-13 B ALMUICK ( Perth 1 ) . 1 44-5 B ALNAKEIL ( Suther land 2 ) . 8 , 1 2 , 1 99 B arber , J ohn . 5 0, 8 3, 8 5 B eakers . 1 8 , 3 1 , 4 6 , 4 7 , 1 82 , 1 83 , 2 07 , 2 08 B LACKGATE ( Angus 3 ) . 8 , 2 4 , 1 04-5 B LAIR ATHOLL EAST ( Perth 2 ) . 1 46-7 B LAIR ATHOLL WEST ( Perth 3 ) . 1 47 B la irgowr ie . 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 4 B lue C a irn R SC, A berdeen . 1 4 , 1 8 , 1 9 , 2 1 ' Bordley ' . s ee : D ruid 's A ltar B ow-dr i ll , s tone . 1 51 , 1 83 , 1 85 , 2 07 B RANKA M H ILL NORTH ( A) ( Angus 4 ) . 8 , 2 4 , 1 06 B RANKA M H ILL NORTH ( B) ( Angus 5 ) . 8 , 2 4 , 1 06 B RANKA M H ILL S OUTH-EAST ( Angus 6 ) . 8 , 2 4 , 1 06 B RENDON TWO-GATES ( Devon 1 ) . 6 0-1 B ri ttany . 4 , 6 , 1 0 , 1 3 , 2 7 , 3 1 , 5 7 B rodgar , R ing o f , O rkney . 2 5 , 1 43 B ronze . 1 8 , 3 1 , 7 1 , 9 1 , 1 21 , 2 07 B ronze A ge . 1 , 2 , 3 , 1 7 , 1 9 , 2 1 , 2 5 , 2 7 , 2 9 , 3 0 , 3 1-3 , 4 0 , 4 5 , 7 7 , 9 1 , 9 7 , 1 15 , 1 43 , 1 45 , 1 67 , 2 01 , 2 03 B ROOKPARK ( Cork 1 ) . 7 9 B ROUGHDARG ( Per th 4 ) . 2 0 , 2 1 , 1 89 B ROWLAND ( Moray 1 ) . 1 38-9 B ryce , J . 3 8 , 4 9 , 1 15 , 1 21 B ryce , T .H. 3 8 , 1 11

2 21

5 7 ,

1 55 ,

7 5 ,

C a irn R iv R SC, A berdeen . 1 4 , 1 8 , 3 3 , 9 1 C a irns . 2 , 1 1-12 , 1 6 , 1 7-18 , 1 9 , 2 2 , 2 4 , 2 5 , 3 1 , 4 5 , 4 7 , 5 1 , 5 7 , 6 7 , 6 9 , 7 2 , 7 3 , 7 6 , 7 7 , 8 9 , 9 1 , 9 3 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 01 , 1 05 , 1 06 , 1 17 , 1 22 , 1 31 , 1 33 , 1 35 , 1 36-7 , 1 41 , 1 43 , 1 45 , 1 53 , 1 63 , 1 79 , 1 83 , 1 87 , 1 91 , 1 92 , 1 99 , 2 01 , 2 03 , 2 06 CAPPABOY B EG ( Cork 2 ) . 1 2 , 2 7 , 5 0 5 1 , 7 8-9 C ard inal p oints . 2 , 1 2 , 1 6 , 2 6 , 2 9 , 3 0 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 3 8 , 4 7 , 5 9 , 6 1 , 6 3 , 7 2 , 7 3 , 7 5 , 8 1 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 11 , 1 13 , 1 19 , 1 21 , 1 23 , 1 31 , 1 53 , 1 59 , 1 89 , 1 95 , 2 06 IC arse t.s ee : T ir inie F arm CARSE F ARM NORTH ( Perth 5 ) . 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 , 2 3 , 3 4 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 4 4 , 1 489 , 1 67 , 2 09 CARSE F ARM S OUTH ( Perth 6 ) . x , 3 , 8 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 3 4 , 1 50-1 , 1 61 , 1 67 , 1 75 , 1 92 CARSE GRAY ( Angus 7 ) . 1 07 C at tle . s ee : P astora l ism C entre s tones . 2 9 , 3 0 , 6 1 , 6 3 , 6 5 C hanter , J .F . & Wor th , R .H. 2 9 , 3 0 , 4 0 , 6 1-5 C harcoa l . 2 , 1 3 , 4 7 , 5 1 , 7 7 , 1 31 , 1 33 , 1 37 , 1 49 , 1 53 , 1 69 , 1 83 , 1 99 , 2 06 CHATEAU-BC ( Bri ttany ) . 8 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 2 5 , 3 0-1 , 5 6-7 IC h ri st ian isat ion ' . 1 6 , 2 5 , 3 9-40 , 7 5 , 9 3 , 1 07 , 1 14 , 1 31 , 1 47 , 1 51 , 1 55 , 1 57 , 1 69 , 2 06 C ists . 2 , 1 3 , 1 8 , 2 5 , 4 7 , 1 17 , 1 21 , 1 27 , 1 33 , 1 63 , 1 99 , 2 06 CLACH NA T IOMPAN ( Perth 7 ) . 6 , 2 8 , 1 52-3 CLACH S TEIN ( Lewis 1 ) . 8 , 1 39 CLACHAN AN D IRIDH ( Per th 8 ) . 7 , 8 , 4 2 , 4 3 , 4 4 , 1 54-5 , 2 11 C larke , D . 1 8 , 3 1 , 4 7 , 1 45 , 1 83 C learances , l and . 1 9 , 2 1 , 2 2 C oles , F .R. i i , 1 , 3 , 6 , 1 3 , 1 6 , 3 7 , 5 2 , 9 3 , 9 7 , 1 01 , 1 14 , 1 31 , 1 33 , 1 37 , 1 41 , 1 45 , 1 47 , 1 57 , 1 59 , 1 65 , 1 67 , 1 81 , 1 87 , 1 93 , 1 95 C oles , J .M. & S impson , D .D.A. 3 , 1 5 , 1 67 C olours , o f s tones . 4 8-50 , 1 36 COMET S TONE ( Orkney 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 5 , 1 42-3 , 2 10 COMMONBANK NORTH-WEST ( Per th 9 ) . 1 56 COMMONBANK S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 1 0 ) . 8 , 3 4 , 1 56 C omr ie T.s ee : T ul lybannocher COMRIE B RIDGE ( Perth 1 1) . 6 , 1 57 1 57 C opper . 2 6 , 2 7 , 1 45 , 1 53 C ork & K erry . 3 , 6 , 1 0 , 1 3 , 2 7 , 3 1 , 3 3 , 4 5 , 5 1 , 5 7 , 7 8-87 COROGLE BURN ( Angus 8 ) . 3 6 , 1 08-9 C othiemu ir Wood R SC, A berdeen . 1 8 , 9 3 C ove , m ega li thic . 1 42 ' Courthi ll ' . s ee : C raigha ll M i ll CRAIGHALL M ILL ( Perth 1 2 ) . 7 , 8 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 1 58-9 , 1 77 , 2 10 CRAIGHEAD ( Kincardine 1 ) . 8 , 1 4 2 4 , 3 7 , 1 30-1 CRAMRAR ( Per th 1 3 ) . 2 3 , 3 4 , 1 60-1 , 1 67 , 1 75 , 1 92 C remat ions . 2 , 1 3 , 1 5 , 2 5 , 4 0 , 4 5 , 4 7 , 5 1 , 7 7 , 1 23 , 1 31 , 1 37 , 1 49 , 1 51 , 1 69 , 1 83 , 1 99 , 2 06 C roft Moraig , P erth . 1 5 , 2 3 , 2 8 1 75 C romar , H owe o f , A berdeen . 1 0 1 7-21 , 2 5 , 3 7 CROW S TONES ( East L othian 1 . 8 , 1 24 1 24 C upmarks . 2 , 1 1 , 1 2 , 1 5 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 3 3 -4 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 4 5 , 4 7 , 6 7 , 9 5 , 1 03 , 1 47 , 1 51 , 1 56 , 1 59 , 1 61 , 1 65 , 1 67 , 1 76 , 1 77 , 1 81 , 1 82 , 1 89 , 1 93 , 2 03 , 2 06

2 22

CWM S AESAN S TONES ( Powys 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 03 D at ing . 3 , 1 8 , 2 7 , 3 1-3 , 3 6 , 8 7 , 1 82 D EER P ARK ( Aberdeen 2 ) . 1 4 , 1 8 , 9 2-3 D es truct ion , o f F our-Posters , s ee a lso : ' Chr i s t ian isat ion t. 2 9 , 5 9 , 7 1 , 7 9 , 9 1 , 9 4 , 9 5 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 03 , 1 05 , 1 22 , 1 29 , 1 31 , 1 39 , 1 42-3 , 1 45 , 1 51 , 1 53 , 1 56 , 1 57 , 1 61 , 1 65 , 1 77 , 1 89 , 1 92 , 1 93 , 1 95 , 2 01 D isc , p erforated s tone . 1 83 , 2 07 D oune H i ll R SC, A berdeen . 1 4 1 8 , 1 9 ' Dr immie , H i l l o f ' . s ee : W oods ide ' Druid T emple ' . s ee : S outh Y ths ie . D ru ids . 1 6 , 5 7 , 7 1 , 7 3 , 8 1 , 1 01 , 1 22 , 1 41 , 1 53 , 1 97 DRUID 'S ALTAR ( Yorksh ire 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 5 , 7 2-3 DRUID 'S CASTLE ( Shropsh ire 1 ) . 7 0-1 DUNMOID ( Per th 1 4 ) . 1 2 , 2 8 , 5 1 , 1 62-3 DUNSLEY MOOR ( Yorksh ire 2 ) . 2 5 , 6 2 7 2 E ast L oth ian . 2 4 , 1 24-5 E ire . s ee : R epub lic o f I re land E lgee , F . 3 9 , 4 0 , 7 5 E ng land . 4 , 1 0 , 2 5-7 , 5 8-75 E xcavat ions . 3 , 1 2 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 5 , 3 1 , 4 7 , 6 9 , 7 7 , 1 11 , 1 15 , 1 19 , 1 21 , 1 27 , 1 31 , 1 33 , 1 37 , 1 48-9 , 1 51 , 1 53 , 1 67-75 , 1 82-3 , 1 91 , 1 92 , 1 99 , 2 06 E xmoor . 1 1 , 2 9-30 , 4 0 , 6 0-5

1 23 , 1 97 ,

F am ily g roups . 1 7 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 4 3 , 4 4 , 4 5 , 1 06 F ERNTOWER ( Perth 1 5 ) . 3 4 , 1 64-5 ' Fincas tle ' . s ee : B la ir A thol l West F ive-Stone r ings . 2 7 , 2 8 , 3 1 , 5 1 , 8 3 , 8 7 , 1 21 F lank ing s tones . 1 3 , 1 8 , 3 3 , 3 4 , 9 1 , 1 75 F lint . 1 8 , 3 1 , 6 9 , 1 15 , 1 21 , 1 33 , 1 49 , 2 03 , 2 07 ' Fonab Moor ' . s ee : C lachan a n D ir idh F ood-ves sels . 2 5 , 3 1 , 7 1 , 1 21 , 1 45 , 2 07 FORTINGALL NORTH-EAST ( Per th 1 6 ) . 7 , 8 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 2 3 , 3 9 , 4 5 , 1 49 , 1 61 , 1 66-9 , 1 92 F ort ingal l S outh R SC, P erth . 1 73 1 74 1 75 F ORTINGALL S OUTH-WEST ( Perth 1 7 ) . 7 , 8 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 3 9 , 4 5 , 1 49 , 1 61 , 1 66 , 1 69-75 , 1 92 ' Fountain H il ' . s ee : S hethin F our L ords ' S tones , A berdeen . 2 1 F our-Posters , s ee a l so : C ists D estruct ion G raded h e ights K erbstones O ut ly ing s tones P it s T a l ler s tones ' Circu lar ' . 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 2 4 , 2 7 , 4 4 , 5 2 , 6 1 , 6 3 , 6 5 , 6 9 , 7 5 , 7 7 , 8 1 , 8 3 , 8 5 , 8 9 , 9 9 , 1 03 , 1 05 , 1 11 , 1 13 , 1 21 , 1 23 , 1 24 , 1 41 , 1 49 , 1 53 , 1 55 , 1 57 , 1 59 , 1 63 , 1 65 , 1 79 , 1 81 , 1 83 , 1 87 , 1 89 , 1 91 , 1 93 , 1 95 , 1 97 , 2 01 , 2 02 , 2 06 ' Clas s lc ' . 2 , 2 5 C onstruct ion . 1 , 4 3-4 , 1 01 , 1 05 , 1 15 , 1 48-9 , 1 61 , 1 75 , 1 81 , 1 83 , 1 99 , 2 03

2 23

F our-Posters . C ontd . D es ign . 6 , 7 , 6 3 D istr ibution . 1 4 , 1 7-31 J uxtaposed . 2 , 3 , 2 3 , 7 4 , 1 06 , 1 49 , 1 51 , 1 56 , 1 67-9 , 1 81 , 1 83 , 1 89 S ize . 8 -11 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 2 5 , 2 7 , 3 6 , 4 3 , 5 7 , 5 9 , 9 3 , 9 9 , 1 03 , 1 05 , 1 07 , 1 29 , 1 43 , 1 51 , 1 61 , 1 92 , 2 01 T rans it ional . 1 6-17 , 9 1 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 01 FOUR S TONES ( Ayr 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 8 , 5 1 , 1 22 FOUR S TONES , Wal ton ( Powys 2 ) . 7 , 8 , 3 3 , 3 4 , 3 6 , 7 1 , 2 02-3 , 2 05 FURZEHILL COM MON ( Devon 2 ) . 1 1 , 6 0-1

1 06 ,

G IBBET MOOR ( Derby 1 ) . 2 5 , 7 3 GLANYCARNEY ( Cork 3 ) . 7 9 GLASSEL ( Kincardine 2 ) . 1 4 , 1 5 , 1 9 , 1 32-3 , 2 09 ' Glen P rosen t.s ee : C orogle B urn G len S hee . 2 0 , 2 1 , 2 4 , 1 59 GLENBALLOCH FARM ( Per th 1 8 ) . 2 1 , 2 2 , 1 76-7 , 2 08 GLENSHERVIE BURN ( Perth 1 9 ) . 1 79 GLENTIRROW ( Wigtown 1 ) . 2 00-1 GOATSTONES ( Northumber land 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 5 , 3 4 , 3 5 , 3 6 , 6 6-7 G o lf-courses . 1 27 , 1 65 GORTNACOWLY ( Cork 4 ) . 7 , 2 8 , 8 0-1 G raded h eights o f s tones . 1 3 , 1 5 , 2 4 , 9 3 , 1 23 , 1 65 , 1 87 , 1 89 , 1 91 , 1 95 G r inse ll , L .V . 2 9 , 4 0 , 6 3 , 7 5 , 1 97 , 2 02 , 2 04 ' Hearths ' . 1 1 H eatheryhaugh , P erth . 2 0 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 H enges . 1 0 , 1 1 , 2 6 H IGH BRIDESTONES NORTH-WEST ( Yorksh ire 3 ) . 2 5 , 4 0 , 7 4-5 H IGH BRIDESTONES S OUTH-EAST ( Yorksh ire 4 ) . 2 5 , 7 4-5 , H ILL OF BUCHARN ( Aberdeen 3 ) . 8 , 1 4 1 5 , 1 8 , 3 6 , 9 5 H il ls , c onspicuous . 3 6 , 3 7 , 9 5 , 1 15 , 1 43 , 1 55 , 1 82 , 1 87 H i l ls ides . s ee : T erraces HOWEMILL ( Aberdeen 4 ) . 8 , 1 4 1 5 , 1 8 , 1 9 , 3 7 , 9 3 , 9 5 H ut-c ircles . 2 1 , 2 2 , 1 06 , 1 19 , 1 79 I re land . 1 3 N orthern . 1 0 , 7 6-7 S outh-west . s ee : C ork & K erry J et . 1 8 , 3 1 , 7 5 , 9 1 ,127 , 1 75 , 1 97 , 2 07 K e l l ler , A lexander . 1 6 , 3 7 , 9 3 , 9 5 , 9 7 , 9 9 ' Kerbstones ' . 2 , 1 2 , 1 6 , 1 7 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 5 , 1 41 , 1 47 , 1 56 , 1 95 , 2 07 K incardine . 1 0 , 1 30-3 K INGSIDE ( East L oth ian 2 ) . 6 , 1 25 K INLOCH ( Per th 2 0 ) . 2 2 , 1 78-9 ' Kirkmabreck ' . s ee : B agbie K nox , R . 3 9 , 4 0 , 6 2 , 7 2

3 1 ,

5 7 ,

LAMLASH ( Arran 3 ) . 3 6 , 1 14-15 , 1 17 LARGYBEG P OINT ( Arran 4 ) . 1 2 , 2 5 , 1 16-7 L egends . 1 6 , 2 1 , 2 2 , 4 0 , 4 9 , 5 7 , 6 9 , 7 1 , 7 3 , 2 02

2 24

9 7 ,

1 01 ,

9 9 ,

1 09 ,

1 14 ,

1 39 ,

1 23 ,

1 67 ,

1 91 ,

1 97 ,

L ewis , A .L . 3 7 , 7 3 , 1 31 L och T ay . 3 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 3 6 , 4 5 , 1 47 , 1 51 , 1 67 , 1 82 , 1 87 , 1 92 L OGIE COLDSTONE ( Aberdeen 5 ) . 1 4 , 1 9 , 2 1 , 9 4-5 L ONGSTONE ALLOTMENT ( Devon 3 ) . 1 1 , 2 9 , 6 2-3 L UNDIN FARM NORTH-WEST ( Perth 2 1) . 2 3 , 1 75 , 1 80-1 , 1 89 L UNDIN FARM S OUTH-EAST ( Perth 2 2 ) . i x , 3 , 7 , 8 , 1 2 , 4 1 , 1 81 , 1 82-5 L UNDIN L INKS ( Fife 1 ) . 8 , 1 0 , 2 4 , 7 2 , 1 05 , 1 26-7 , 2 05 L ynch , A nn . 2 7 , 3 1 , 8 7 L ynch , F rances . 4 9

2 3 ,

3 1 ,

3 2 ,

M cCu l lagh , R . v i , 3 1 , 4 7 , 1 36-7 MACHRIE BURN ( Arran 5 ) . 1 18-9 M achrie Moor , An -an . 2 6 , 1 17 7 115 , 1 19 , 1 21 MACHRIE MOOR 4 ( An -an 6 ) . 6 , 1 20-1 , 2 11 MAUGHANACLEA ( Cork 6 ) . 7 , 1 2 , 8 1 , 8 4-5 MAYBURGH ( Cumbr ia 1 ) . 8 , 1 0 , 2 6 , 5 8-9 M easurement s , L ocal U ni ts , s ee a lso : Mega li thic Y ard ; ' Per th Y ard ' . 6 -7 , 8 , 4 5 M ega li thic Y ard . 1 , 2 , 6 -7 , 8 , 6 1 , 6 5 , 6 9 , 9 1 , 1 11 , 1 13 , 1 21 , 1 23 , 1 53 , 1 59 , 1 89 , 1 93 , 1 95 , 1 97 , M ILTONISH ( Wigtown 2 ) . 8 , 2 01 M oon . 3 3 , 3 4 , 3 6 , 3 8 , 4 7 , 6 7 , 1 09 , 1 27 , 1 43 , 1 55 , 1 93 ' Mound , T he ' . s ee : A berscros s M ounds . s ee : C a irns M ount P leasant , D orset . 1 M ul tiple-stone c ircles . s ee : R ecumbent s tone c ircles . MULLAGHMORE ( Down 1 ) . 2 7 , 7 6-7 , 8 3 NA CARR A IGEAN EDINTIAN ( Perth 2 3 ) . 3 , 1 86-7 , 2 20 N A CLACHAN BHREIGE ( Skye 1 ) . 6 , 7 , 4 0 , 1 39 , 1 96 7 N eo li thic A ge . 1 0 , 1 9 , 2 5 , 2 7 , 2 9 , 3 1 , 5 7 , 1 67 , 2 03 NORTH BURRELDALES ( Banff 1 ) . 6 , 7 , 1 23 N or th-east . 2 7 , 3 4 N orth-west . 1 3 , 2 7 O gs ton , S ir A lexander . 1 9 , 2 1 , 9 4 O ld K eig R SC, A berdeen . 1 8 O ld R ayne R SC, A berdeen . 1 8 , 2 04 O 'Nua llain , S ean . v i , 3 , 1 3 , 2 7-8 , 4 5 , 5 1 , 7 7 , 7 9 , 8 9 O r ig ins o f F our-Posters . 8 , 1 3-17 , 1 8 , 2 8 , 1 67-9 O ut ly ing s tones . 1 2 , 2 9 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 5 0 5 1 , 6 1 , 7 4 , 7 5 , 7 7 , 7 9 ,83 , 8 7 , 8 9 , 9 5 , 1 09 , 1 15 , 1 25 , 1 33 , 1 35 , 1 53 , 1 57 , 1 59 , 1 61 , 1 65 , 1 82 , 1 99 , 2 01 , 2 07 P ACKMAN IS GRAVE ( East L othian 3 ) . 1 25 P a ired s tanding s tones . 2 5 , 3 6 , 5 1 , 6 2 7 2 , 7 9 , 1 03 , 1 09 , 1 32 , 1 33 , 1 35 , 1 36-7 , 1 45 , 1 57 , 1 61 , 1 65 , 1 93 , 2 07 P ARK OF TONGLAND ( K irkcudbr ight 2 ) . 3 , 2 5 , 3 1 , 4 0 , 4 7 , 4 9 , 5 1 , 1 367 P ARKNEUK ( Per th 2 4 ) . 2 1 , 2 2 , 4 1 , 1 88-9 P astora l ism. 2 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 P eak D istrict . 2 5 , 7 3 P ENSHIEL ( East L oth ian 4 ) . 1 25 P ENSHIEL GRANGE ( East L oth ian 5 ) . 1 25

2 25

P ENSHIEL H ILL ( East L oth ian 6 ) . 1 25 ' Per th Y ard ' . 7 -8 P erthsh ire . 3 , 7 , 8 , 1 0 , 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 4-15 , 1 7 , 5 1 , 1 45-95 P i tnacree r ound b arrow , P erth . 1 5 , 1 67 P its . 2 , 1 3 , 1 8 , 5 1 , 7 7 , 1 37 , 1 48 , 1 49 , 1 83 , 2 07 ' Pi tscand lie ' . s ee : B lackgate P lace-Names . 1 9 , 2 2 , 2 4 , 5 7 , 6 7 , 6 9 , 7 1 , 7 4 , 11 , 1 39 , 1 41 , 1 55 , 1 63 , 1 87 , 1 97 , 2 03 , 2 04 P ottery . s ee ; A ccessory v esse ls ; B eakers ; F ood-Vesse ls ; U rns

1 43 ,

1 53 ,

Q uadr ilatera ls . 1 1 , 2 9 , 3 0 , 4 0 , 6 1 , 6 3 , 6 5 , 8 9 Q uartz . 1 3 , 3 1 , 5 7 , 8 9 , 9 1 , 9 9 , 1 53 , 1 65 , 1 83 , 1 92 , 2 07 R adiocarbon d ates . 3 1 , 3 3 , 8 7 RAICH ( Aberdeen 6 ) . 1 4 , 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 7 , 3 7 , 9 6-7 R ecumbent s tone c ircles . 8 , 1 3 , 1 4 , 1 7 , 2 3 , 2 4 , 2 7 , 2 8 , 3 1 , 4 7 , 5 1 , 6 7 , 8 5 , 9 1 , 9 3 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 01 , 1 31 , 1 67 , 1 75 R EENKILLA ( Kerry 1 ) . 1 2 , 2 7 , 8 6-7 R eg ions o f F our-Posters . 9 , 1 0 R epubl ic o f I re land . 4 , 7 , 7 8-89 ROBINSTOWN GREAT ( Wexford 1 ) . 7 , 1 2 , 2 5 , 2 7 , 5 1 , 8 1 , 8 8-9 R os s , A nne . 1 R ows , s tone . 2 9 , 3 0 , 4 7 , 5 7 , 7 5 , 8 7 , 1 56 , 1 97 , 2 03 , 2 04

3 3-4 ,

3 6 ,

S T MARTINS ( Perth 2 5 ) . 1 91 S cot land . 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 1 7 , 1 9 , 2 2 , 3 1 , 9 1-201 N orthern . 1 0 , 2 5 S outh-east . 1 0 , 2 4 S outh-west . 1 0 , 2 5-6 S HETHIN ( Aberdeen 7 ) . 1 4 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 7 , 3 7 , 9 7 , 9 8-9 S ightl ines . s ee : A s trono my S impson , D erek . s ee : C oles , J .M. & S impson , D .D.A. S omervi lle , H .B . 3 4 , 3 8 S outh-east . 2 , 1 2 , 1 3 , 3 4 , 3 6-7 , 1 03 , 1 56 , 1 59 , 1 61 , 1 65 , 1 77 , 1 82 , 1 93 S outh-west . 1 3 , 1 5 , 3 4 , 1 87 , 1 95 , 2 03 S OUTH Y THSIE ( Aberdeen 8 ) . 1 4 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 7 , 9 5 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 00-1 , 1 05 S pain , G .R.B . 6 9 S PITTAL OF GLENSHEE ( Per th 2 6 ) . 7 , 8 , 1 3 , 2 0 , 2 1 , 1 89 , 1 90-1 S tanding s tones . 2 2 , 9 7 , 1 07 , 1 15 , 1 67 , 1 76 1 81 , 2 03 S tars . 1 2 , 1 9 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 3 8 , 6 9 , 1 87 S tones , S tones o f , O rkney . 1 1 , 1 42 , 1 43 S tewart , Margaret . 1 3 , 2 1 , 2 8 , 3 1 , 4 4 , 5 1 , 15 , 1 48-9 , 1 51 , 1 81 , 1 823 , 1 91 , 1 92 , 2 08 S tonehenge . 3 , 3 0 , 3 4 , 4 3 , 4 7 , 4 9 , 1 55 ' S trathai rd ' . s ee : N a C lachan B hre ige S TRONE H ILL ( Angus 9 ) . 1 07 S tuart , J . 1 8 , 1 23 S tukeley , W i l l iam. 2 6 , 3 4 , 4 8 , 4 9 , 5 9 S un . 3 3 , 3 4 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 3 8 , 4 7 , 6 3 , 1 43 , 1 82 , 9 3 T a l ler s tones . 1 2 , 1 6 , 2 7-8 , 5 1 , 7 9 , 8 7 , 9 1 , 9 7 , 9 9 , 1 63 , 2 07 T ar land B as in , A berdeen . 1 9 , 9 4 T ays ide . s ee : P erthsh ire T EMPLESTONE ( Moray 2 ) . 8 , 1 2 , 1 7 , 2 5 , 1 40-1

2 2

T erraces . 2 , 1 2 , 2 2 , 2 3 , 3 6 , 6 9 , 7 3 , 9 1 , 9 3 , 9 5 , 9 7 , 11 , 1 23 , 1 33 , 1 35 , 1 41 , 1 45 , 1 47 , 1 56 , 1 65 , 1 77 , 1 79 , 1 81 , 1 83 , 1 89 T hom, A lexander . 2 , 6 , 7 , 1, 1 6 , 3 6 , 3 8 , 6 1 , 6 5 , 9 1 , 9 9 , 1 01 , 1 03 , 1 05 , 1 09 , 13 , 1 23 , 1 25 , 1 27 , 1 35 , 1 43 , 1 54 1 55 , 1 59 , 1 83 , 1 93 , 1 95 , 1 97 , 2 02 T HREE K INGS ( Northumber land 2 ) . 2 5 , 6 8-9 , 2 04 T IRINIE F ARM ( Per th 2 7 ) . 3 , 1 3 , 1 67 , 1 75 , 1 92 T omnaver ie R SC, A berdeen . 1 8 , 1 9 T r iangles , m egal i thic . 2 5 , 2 9 , 3 0 , 3 9-40 , 7 2 , 1 03 , 1 25 T ROUT MIL ( Devon 4 ) . 6 4-5 T ULLYBANNOCHER ( Perth 2 8 ) . 3 4 , 3 6 , 1 93 U rns . 2 , 1 3 , 1 9 , 2 4 , 3 1 , 4 0 , 4 5 , 1 05 , 1 63 , 2 07 B ucket . 7 7 , 2 07 C o l lared . 3 1 , 4 7 , 1 37 , 1 49 , 1 83 , 1 85 2 07 , 2 08 C ordoned . 2 1 , 2 2 , 3 1 , 4 7 , 1 37 , 1 77 , 1 78 , 2 07 , 2 08 W ales . 1 3 , 2 7 , 2 02-3 ' Weem' . s ee : C arse F arm N or th W i lson , D an iel 4 3 , 1 43 , 1 55 ' Wi tches S tones ' . s ee : A uchterhouse WOODBARROW ARMS ( Devon 5 ) . 6 4-5 WOODSIDE ( Perth 2 9 ) . 7 , 2 1 , 3 6 , 1 89 , 1 94-5 W orth , R .H. 3 0 . s ee a l so : C hanter J .F . & Worth R .H. Y orksh ire . 2 5 , 3 9-40 , 4 9 , 7 2-5 , 1 25

2 27