Location
South West of Old Meldrum: From Old Meldrum take the B9170 heading south west towards Inverurie. About 1.5 miles out of Old Meldrum take a left turn, and then left again. Follow this road up the hill. The circle is in a field to your left.
Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire
OS Map Reference
NJ 801 249
Description
The remains of this recumbent stone circle are situated in a cultivated field and comprise the recumbent, the E flanker, and two stones on the W arc. All the stones are of granite, the recumbent measuring 5.1m in length by 1.9m in height and 1.7m in thickness. The E flanker measures 2.9m in height by 1.45m in breadth and 1m in thickness. A large void beneath the E end of the recumbent has been filled in antiquity with a large boulder. The erect stones on the WSW and WNW of the circle measure 1.7m and 2.2m in height respectively. RCAHMS
Remains of a stone circle; consisting of the recumbent, now broken, the east flanker and two other stones. The recumbent lies on a definite mound and at one time the circle was -rudely paved-. The area has been used as a dump for field clearance & has been ploughed. Now there is no trace of paving or any internal features. SMR
While the circle itself is fragmentary, it has perhaps the largest recumbent stone known, the setting makes it worth a visit and the nearby occurrence of 3 early carved stones (although not in situ, they have probably not travelled far) suggests an important site with a long continuity of respect.
Related Information
To the east and across the road is the kirk which has a class 1 Pictish stone, the stone is built high (about 6 metres) into the outside of the south wall (at top right). Its original top is to the right. It bears the double disc and Z rod symbol, crescent and V rod mirror and comb. It has been trimmed the left sides of the main symbols misssing. A simple incised cross (early 8thC) is built into the south perimeter wall of the kirkyard.
In 2001 another class IV Pictish stone (cross without other imagery) was found embedded in a steading wall at
nearby Kirkton of Bourtie farm. The kirkyard also has a sundial, of 1853, now weathering badly and the inscription can no longer be read. ( Once reading " Gavinus Smith LLD AA October 1853 Parochiae Bourtiensis quae ipsum genuit in Honoreum posuit. Ut vita sic fugit Hora.)
Era
Neolithic era
Information Source
Aberdeenshire Sites and Monuments Record www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/
RCAHMS http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/
The Historic Kirkyards of Aberdeenshire A Survey Report, Aberdeenshire Council 1998
Categories
Photographer
- Stanley Bruce
Unavailable Data
- Date
- Related Artefacts
- Iconography
- Creator
- External Links
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