Description

The monument is a burial mound of the Neolithic or early Bronze Age, some 3500 to 5000 years old, measuring 19.5m in diameter and a maximum of 1m high situated at the highest point of Coultra Hill. The stone which now lies, broken, on its top, was known as a gallow stone, but may have been a dislodged capstone. It will cover the remains of at least one burial and will preserve beneath the mound material an area of contemporary land surface. The area to be scheduled measures 40m in diameter, centred on the mound, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a prehistoric burial mound which has the potential to enhance our understanding of early funerary and ceremonial practices. It is of particular importance because the contemporary land surface preserved beneath it could increase considerably our knowledge of prehistoric land use in the area. Its interest is further increased because of the presence to the SW of the broadly contemporary burial mound on Green Hill (excavated at the turn of the century): comparison of the deposits in and under the two mounds would be valuable.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 32 SE 21.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland