Description

The monument comprises a single monolith of likely late neolithic or Bronze-Age date. The stone occupies an E-facing position on the side of Auchronie Hill at around 185m above sea level and in an area of pasture.

The stone is 1.38m high, measures 1m N-S by 0.3m transversely at its base and tapers to a breadth of 0.45m at the top.

The area to be scheduled is a circle on plan centred on the stone, to include the remains described and an area around within which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics

This is a prominent standing stone that is apparently sited where it was erected in prehistory. Buried deposits are likely to survive in its immediate vicinity. Such deposits have the potential to provide valuable information about the purpose of the monument and the people who created and used it, along with the methods used in its creation and any possible dating evidence for its erection and for any later activity associated with the stone.

Contextual characteristics.

The monument is a good representative of a widespread class. It has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of standing stones, particularly those of the Strathdon area. This example is one of an extensive number in the area, where there has been a long tradition of the erection of standing stones as well as related monuments, such as stone circles and burial cairns. This not only suggests a preference for settlement in the area in prehistory, but also provides us with an extremely important opportunity to assess the distribution and relationships of such sites. The position of such monuments in the landscape is an apparently important factor in their location, as is their connection to other similar monuments. This particular example stands on the E side of Auchronie Hill, and commands excellent views to the east, towards Brimmond Hill. Comparing and contrasting this monument with other examples of its type can give us valuable information on how and why the neolithic or Bronze-Age peoples of the area placed such monuments in the landscape. This can help us understand neolithic or Bronze-Age ritual monuments throughout Scotland, as well as in the Strathdon region.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to contribute to the understanding of the past, in particular neolithic and Bronze-Age standing stones and the part they played in ritual beliefs and practices. Spatial analysis of this and other contemporary monuments may reveal valuable information on the layout and patterns of neolithic and Bronze-Age ritual sites within the landscape. The loss of the monument would impede our understanding of the situation of such monuments and the nature and purpose of their construction and use.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NJ80NW5, Burnhead: Standing Stone. Aberdeenshire SMR records the site as NJ80NW0005, Auchronie: Standing-stones.

References:

RCAHMS 2007, IN THE SHADOW OF BENNACHIE: THE FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY OF DONSIDE, ABERDEENSHIRE, Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland