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Brainport Bay,stone alignments and quern quarries

A Scheduled Monument in Mid Argyll, Argyll and Bute

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.1056 / 56°6'20"N

Longitude: -5.257 / 5°15'25"W

OS Eastings: 197558

OS Northings: 695097

OS Grid: NR975950

Mapcode National: GBR FDDL.2S7

Mapcode Global: WH1K5.6SYQ

Entry Name: Brainport Bay,stone alignments and quern quarries

Scheduled Date: 17 March 1992

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM5283

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Industrial: mines, quarries; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting

Location: Glassary

County: Argyll and Bute

Electoral Ward: Mid Argyll

Traditional County: Argyllshire

Description

The monument is a site believed to have been used for astronomical observations, associated with a number of artefact quarrying sites, and comprises several elements:

1. The main alignment is a terraced platform, c. 30m by 12m. Two small standing stones within the platform have been erected in modern times. Excavation has recovered prehistoric flints and an ironworking hearth, radiocarbon dated to the period AD 135 - AD 976. Some 50m NE of the platform a rock outcrop bears cupmarks at its E end and a quern quarry displaying rough-outs on its W end. To the SW of the platform there is a revetted outcrop with a bank behind. This outcrop may be related to the main platform, as may a boulder setting between the two features.

2. The Oak Bank alignment: 240m NW of the main alignment lie two cup and groove marked boulders, a recumbent stone and a quern quarry, spread over an area c. 60m by 40m.

3. A further alignment: 200m west-south-west of the main alignment an arrangement of standing stones and recumbent stones covers an area c. 40m by 30m.

4. A carved stone: 300m north of the main alignment a rock outcrop bears patterns of incised lines on its top, south and west faces. It may have been related to a vanished stone cairn.

The areas to be scheduled are depicted in red on the accompanying map and measure as follows: 1. 150m NE-SW by 60m; 2. 60m NE-SW by 40m; 3. 50m N-S by 30m; 4. 10m diameter.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because the physical remains have been cited in relation to consideration of the astronomical siginificance of prehistoric monuments. The inter-relationship of the various elements is central to the monument's importance, more than its individual parts. However, the quern quarries are of particular significance, for their potential to contribue to our understanding of rural industrial working practices.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR99NE 7.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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