Ancient Monuments

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Witch Hillock,burial mound and stone setting

A Scheduled Monument in Mearns, Aberdeenshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.7961 / 56°47'45"N

Longitude: -2.5844 / 2°35'3"W

OS Eastings: 364404

OS Northings: 767325

OS Grid: NO644673

Mapcode National: GBR WZ.TWDC

Mapcode Global: WH8R3.8FLW

Entry Name: Witch Hillock,burial mound and stone setting

Scheduled Date: 15 November 1990

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM4823

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain)

Location: Marykirk

County: Aberdeenshire

Electoral Ward: Mearns

Traditional County: Kincardineshire

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a burial mound of the Bronze Age, known as Witch Hillock and, 16m to the NE, a setting of three large squat stones. The mound is 18m in diameter and 2m high. It suffered some antiquarian excavation in the nineteenth century, when several cists were revealed. The stones are set on three corners of a rectangle, the "open" end facing towards the mound. The two outer stones are 3m from the third. The area to be scheduled measures 60m in diameter, to include the mound, the stone setting, a well, and an area around in which traces of activity associated with their use may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a burial mound which still, despite antiquarian interference, has the potential to enhance our understanding of prehistoric burial practices. The monument is of particular importance because of the presence nearby of a stone setting and the likely survival in the vicinity of contemporary burials. Its importance is further enhanced by the proximity of the Capo long barrow.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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