Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Todholes,cairn 1300m NNW of

A Scheduled Monument in Forth and Endrick, Stirling

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 56.0607 / 56°3'38"N

Longitude: -4.1301 / 4°7'48"W

OS Eastings: 267465

OS Northings: 687357

OS Grid: NS674873

Mapcode National: GBR 14.Q246

Mapcode Global: WH4P9.JXJQ

Entry Name: Todholes,cairn 1300m NNW of

Scheduled Date: 28 March 1988

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM4491

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric ritual and funerary: ring cairn

Location: Fintry

County: Stirling

Electoral Ward: Forth and Endrick

Traditional County: Stirlingshire

Description

The monument is a double ring cairn of the late Neolithic/earlier Bronze Age (some 3500 to 4500 years old) comprising a band of stones c 2m across enclosing an area c 14m in diameter in which lies a further ring cairn, comprising a band of stones c 2m across enclosing an area 5m in diameter. The monument may have purely ceremonial functions or may have combined these with contemporary or later use for burial. The monument is sited on a prominent knoll with extensive views to S and E; the site was probably chosen because of its prominent position.

The area to be scheduled includes the double ring cairn and an area round it in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the monument will survive; in addition the sight lines from the monument will be preserved by inclusion of the S and E slopes of the knoll in the scheduled area.The area to be scheduled is four sided and measures a maximum of 120 m ENE-WSW by 80m transversely, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a well preserved example of a little known type of monument. It has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric ceremonial and burial practices; it is of particular importance because of the survival nearby of a broadly contemporary burial cairn. Comparison of the two would be of considerable value and interest. Preservation of sightlines from monument is important for our understanding of its position in the landscape and for studies of prehistoric astronomy.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NS 68 NE 2.

Bibliography:

RCAHMS, (1979) Archaeological Sites and Monuments of Stirling District, 9, No. 26.

RCAHMS, (1963) Stirlingshire Inventory, 62, No. 15.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.