Description

The monument comprises the remains of a recumbent stone circle 17.3m in diameter. There are 8 stones still standing, including the recumbent stone, which measures 1.2m wide by 4.5m long. The flanking stones both measure 2.5m in height. The circle sits in the graveyard of Midmar Church, and any visible evidence for a ring cairn has been removed, probably during the development of the graveyard in the early 20th century.

A single standing stone is situated in a strip of woodland about 110m NW of Midmar Church. It is a pink granite pillar measuring 0.55m in breadth by 0.5m an stands 2.6m high.

This monument was scheduled in 1925, and again in 1970. The monument is being rescheduled to extend the area to include the single standing stone.

Two discrete areas are to be scheduled. The first, around the stone circle is circular, and measures 21m in diameter, centred on the circle, to include the remains of the stone circle and an area around in which traces of activities associated with its construction and use may survive. The second is a circle 10m in diameter centred on the standing stone, to include the stone and an area around in which traces of activities associated with its erection and use may survive.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a recumbent stone circle, a group of monuments unique to the north-east of Scotland. Although this monument has suffered some damage through the construction of the adjacent graveyard, it is substantially intact, and survives in good condition. The monument also comprises an adjacent standing stone, which is likely to be associated with the original function of the circle. It has the potential to provide important information about prehistoric ritual activity in this area.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NJ60NE 3 and NJ60NE 2.

References:

Browne G F 1921, ON SOME ANTIQUITIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF DUNECHT HOUSE, ABERDEENSHIRE, Cambridge, 60-3.

Burl H A W 1973a, 'The Recumbent stone circles of North-East Scotland', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 102, 60, 63, 69, 78,

Burl A 1976a, THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE BRITISH ISLES, London and New Haven 12, 168, 175, 352.

Burl H A W 1979a, RINGS OF STONE: THE PREHISTORIC STONE CIRCLES OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND, London, 25.

Coles F R 1900a, 'Report on stone circles in Kincardineshire (North) and part of Aberdeenshire, with measured plans and drawings, obtained under the gunning fellowship', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 34, 179-80, 181.

Maclagan C 1875, THE HILL FORTS, STONE CIRCLES AND OTHER STRUCTURAL REMAINS OF ANCIENT SCOTLAND, Edinburgh.

Ritchie J 1919, 'Notes on some stone circles in the south of Aberdeenshire and north of Kincardineshire', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 53, 64-5.

Shepherd I A G 1986a, EXPLORING SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE: GRAMPIAN, Exploring Scotland's Heritage Series, Edinburgh 155 No. 96.

Thom A 1967a, MEGALITHIC SITES IN BRITAIN, Oxford, 135, 137, 142, 146, No B 2/17.

Thom A, Thom A S and Burl H A W 1980, MEGALITHIC RINGS: PLANS AND DATA FOR 229 MONUMENTS IN BRITAIN, Brit Archaeol Rep, Brit Ser, 81, Oxford: 222-3.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland