Description

The monument is a standing stone, a ritual or ceremonial monument dating probably to the late Neolithic or Bronze Age (late third or second millennium BC). It stands approximately 2.7m high and is up to 1.9m wide at its base. The stone is upright and stable and in its original location. It is situated in a prominent location on top of Kirriemuir Hill at around 190m above sea level. The monument was last scheduled in 1995, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is a circle on plan, 6m in diameter, centred on the stone. The scheduling includes the stone described above and an area around it within which evidence relating to the monument's erection and use is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of the stone dyke which runs ENE-WSW across the scheduled area.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance as an impressive and well-preserved example of an individual, prehistoric standing stone. The stone stands in its original location and is prominent in the local landscape. There is high potential for the presence of important archaeological deposits and features, both within the socket and around the base of the stone, including possibly burials. The monument has the potential to enhance our understanding of ritual and ceremonial activities in the prehistoric period, and specifically, the beliefs of the people who erected the standing stone and the associated activities carried out in its vicinity. The loss of this monument would diminish our ability to understand the nature of prehistoric belief and ritual in Angus and the placing and function of standing stones within the landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Other information

RCAHMS records the monument as NO35SE 18 and in the Angus Sites and Monuments Record as N035SE0018.

References

Coutts, H 1970, Ancient monuments of Tayside, Dundee.

NSA 1834-1845, The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy, 15v, Edinburgh, 11, 151.

RCAHMS 1983, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Central Angus, Angus District, Tayside Region, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 18, Edinburgh, 24, no 190.

Reid, A 1909, The regality of Kirriemuir, 297-9.

Sherriff, J R 1981, 'Hill of Kirriemuir (Kirriemuir parish), standing stone', Disc Excav Scot 1981, 45.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/32295/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland