Description

The monument comprises a prehistoric standing stone dating from the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2500 BC) or Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC) on the island of Jura, within the remains of a field system overlooking the Sound of Islay at approximately 50m above sea level.                 

The stone measures approximately 3.6m high and 1.4m by 0.3m at its base and is surrounded by Post-Medieval (AD1500 – 1600) to Early Modern (AD1600 – 1750) field clearance, taking the form of a mound with an irregular plan and profile, measuring approximately 1m high and comprised of stones measuring between 0.2-0.8m in diameter. The stone's narrow side faces the island Am Fraoch Eilean to the southeast.

The scheduled area is circular, measuring 12m in diameter. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The national importance of the monument is demonstrated in the following way(s) (see Designations Policy and Selection Guidance, Annex 1, para 17):

a.  The monument is of national importance because it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past, or has the potential to do so as a prehistoric standing stone dating to the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2,500 BC) or Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC). b.   The monument retains structural, architectural, decorative or other physical attributes which make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past, in particular the stone is the tallest known, standing example on the Island of Jura and it appears undisturbed in its original location. 

d.   The monument is a particularly good example of a prehistoric standing stone dating to the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2,500 BC) or Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC) and is therefore an important representative of this monument type.

e.   The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past, in particular the stone has the potential to tell us about prehistoric ritual and funerary activity. The area around the stone canmay contain artefacts, environmental materials, human remains and material for radiocarbon dating. The stone can be studied in isolation or as part of the wider group of standing stones on Jura to help us understand why particular stones were selected and erected in specific locations. f.   The monument makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the prehistoric landscape by its survival as part of a wider network of contemporary monuments. It is likely to have been placed deliberately in this location to take advantage of views, natural routes and spatial connections with these other monuments. There is the potential to study the position of the stone and its significance as part of the wider prehistoric coastal landscapes and, as one of many similar, contemporary sites.  

Assessment of Cultural Significance

This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:

Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past)

The monument comprises a prehistoric standing stone dating from the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2500 BC) to Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC). It was first mapped as prehistoric standing stone in 1878 (Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch, First Edition Argyllshire, Sheet CXCVIII). Its character is consistent with other similar monuments identified as prehistoric standing stones, with the scale of this example being particularly notable.

Standing stones can be found as single stones or as part of larger monuments such as with stone circles, setting or rows. They are thought to have had religious or ritual significance and possibly with connections to astronomical events and alignments. This example may also have had a function as some form of navigation or boundary marker in the contemporary prehistoric landscape.

The stone stands within the remains of a field system and there is no evidence that it has been relocated or disturbed. The mound of stones surrounding this stone is composed of field clearance – stones people have removed from this surrounding lazy bed cultivation and placed around the base of the stone in the Post-Medieval (AD1500 – 1600) to Early Modern (AD1600 – 1750) periods. This later evidence of post medieval land-use may have sealed earlier deposits, contemporary with the construction and use of the standing stone, including artefacts, environmental materials, human remains and material for radiocarbon dating. 

Study of this monument when compared to others has the potential to increase our understanding of the distribution and use of prehistoric ritual monuments in the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Excavations at similar sites has revealed much about the underlying construction and use of these single standing stones, for example at the base of a similar standing stone in Angus (Carlinwell, standing stone 120m ENE of Mayfield, scheduled monument SM4315), identified cremation urns containing burnt bone which has been radiocarbon dated 1916–1749 BC (Johnson 2012). 

Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)The monument sits on relatively even ground on a gently southwest facing slope. The narrow side of the stone faces the central point of the nearby island, Am Fraoch Eilean. At 3.6m in height the monument is the tallest known standing stone on Jura. It is part of a wider island group of up to 12 standing stones along the south and east coastlines of Jura, including a prehistoric stone that was probably repurposed in the early medieval period with the addition of an incised cross on both faces (Tarbert, Cill Chaluim-Chille, chapel & cross marked stone, Jura' (scheduled monument SM SM4782, NRHE ID 38657). Other examples include another standing stone at Tarbert (scheduled monument SM4738) (NRHE ID 38656) and others at Strone (NRHE ID 38246), Sannaig (NRHE ID 38247) and Carragh A' Ghlinne (NRHE ID 38233). Around the latter are three similar fallen stones and together they may have originally been part of a stone setting. This site is an important contributor to a small number of other sites on Jura which indicate activity in the Neolithic to Bronze Age such as the occupation site at Glenbatrick (NRHE ID 38261) dated to 2950 BC - 3860 BC and a chambered cairn (Jura, Cladh Chlainn Iain (NRHE 38244) which is a ritual funerary monument. The national record of the historic environment records over 3500 prehistoric standing stones across Scotland with 570 in Argyll and Bute. These include single stones and stones forming part of larger monuments such as stone circles. The selection, location and orientation of prehistoric standing stones are thought to have been influenced by natural features in the landscape, topography and other contemporary monuments such as other standing stones, stone circles, and burial monuments. There is the potential to study this example in relation to the surrounding landscape, other standing stones on Jura and Scotland more widely, to better understand its chosen location, use, meaning and its significance to prehistoric communities. The monument could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past and can be studied in isolation or as part of the wider group of standing stones on Jura, the surrounding islands and Scotland more broadly. There is the potential to study the stone in relation to natural landscape features such as the island, Am Fraoch Eilean, and compare its location and orientation with other broadly contemporary sites. This may help us understand more about the ways in which prehistoric communities understood, valued, marked and exploited the landscape.

Associative characteristics (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)

We are unaware of any culturally significant associative characteristics which would contribute to the monument's cultural significance. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland www.trove.scot/place/38129 (accessed on 06/05/2026).

Local Authority HER/SMR Reference 2722 (available at https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=2722) (accessed on 06/05/2026).

Ordnance Survey, six-inch first edition. Argyllshire, Sheet CXCVIII Survey date: 1878, Publication date: 1882 (available at https://maps.nls.uk/view/74427480) (accessed on 06/05/2026).

Johnson M 2012, 'Urned cremation burials at Carlinwell standing stone, Airlie, Angus', Tayside Fife Archaeol Jour 18, 1-14. (available at https://www.tafac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/V18-p1-13.Johnson.pdf) (accessed on 22/05/2026).

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/38129/

HER/SMR Reference

https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=2722

Source: Historic Environment Scotland