I.

REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN KINCARDINESHIRE (NORTH) AND PART OF ABERDEENSHIRE, WITH MEASURED PLANS AND DRAWINGS, OBTAINED UNDER THE GUNNING FELLOWSHIP. BY FRED. R. COLES, ASSISTANT KEEPER OF THE MUSEUM.

Having been appointed by the Council of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, under the Gunning Fellowship, to visit and report on the Stone Circles of a portion of north-eastern Scotland, I beg to submit the following report, which is illustrated by several measured plans and drawings. Almost throughout this survey, I enjoyed the willing, and indeed indispensable, assistance of my two eldest children, several of the sites examined, in Kincardineshire especially, being now so densely crowded with larches and Scotch firs in addition to luxuriant undergrowth, that single-handed commensuration would be absolutely impracticable. I may be permitted to state, briefly, the methods adopted in the course of the work. After a general look around the area to be surveyed, we began by laying off an oblong which included the Recumbent Stone and its two pillars in those circles where this characteristic feature still exists. Then, having chosen the western angle of the west pillar as a starting point, measurements were made by triangulating from this to two other points marked by pins, and so on, round the entire space, taking, of course, cross check lines where the area was clear enough to admit of this. In a few rare instances we ran out diagonals from each stone throughout the whole group, by using a stout cord and measuring with short lengths of tape, my first endeavour always being to treat the circles purely from the surveyor's point of view, that is, merely as mathematical points, and paying no attention to anything but the number of feet between the fixed points at the bases of the stones. Afterwards we took the correct measurements, first of the bases, and next of the heights, of each Standing Stone, further noting whether it was vertical or out of plumb, and the direction of its leaning, also any peculiarity of 1 1 The plans are all reduced to a uniform scale of 20 feet to 1 inch.

Fig. 1. Map showing Stone Circles in the district surveyed.

Explanation of the signs used on the map.

marks the position of a Stone Circle now extant.

marks the position of a Stone Circle now extant with a Recumbent Stone. marks the position of the Site only of a Stone Circle.

marks the position of a single Standing Stone reported to be a remnant of a Circle.

shape at its summit, and of its mineralogical composition. When all measurements were finished, the orientation was ascertained as carefully as possible. I then made drawings of such important features as lent themselves to such treatment; and I trust I worked throughout in the spirit of one who, when planning the great series of Stone Circles at Carrowmore, said: "I examined these remains day after day with an untiring patience, mapping their situations and noting their features, till I left nothing to be discovered, and secured an accurate record of their present state, before barbarian ignorance has finished its work of destruction." 1

The accompanying map (fig. 1) of the district surveyed during the past September shows twenty-two sites; and, in explanation of their various conditions, four different signs (for which see the map) have been used, denoting respectively—(1) Circles of plain free-standing stones more or less complete; (2) circles with a Recumbent Stone; (3) sites of circles; and (4) single stones reported to be remnants of circles. Beginning with the most south-easterly example in this district, worked from Banchory as headquarters, we have, of the four circles on Kingcausie estate:

No. 1, Old Bourtree Bush, now in a sadly ruined state. The ground plan (fig. 2) shows four Standing Stones only, but three of these are of such a height and bulk as to be very conspicuous landmarks, set as they are on a slightly rising ground within two miles of the sea-shore, and in an open country. The view (fig. 3) taken from the N. W. will give a good idea of the height of these ponderous blocks of porphyry, and at the same time reveal what losses this circle has undergone.

The other view (fig. 4) shows a large and bulky stone lying partly on its edge (R on the ground plan) and the four still erect stones from the

The Life of George Petrie, LL.D., p. 260 (Stokes).

2 This district extends inland from the sea at Portlethen twenty-four miles, and in breadth it comprises Garrol Wood circle, in Durris, up to the circle formerly known as the Auld Kirk of Tough on the confines of Cluny. Northwards of Aberdeen its farthest point is at the Standing Stones of Dyce.

N.E. All the stones stand on a mound 260 feet above the sea-level, which, near the centre, is rather over 3 feet high. The edges on the N. and N.E. have been very much straightened by the plough, and its interior is now in such an utter state of chaos that I deemed it better to attempt no record of its ridges, crests and hollows, or even to map out the sites of any loose stones and boulders, not one of which seemed in its original position. The long stone on the S.E. point is doubtless the Recumbent Stone, so striking a feature in many of these circles. As it lies, it measures 11 feet 6 inches in length; but there are large fragments

Fig. 3. Old Bourtree Bush from the N.W.

Fig. 4. Old Bourtree Bush from the N.E.

Reckoning

close to its north end which appear to have been broken off it. from this stone we find, 18 feet to the left, a tall pointed stone, and after an interval of nearly the same distance, a great prostrate block. These are respectively Stones I. and II. of the circle. The third, which is of enormous breadth, over 6 feet in the middle, stands about 20 feet further on, and from it to the fourth is a space of 30 feet. These, and the small Standing Stone on the right of the Recumbent Stone, are all about which we can speak with confidence.

1 If it originally touched the Pillar Stone on the right-the usual arrangement— this Recumbent Stone must have been fully 17 feet in length.