Stones of Wonder - Site References

Achavanich, Caithness

Surveyed 14.8.1993

Plan redrawn from Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, page 288.

See also :

Close-Brooks 1986, pages 160-161.

Mackie 1975, page 223. It is suggested by Mackie that Mount Morven is possibly an astronomical foresight indicated by some of the stones. No survey had been done to check this at that time. Morven is on a true bearing of 233.1°, altitude 1.3°, declination -17.5°.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 289.

Airigh na Beinne Bige, Lewis

Surveyed 30.6.1993

1. Ponting and Ponting 1984, pages 32-34. Includes a site plan.

See also : Ruggles 1984, pages 80, 82 and 85-87 (site code LH10, Beinn Bheag).

Airigh nam Bidearan, Lewis

Surveyed 30.6.1993

1. Ponting and Ponting 1984, pages 21-23. Includes a site plan.

2. Ruggles 1984, pages 78, 81, 83 and 95-96 (site code LH24). Azimuth limits given as 162.0° - 164.0° and 342° - 344°.

3. Thom 1971, pages 68-69.

See also :

Hadingham 1978, pages 129-130.

Ardachearanbeg, Cowal

Surveyed 10.7.1993

Recorded as a standing stone in the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland inventory of Mid Argyll and Cowal. No previous published survey found.

Ardalanish, Mull

Surveyed 17.7.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 125, 138, 139. (Site code ML33). Azimuth range is given here for the north-west line as 281.6° - 283.2°

Ardnacross, Mull

Surveyed 18.7.1993

1. Martlew and Ruggles 1991, page 52.

See also :

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 273. A 'mean azimuth' of 207° is suggested.

Ruggles 1984, pages 125, 127 (site code ML12). An azimuth range of 26.0° - 29.2° / 206.0° - 209.2° is given here.

Ardpatrick, Knapdale

Surveyed 30.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 183, 186 and 190. (Site code KT3). Azimuth ranges given here as 136.6° - 137.0° and 316.6° - 317.0°.

Aulton, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 22.8.1993

See also :

Burl 1976, page 353 ('Stonehead').

Avielochan, Strath Spey

Surveyed 15.8.1993

See also :

Burl, A. in Ruggles & Whittle, 1981. Burl gives the orientation of the passage as 178° (page 258) and identifies it as pointing to the rising major standstill southern moon (page 260) at a declination of -28.75°.

Henshall, A. 1963 pages 359-360. Includes a plan.

Avinagillan, Knapdale

Surveyed 30.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 183, 186 and 242 (site code KT4). Azimuth range given here is 170.4° - 171.6°.

Bagbie, Galloway

Surveyed 29.7.1993

Recorded in the National Monument Record of Scotland as a standing stone.

Ballinaby, Islay

Surveyed 26.8.1993

See also :

Mackie 1975, page 141.

Ruggles 1984, pages 166, 170 (site code IS15).

Thom & Thom, 1979 page 7. Declination given here for large stone looking to north-west is +29.3°.

Balliscate, Mull

Surveyed 18.7.1993

To south, azimuth 184.1°, to north 4.1°.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 123, 124 and 132 (site code ML4). North line given as in the range 4.4° to 6.2°.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 272 (site code M1/8). North line given as 3°.

Ballochroy, Kintyre

Data from Thom, 1967, page 97, 142 and 151-154 (site code A4/4) ; Thom 1971, pages 36-37. The copy of the Edward Lhuyd sketch is from Campbell and Thomson 1963, plate V.

See also :

Burl 1983, pages 6-10.

Hadingham 1975, pages 117-120.

Mackie 1975, page 132.

Mackie 1977 pages 77-81.

Ruggles 1984, pages 185, 186 and 193 (site code KT10).

Ballymeanoch, Argyll

Data from Thom 1967, page 97 (site code A 2/12, 'Duncracaig') ; Thom 1971 pages 52-53 and 76.

1. Barber 1977-8, pages 104-111.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 145, 149 and 155-156 (site code AR15).

Brainport Bay, Argyll

1. Scotsman, 14.7.1977, page 11, 'Dawn of a prehistoric observatory' by E.W. Mackie.

2. Scotsman, 7.8.1989, page 10, 'Holiday chalet threat to Neolithic site' by Mary Beith.

3. Mackie in Ruggles and Whittle 1982, pages 128-137.

4. Mackie, Gladwin and Roy 1985, pages 158-161.

Brodgar, Orkney

1. Thom & Thom 1973, pages 111-123.

See also :

Mackie, 1977, page 205 where the full plan is also reproduced (with full discussion of the site, pages 203-207).

Michell 1989, page 74. (Plan).

Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, pages 311-314.

Bruiach, Inverness-shire

Surveyed 15.8.1993

See also :

Burl, in Ruggles & Whittle 1981 page 260. Burl suggests that the azimuth is 260° and that the site is orientated on the southern major standstill moon.

Henshall, 1963 pages 366-367. Includes plan.

Callanish, Lewis

1. Boyle Somerville, 1912 pages 23-52. Includes a plan of the site.

2. Thom, 1971 pages 68-69.

3. Thom, 1967 pages 95-96. Details of all the lines found at the site are given on page 98 (Site code H1/1). A discussion of the site is on pages 122-124.

See also :

Harman and Ritchie 1985, pages 140-141. Includes a view of the site looking south from an elevated position.

Hawkins, 1965 page 127.

Ruggles, 1984 pages 78, 80, 82, 87-89 (site code LH16).

A set of plans of Callanish and the surrounding prehistoric sites was published by the Department of Geography, University of Glasgow in 1978 at the scale 1:200.

Campbeltown, Argyll

1. Hadingham 1975, pages 132-133 is an example.

2. Thom 1971, pages 61-62 (site code A4/14).

3. Ibid. pages 60-61 (site code A4/5).

Carnasserie, Argyll

Surveyed 20.6.1993

See also :

Ruggles, 1984 pages 144, 148 (site code AR12). Dismissed because of close horizons.

Thom, 1967 page 97 (site code A2/6). Azimuth to south given here as about 169°.

Castle Frazer, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 22..8.1993

See also :

Burl 1976, page 173 (plan).

Cillchriosd, Mull

Surveyed 18.7.1993

Azimuth range to south east is 131.4° to 141.4°, horizon altitudes 2.5° to 2.7°, declinations -19.5° to -23.3°. To north-west azimuth range is 311.4° to 321.4°, horizon altitudes c. 0.5°, declinations +21.8° to +26.0°.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 127, 132-133 where the declination range to the south-east is given as about 131.5° to 134.5.

Clach an Truisheal, Lewis

Surveyed 29.6.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 75 and 78 (site code LH5). The site was dismissed because the indicated azimuth range was too wide.

Thom 1967, page 99. Thom finds a line to the nearby Steinacleit chambered cairn, azimuth 77.9°, altitude 0.9°, declination +6.8°.

Clach an Tursa, Lewis

Surveyed 30.6.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, page 77 (site code LH6, 'Carloway'). Not surveyed because indicated azimuth range was too wide.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 237. The orientation is stated here to be about 153°.

Clach Mhic Mhios, Sutherland

Surveyed 14.8.1993

See also :

Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, pages 308-309. Here the azimuth of the stone is given as 207°, but the site is interpreted as a backsight for viewing a notch at about 199° where the major standstill southern moon would set.

Clach Mhicleoid, Harris

Surveyed 1.7.1993.

1. Thom 1967, page 99 (site code H2/2) Azimuth to indicated foresight given as 271°.

See also :

Ponting and Curtis 1988.

Ruggles 1984, pages 78, 84 and 97 (site code LH36, 'Horgabost'). This survey suggests an indicated azimuth range of about 284.4° to 289°.

Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, page 237. Azimuth given here as about 280°.

Clava, Inverness

Data from Thom 1967, page 98 (site code B7/1) and Thom, Thom & Burl 1980, page 246.

See also :

Burl 1983, pages 27-28.

Henshall 1963, pages 361-366 gives a good description of the structure of the cairns.

Mackie 1985, pages 205-208.

Clochkeil, Kintyre

Surveyed 19.6.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 186-187, 189 and 194, (site code KT27) where the azimuth ranges are given as 47.4° - 49.4° and 227.4° - 229.4°.

Corogle Burn, Glen Prosen

Surveyed 31.7.1993

See also :

Thom 1971, page 70 (site code P3/1). Includes a site plan. Gives azimuth as 197.95°

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 340.

Corrimony, Inverness

Visited 15.8.1993.

Plan redrawn from Henshall 1963.

1. Piggot 1954-55, pages 174-184.

2. Burl, in Ruggles and Whittle 1981, pages 258 and 260. This is the source of azimuth and altitude of the cairn passage used.

3. Ibid. page 260.

See also : Henshall 1963, pages 368-370 for structural description.

Craigneich, Perthshire

Surveyed 1.8.1993. No other published survey known.

Craigantairbh, Argyll

Surveyed 20.6.1993

1. Davidson 1985, page 43.

2. Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 123.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 144, 148 and 153 (site code AR9) where the azimuth range is given as 69.4° - 71.0° for the east-north-east line.

Cul a' Chleit, Lewis

Surveyed 30.6.1993

1. Ponting and Ponting 1984, pages 24 -25.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 78, 80 and 93 (site code LH22). Azimuth range for north-north-east line (small to large stone) given as 33.0° - 35.8° and for south-south-west line (large to small stone) given as 213.0° - 215.8°.

Cultoon, Islay

Visited 26.8.1993. Data from (and plan redrawn from) Mackie, 1977, pages 92-94.

1. Thom 1967, chapter 5.

Dalchirla, Perthshire

Surveyed 1.8.1993

See also :

Thom 1967, pages 100 and 139 (site code P1/1, 'Muthill'). Azimuth given for the alignment, to north-east, as 57.3° and a resulting declination of +18.7°.

Dalarran Holm, Galloway

Surveyed 29.7.1993

See also :

Thom 1967, page 95 (site code G5/1).

Delfour, Strath Spey

Surveyed 15.8.1993

See also :

Henshall 1963, pages 374-375. Includes a plan.

Thom 1967, pages 86-87 (site code B7/10). Includes plan. Thom gives the azimuth to the centre of the large stone as 219° and also identifies the line as solstitial.

Dervaig, Mull

Surveyed 18.7.1993

1. Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 268. Azimuths are given here as 334.2° and 154.2°.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 124 and 127 (site code ML10). Azimuth range for line to north given as 328.6° to 331.0°.

Doune, Perthshire

Surveyed 5.9.1993

See also :

Thom 1967, page 100 (site code P1/2). Thom gives an azimuth of about 13.5° and a resulting declination of +32.7° for the north-east line.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 322. The suggestion is made here that the site has a lunar line to the south-west, declination -30.4°.

Druid's stone, Gigha

Surveyed 30.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 185, 186 abd 193. (Site code KT12, 'Tarbert'). Ruggles finds an azimuth range of 4.8° to 6.4° for the north line, even closer to the meridian.

Thom 1971, pages 61-62. (Site code A4/17, 'Carrach an Tarbert'). Thom finds lines for both the rising northern major standstill moon and the same moon setting on the same day (azimuths about 35° and 324°). These lines relate to horizon features (in Knapdale and Jura) visible from the site.

Thom and Thom 1979, page 7.

Drumtroddan, Wigtown

Surveyed 29.7.1993 See also :

Thom 1967, page 98 (site code G3/12). Azimuth given here for north-east line as 43.3°, altitude 0.4°, declination +24.8°.

Dunkeld, Perthshire

Surveyed 31.7.1993

See also :

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 338. Azimuth is given here as 310°.

Duntreath, Blanefield

Visited 2.8.1993 Data from and plan redrawn from Mackie, 1973, pages 6-7.

1. Thom 1967, page 98 (site code A 11/2 'Blanefield'). Azimuth for alignment given here as 56.7°, altitude 7.2°.

Easter Aquorthies, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 22.8.1993

See also :

Burl 1976, page 173 (plan).

Shepherd 1986, page 159.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 162 (plan).

Enochdhu, Perthshire

Surveyed 5.9.1993. No other published surveys found.

Eslie South, Kincardine

Surveyed 21.8.1993

See also :

Burl 1976, page 42 (plan).

Shepherd 1986, page 153. The chapter is called 'Circles of the moon' and summarises the lunar interpretation of the recumbent stone circles.

Thom 1967, page 98 (site code B2/4). Thom finds lines to the rising sun at the summer solstice (as seen from this site over the Eslie north RSC, azimuth 43.1°) and to the minor standstill moon.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1980, page 200. Includes plan.

Finlaggan, Islay

Surveyed 26.8.1993

1. Thom 1967, pages 109 - 117.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 165-166, 174 (site code IS4). Azimuth range for north-western line given here as about 296.4° to 297.2°.

Fowlis Wester, Perthshire

Surveyed 1.8.1993

Plan after Young 1943.

See also :

Thom 1971, pages 53-55, 76 (site code P1/10). Thom finds the bearing from the eastern cairn to the monolith is 30.9°, altitude 0.6°, declination +29.3°. He also finds equinox rise and set lines between the two centres of the cairn and circle (on bearings 88.5° and 268.5°), and a line to the setting moon at the major standstill based on the geometry of the western circle (but see Burl 1976, page 196).

Young 1943, pages 174-184 (excavation report, includes plans).

Gask, Inverness-shire

Surveyed 15.8.1993

1. Thom 1967, page 143 and 148 (site code B7/15). Includes plan. Thom points out that the outer ring of kerbstones and the freestanding ring are both true circles, but that they have different centres, about two metres apart.

See also :

Burl, in Ruggles and Whittle 1981, page 260. Burl gives the azimuth of the centre of the large outlier as 215° and the declination as -24.4°, close to the position of the setting sun at midsummer. Burl's figure is taken from Thom's plan (above). The difference from the present survey (202°) is due to a different choice of 'centre'. Other surveys quoted by Burl give an azimuth for the outlier as 198° (Fraser, J. 'Stone circles of Strathnairn etc' in PSAS #18, 1884, pages 328-362) and 249° (Henshall, below).

Henshall 1963, page 378 for full site description. Corrected plan in Henshall 1972, page 628.

Glen Loth, Sutherland

Surveyed 14.8.1993.

No other published surveys found.

Hill of Rangag, Caithness

Surveyed 14.8.1993

See also :

Mackie, 1975 page 223. Mackie here suggests that the stone may be found to indicate some peak in the south-west. No survey had been done at that time. The most prominent peak is Morven, at a bearing of 226.0°, which with a horizon height of 1.2° gives a declination of -20.6°. This is close to the position of the setting summer full moon at the minor standstill. The Hill of Rangag stone (bearing 206.8°) cannot be said to indicate this line, and like the midwinter sunset line, depends on whether one is prepared to accept that standing stones can be merely marking the position for an observer to stand to watch the event over a known horizon feature.

Kilbride, Islay

Surveyed 26.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 167 and 180 (site code IS42).

Kintraw, Argyll

Visited 3.5.1993. Data from Thom 1967, page 97. Illustrations redrawn from Thom 1971, page 38 ; Mackie 1975, page 154.

1. Simpson, D.D.A. 'Excavations at Kintraw, Argyll' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland # 99, 1966-7, pages 54-59.

2. Cowie 1980, pages 27-31.

3. Thom 1967, pages 141 and 155-156.

4. Thom 1971, pages 37-38.

5. Mackie 1977, pages 84-92.

6. Hastie, A.J., McCreery, T. & Moulds, T. 'Observations at Kintraw' in Heggie, 1982, pages 183-190.

See also :

Hadingham 1975, pages 121-125.

Moir, G. in Ruggles and Whittle 1981, pages 228-230.

Knockstapple, Kintyre

Visited 27.6.1991

Azimuth and altitude from Thom 1971, pages 63 and 76 (site code A4/19).

See also :

Ruggles, 1984 pages 187, 200-201 (site code KT41) Azimuth ranges given here as 140.0° - 144.0° for the north-east line and 320.0° - 324.0° for the south-west.

Thom 1979, page 7.

Loanhead of Daviot, Gordon.

Surveyed 22.8.1993

Survey details - From centre of circle : left side recumbent - azimuth 189.1°, right side recumbent - azimuth 208.1°.

See also :

Burl 1976, pages 180 (discussion) and 182 (plans).

Burl and Piper 1979, pages 134-136. Includes plan and good summary of sequence of events at the site. Burl and Piper also suggest here that the recumbent marks the place where major standstill southern moon begins to set about 196°. They also point out, following Thom, that the cupmarked stone standing next to the east flanker marks the position of the rising sun at midwinter.

Shepherd 1986, pages 156-157. Includes plan and aerial photo.

Thom 1967, page 61. Full site plan. In addition to the midwinter line Thom also finds a line to the rising midsummer sun derived from the shape of the enclosed cremation cemetery.

Lochbuie, Mull (circle)

1. Thom 1967, page 100. All survey data taken from here (site code M2/14) and plan redrawn from Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, pages 276-277. The author's own survey was abandoned due to typical Mull summer weather.

See also :

Burl 1976, page 142.

Harman and Ritchie 1985, page 144. Features a photograph taken from an elevated position which shows the circle and the three outliers.

Lochbuie, Mull (standing stone)

Surveyed 17.7.1993

1. Burl 1976, page 142.

Loch Stornoway, Knapdale

Surveyed 30.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 183, 186, 190 (site code KT2, 'Carse'). Azimuth given for south line here is 177.4° to 177.8°. (Reversed, this is a north line of 357.4° to 357.8°. Ruggles discounts all lines with a horizon closer than 1km in this study).

Thom 1967, page 95. Azimuth given here as 357.0°.

Thom, Thom and Burl 1990, page 129. Includes plan.

Machrie Moor, Arran

Visited 30.10.1992

Plan redrawn from Mackie 1975, page 126.

1. Barnatt and Pierpoint, 1983 pages 104-106.

2. Haggarty, 1991 pages 51-94.

3. Barnatt and Pierpoint, 1983 page 111.

Maes Howe, Orkney

Plans redrawn from Henshall 1963. Illustration of chamber from Farrer 1862, plate 2.

1. Moir, G 'Some Archaeological and Astronomical objections to scientific Astronomy in British prehistory' in Ruggles & Whittle, 1981, pages 223-224. Here an eyewitness is reported to have seen the rays of the sun at midwinter striking the rear wall of the chamber.

2. Ashmore, undated.

3. Brennan 1983, pages 11, 72-81. This book also covers many other orientated mounds in Ireland. The entry of the midwinter sun to the Newgrange chamber is now of national interest in Ireland. There is a waiting list of eight years for those wishing to be inside on the solstice morning (Irish Times, 21/12/94, page 11).

See also :

Burl 'By the light of the cinerary moon' in Ruggles & Whittle 1981, pages 251-252.

Henshall 1963, pages 219-223 gives a good structural description.

Midmar, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 21.8.1993

See also :

Shepherd 1986, page 155.

Thom 1967, page 146 (plan).

Muirheadstone, Perthshire

Surveyed 5.9.1993

Nether Largie, Argyll

Visited 30.12.1992.

Azimuths and altitudes from Thom 1967, page 97 (site code A2/8 'Temple Wood') ; Thom 1971, pages 46 and 76.

1. Thom 1971, pages 45-51.

2. Scott 1989, pages 95-98.

See also :

Hadingham 1975, page 134.

Ruggles 1984, pages 144-145, 148, 153-155 (site code AR13, 'Kilmartin'). Full survey details.

Thom, Thom & Burl, 1980, pages 144-146.

Old Keig, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 22.8.1993

Survey details as viewed from centre - Left side recumbent : azimuth 203°.5, altitude 0.9°, declination -29°.2 ; Right side recumbent : azimuth 226.4°, altitude 1.4°, declination -20°.9.

See also :

Burl and Piper 1979, pages 138-139. Includes plan.

Shepherd 1986, page 156.

Port Ellen, Islay

Surveyed 26.8.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, page 180 (site code IS46, 'Port Ellen I').

Rothiemay, Strath Isla

Surveyed 22.8.1993.

1. Burl and Piper 1979, pages 38. Drawing of the cupmarks on page 37.

See also :

Burl 1976, page 91 (another drawing of the cupmarks).

Salachary, Argyll

Surveyed 20.6.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 144, 148 and 152 (site code AR6). Azimuth range to north given here as 356.4° to 357.8°.

Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, page 126. Includes plan. Azimuths suggested are 2° to the north and 178° to the south.

Scarista, Harris

Surveyed 1.7.1993

1. Thom 1967, chapter 9.

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 79, 84 and 97 (site code LH37). The western azimuth range is given here as 302° to 305°.

Stillaig, Cowal

Surveyed 10.7.1993

See also :

Thom 1967, page 98. Azimuth given here to the distant foresight as 325.5°, altitude 0.8°, declination +27.9°.

Thom 1971, pages 66 and 76 (site code A10/5). Includes horizon profile. Azimuth given here from the southern stone to the hill behind the northern of the distant pair is about 326°, horizon height 0.75°, declination +28.9°.

Thom, Thom & Burl 1990, page 167. Includes sketch plan.

Straloch, Perthshire

Surveyed 5.9.1993. No other surveys found.

Sunhoney, Aberdeenshire

Surveyed 21.8.1993.

See also :

Burl 1976, pages 173 (plan), 179. Azimuth of recumbent given here as about 230°.

Burl and Piper 1979, pages 140 and 145. This suggests the recumbent is aligned towards the minimum (minor standstill) midsummer moonset.

Shepherd, 1986, page 158. This offers the following : 'The recumbent is aligned on the point at which the moonrise is first visible above the hills to the south'. Includes a nice photo.

Thom 1967, pages 135, 145 (plan).

The Thieves, Galloway

Visited 29.7.1993

Data from (and plan redrawn from) Thom 1967, pages 67 and 98 (site code G4/2).

Tomnaverie, Kincardine

Surveyed 22.8.1993

See also :

Shepherd 1986, page 152.

Uisken, Mull

Surveyed 17.7.1993

See also :

Ruggles 1984, pages 125 and 138-139 (site code ML31). Azimuth ranges given here as 49.4° - 50.2° and 229.4° - 230.2°.

Thom 1967, page 100 (site code M2/10). Azimuth given here is 229.6°.

Wallace's stone, Perthshire

Surveyed 20.8.1993

1. Hutchison 1893, pages 115 - 136.