III. REPOR N STONO T E CIRCLE N I PERTHSHIRES , PRINCIPALLY STRATHEARN; WITH MEASURED PLAND DRAWINGAN S S (OBTAINED UNDE GUNNINE RTH G FELLOWSHIP) FREDY B . .R . COLES, ASSISTANT KEEPER OB THE MTJSEUM. The portioe countth f f o Perthshireno y f whico , h Strathears ni e centrath ltake e strathb y n (foma , e purposerth thif so s reports a ) beginnin t Kindrocheta g , nea t FillansS r o Hiltot , f Moncrieffeo n , a little south of the city of Perth, and is about twenty-six miles in length east and west. In the contrary direction it includes the country lying betwee na poin t near Amulre o Strathallat e n Castle in Muthil—a breadt f thirteeo h n miles. e extremThesth e ar ee limits; about half thiso f , however s mountainoui , e s ; th e.g., l al high district between Craig Liath (1636) above Dunira north-east- wards to Glen Garr, a stretch of great hills and deep valleys over twenty miles long by five wide, and watered by the rivers Lednock, Turret, Almond, and by such considerable streams as the Barvick and Schochie burns. This grand and wilder portion naturally con- tains only a few prehistoric sites, its general altitude forbidding them. It is in the narrower, less hilly, and much more cultivated stri f beautifupo l country through whic e Eare Ruchith hth n d an l flow that the megalithic remains abound ; and these will be most conveniently treate takiny b f do g them from wes eassequenco a t n i t e groups.x osi f 1 have 1W e agai recorno t sincerr dou e thanks for inestimable help discoverinn ,i g sites freelo s , y accorde residenty b s du Comrien si . especiall Johr M ny yb Graham , Mr J. J. Macdonald, Mr Thomas Boston, Mr Maclntyre, and Mr Gardner, tenant of Balmuick. EEPOE STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I 7 S4 .

GROUP I.—COMRIE DISTRICT. No. 1. Kindtochet.—The farm of this name is situated close on the south Earn e banquartea mil th e d f ko on ,ean r W.N.W Dalchonzif o . e House n oval-shapeA . d rounde f planteo l d groun s showi d n o n the O.M. 366 yards almost due south of the farm-steading and e westerth clos o t en fring f Dunduro e n Wood s heighIt . t above sea-level is 300 feet; but it is in reality lowly and secluded, being l side al great y n sb shu o n ,i t massive, heathery hilllessed an s r heights wooded and picturesque—epithets which fully apply to the larger portio rarele th f no y beautiful district surrounding Comrie. On the map there is no indication, by lettering or symbol, of any archasological remain t thia s s spotattentioy M . s directewa n o t d it partly through the brief description given by Mr J. M. Gow,1 and partly by the. accounts related by local residents, which seemed to point to the fact that there were Standing Stones here. On in- spectin e sitfoune th gw e d certainly many stones t nonbu , e that clearle b coul w ydno describe e remnantth s da Circlea f o s , although from their somewhat chaotic conditio t nwouli unwise db affiro et m that there never had been such a structure here. What was plainly discernibl e irregularlth n o e y oval, slightly raised moun s thawa dt three great cists formed of uncommonly large slabs of schistose rock werlyinw eno g mor r leseo slighe ope th f day thao d to n t an ,t other slab-like stones still remained in situ as if indicating other and unopened cists. No precise record has been preserved of the excavations made here ; in one of the cists human bones were found. No. 2. Cairn-circle at Drumnakill.—On the moor, a little over a quarte a milnorte f o erdu f Dunir ho a Hous rathed ean r more than hal a milf e eas f Gleo t nsite o Baltachantw s e e b nex th o t e t ar , described e dominanTh . t crag f Craio s g Liath (1636) enclose this lowe site northe nearlth s re mooi th par d th fee0 n f an o r,yo 70 tt 1 Proceedings, vol. . xxii24 . p . 48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

above sea-level. It is not shown on the O.M. Mr Gow has a notice of it in the paper above referred to. This Cairn-circl s aboui e t seventy yard e shepherd'sth eas f o t s cottage, and it slightly resembles others already noticed in Perthshire. t measureI s from cres s circulacreso t it f o t r ridge (se plane eth , fig. 1)

Fig, 1. Cairn-circle, Drumnakill, Comrie ; Ground-plan.

44 fee inche3 t s fee 7 incheeas0 d wes3 1 t an y t b t s nort southd han . Several large block stonf so exposee eli creste manth d n dan ,o y others walke on ridg e e felss b a tTh aloncompletels n ei ca . git y oval-cir- cular, havin breao gn r passage-wayko enclosed an , flattishsa , rather uneven space measuring abou fee4 diameter3 tn i t heighe Th .t above outside th e groun e best-preserveth t da d portion fulls si feety4 . . Drumnakill;3 . No remains f Circleo (supposed),— a cleareIn d REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S . 49

space, about twenty-five yards east of the Cairn-circle, a very prominent cup-marked boulder of whinstone arrests the eye ; and lying in an almost straight line a few yards to the south there are five other block f considerablo s e size. Whether* these were onct ese in a ring around the cup-marked boulder is a point not now clearly ascertainable, but vague rumours to the effect that such was the original arrangement reache froe dm m more tha quartere non .

Fig. 2. Cup-marked boulder near Circle, Drumnakill, Comrie. cup-markee Th d Stone measure fees6 inche7 tfee 3 inche1 1 y t sb s tope os longenth it , r axis surface pointinTh e. gN nea e ° Wth r80 . middle, wher Cupe eth s arefee2 inches 5 ,ti s abov grounde e eth th d an , stone basth f eo rounds off downward smoothese th l sidesn al O n so . t and most level portion there are thirteen beautifully clear-cut, plain Cups,1 varying in diameter from 3| to 1|- incnc3, all about f inch in 1 It may be useful to note that at two other Perthshire sites Mr Dugald M'Ewen has discovered Stones each with thirteen cup-marks (without grooves or rings), and that a Stone at Clochfoldich, near Grantully, bears fifty-two (13 x 4), also plain cups. VOL. XLV. 4 50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

depth, and arranged as shown in the plan (fig. 2). The whole general surface of the Stone has a distinct inclination towards the south ; north-ease th n o t larga tbu e fractur s occurredha e , shown shaden di my drawing. . Remains4 . No of Stone Circle, Tullybannocher.— e OnO.Mth . four Stone e showar s t thia n s spot t whaA . t date destruction begas ni uncertain, but Mr Maclntyre, tenant of Kindrochet, informed me that up to about seventeen years ago three Stones remained, and that f themo e ,on whic fallend thes hha wa n, remove obstruction a s da n to the plough by the farmer ; therefore there are at present only 4 X +

Fig. 3. Remains of Stone Circle, Tullybannocher ; Ground-plan.

two. The site is 250 yards N.E. of the St Fillans Road and over a quarte a mil f o er N.W f Tullybannocheo . r smithy open a n i , field, heighe th t abouf a o tfee 4 t21 above sea-level easte th n , TwentyO . - shillin wese e wooth g th t n Woo Drumlochlanf o do d dan close, in t si . Farther away due north rise the great knuckle-like contours of Crap- pich Hill, whil e southerth e n prospec s completelyi t y closeb n i d heavily-timbered ground. e StoneTh s stan s showe plaa dth nn ni (fig . fee2 3) 2 ,inche4 t s apar f measurei t d between their centres. Fro e facmth t thae th t broader sides of each face respectively north-eastwards and north- westwards inferree b o t s di t tha i , othee Stoneo th t tw r thif so s Circle once stood on the northern arc. The west Stone, A, is a vertical five- REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PEETHSHIRE. 51

sided block of quartziferous schist, with a basal girth of almost 1 a 2heigh feed f 4an o t t fee inches8 t othee Th r. Stone alss i , oB , five-sided, and is an irregular, very broad-based, rugged block of whinston feee5 heightn i t girthind an , g roun base dfeeth 3 einches1 6 t . In the illustration (fig. 4) there is shown a view of these Stones fro S.S.E.e mth , with Crappic hdistancee Hilth n i l . No. . Stone5 Circle t Balmuick.a —This loft mile y on site s eN.E.i 1

Fig. 4. Remains of Stone Circle at TuIIybannocher ; View from the S.S.E.

of Balmuick farmhouse and rather less distant from Braefordie, on the wide moorlands which form the footings of the two great hill- range Choim Beinn-a-Chonnaich,d Ca s an s e nortth f Comrieo o ht 1 . The height above sea-leve 100s i l unmarke0s i feet t I e O.M..th n ,do and I am able to record it directly through information given me by Mi- Boston, now residing at Sunnyside, Dalginross, who for long was tenant of Balmuick whoso t d ean , keen interes accuratd an n i t e knowledgf eo locae th l antiquitie were sw e indebte variour dfo s fact importance.'f so 2 1 Pronounced Cairn Hosie, and Ben-y-Hone. - Balmuick is famous for being the site of the discovery, in a cist, of an urn with a side-handle, during excavations conducte r BostonM e Andersony Se b d. , Scotland in Pagan Times, Bronze and Stone Ages, p. 82. 52 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

There are on this lonely spot six Stones (see plan, fig. 5) which appear to have formed one irregular group, four of which probably constituted the circle proper. Only one, Stone A, on the S.W., is

-4——I-

Fig . Ston5 . e Circle, Balmuick, near Comri e; Ground-plan . REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 53

now upright t standi ; fees4 inche6 t s above grounds basit s ed i an , an oblong measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length by 1 foot 9 in breadth. a blocSton s i f whinston ko eB e lying partially embedded fee6 ,y b t inche4 1 y fee3 b s 2 thict f schistosk; Stono s i eC e rock y fee3 b , 6 t 3 feet 1 by 2 feet 5 ; D is of granite, 6 feet 6 by 3 feet 8 by 2 feet 9, a rounded mass, perhaps, like B, fallen outwards from the true cir- cumference. With regare lonth go dt slab-lik e Ston , whicE e s ha h sustaine a largd e fractur s nort it e conjecture b t a hey endma t ,i d that its origina e centre Circlel th th positio f n i eo , s lyinnwa g there as the cover-stone of the principal burial; for if it were once rolled over fro s southermit t wouli d nen d occupy just that position. The dimensions of this long stone are : length 8 feet, breadth 3 feet 8, and thicknes fees2 inches9 t . Quite outsid e trueth e Circle (obtainey db ascertaininlie) e squarisC sth d thinned an han , e centreB g, th r A f so granite Stone t measureI F. foofees4 1 . inche7 2 y ttfee 4 b y 4 t sb In the centre of its upper flat surface there is a clearly cut ring, 6 inches in diameter, which has a curiously modern appearance, and in regard to this ston r BostoM e n offer e followinth s g conjectur e: " That, seeing it was suitable for a millstone, it was taken out of its place, and had some of its projections chipped off, thus making it rudely circular. The ring cut in the centre was probably the first operation borinn i ghola e right through, when, wit hlona g piec woof eo d through the hole, it could be wheeled down to the low ground and there fashioned." If my interpretation of the positions of these Stones be correct, s evideni t i t tha have w t e her a eston e setting, rudely circulan i r form d measurinan , g onl fee2 y1 inche6 t diametern si respecn i , f o t size, therefore, belonging to a class represented by only a few specimens which have been already noticed.1 The interior of the Circle is smooth, very slightly concave, and in line wit e circumferencth h ridgw lo f smalo ea f s lo i made p u e Repore Proceedings,e Se th n i t vol. xxxix . 206vold p . an , . xxix . 305p . . 1 4 5 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

bouldery stones. The longer axis of Stone A points W. 40° N. In e illustratioth n (fig ) thi6 . s grou s showi p n fro e eastmth , wita h portion of Glenartney Forest and the Aberuchil Hills overtopped by Ben Voirlich. The prospect on all sides is magnificent, and looking south-westward n descryca e ,w s amongst other prehistoric sites, three great e righcairnth n te Ruchio sban th f ko l near Ruchilside, beyond Comrie.

Fig. 6. Remains of Stone Circle, Balmiiiok ; View from the East.

No. 6. Remains of Stone Circle at Lawers.—A single monolith stands here close to a row of trees forming the eastern side of the fine old avenue, a quarter of a mile S.S.E. of the mansion-house, and within sight of the road to Criefl.1 The site is shown on the O.M. at a height above sea-level of about feet4 18 . This massive boulder of whinstone is rounded at the base, where estate 1Th originalles "wa y name dnames Fordiewa t d Lawerbu , s aftee th r Campbells from Loch Tay side came into possession," Chronicles of Strathearn, p. 251. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 55

it girths 10 feet 3 inches, but tapers upwards to its apex of 5 feet 10 inches, with the eastern edge somewhat jagged and broken. Near wese smala s basth it s i tn eo l slab-like fragmen stonf o t e quite earth- fast. The north and south surfaces are smooth and nearly vertical, and the longer axis is E.S.E. 75° by W.N.W. 75°. The view (fig. 7) shows the stone from the east. No. 7. Stone-Circle Site at Tom-na-Chessaig.—This is unmarked on the O.M., and, so far as I know, it is not mentioned in the local

. Remain7 . Kg Stonf so e Circle, Lawers, near Comri e; View fro e Eastmth .

guide-books ; but more than one resident spoke of having been told by his forbears that on this very definite rather circular hillock several great stones forming a rudely circular group were set up. moune Th s situatei d de rive closth ryardo t ew Ear fe s n a sout f ho the lane between the Public Hall in Burrell Street, Comrie, and the east wall of the U.F. Church. It is stated that when this church was built some of the Circle Stones were destroyed. One great mass of whinstone still lien Tom-na-Chessaigo s , wit a hjumper-hol n i e beao t t i r testimon above th o yet statement.1 1 Near the churchyard of Callancler there is a circular mound also called Tom- na-Chessaig t Kessoge HilS f th , o l . 56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

No. 8. Site of Standing Stones at Craggish.—This site also has been wantonly bereft of its groups of megaliths. Up to so recent a date as 1891 there were several. These were shown on the anothern i o fiela tw n d O.Mo ,line d abous threon ean a e . n i eon t furlong N.E f Craggiso . h farmhouse e ,roa th closd o t comine g down from Ross d nearlan , ya quarte a mil f o er e forN.Wth df o . across the Ruchil at Ruchilside. The site is about 200 feet above sea-level. No. 9. Stone Circle at Dunmoid, Dalginross.—On the O.M. this sit s nameei dyard0 Roundel30 s i S.W t I f Easte.o . r Dalginross, on the southern edge of the road to Strowan, close to Woodside Cottage, and at about the 200-feet contour line. The new cemetery wall comes thio clost sp eu site . Accounts in the district vary as to the amount of interference which has taken place here in recent times, and the fact that at present two plane th n ,o fig C Stones, shoul 8 other.d o an tw erece db ,A d s quitan t e prostrate, is assuredly not a little strange. In one account we have e followinth g particular *s: " There were three large slab f stono s e lying upo e groundnth , which apparentl d bee t yha soma n e former period placed erec somy b t e loving hand o mart s e laskth t resting- plac f somo e e departee f somth o f d o e dai e frienth r heroo y d B . Comrie masons, the Stones were placed in a standing position. Curious to know what lay beneath the surface, we dug up the earth in front of the largest slab, and came upon a stone cist placed north and south, fee3 inche7 t s long foo1 , inche8 t s broadfoo1 inche3 d t an , s deep. The only remains discovered was a thigh-bone. ... An old man, who then [circa 1876] lived in the village of Comrie, told us that in his young days the same mound was dug up, when an urn filled with ashes was discovered. . . . The spot is called Dunmoid, or hill of judgment." Whatever inaccuracies of detail there may be in the above, we Reve th .y 1JohB n Macpherson, of Comri e; Chronicles of Strafhearn, . 166p . REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 57 ma t leasya t tak t thaei t four Stones originally compose e Circldth e here, and that the interior was devoted to purposes of sepulture. Beginning with the western arc, we have Stone A, a tall, slab-like vertical mass of reddish schist, 5 feet 4 inches in height, three-sided, and measuring roun base dth e nearl feety9 ; flatStona s i , esmoothB ,

i 4 —— J —— ? Fig . Ston8 . e Circle, Dunmoid, Balginros s; Ground-plan . rounded boulde f whinstoneo r , fractured acros s innesit r edge foo1 , t 6 inches thick feefee4 ,3 lonbroa6 8 tt gand d ; pillara Ston is eC - like, flat-topped block of red schist, quite vertical, 5 feet 2 inches in height and 8 feet 6 in basal girth. Stone D closely resembles its opposite , beinB , g roundedd flaan t aboud an ,inche 0 2 t s above ground. Assuming C to have been re-erected on its original site, we obtain a 58 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

circumference whose diameter is 15 feet 3 inches, which bisects all e Stoneth t D.bu s Measured betwee e centresth n e interspaceth , s

. Ston9 . eKg Circle, Dunmoid, Dalginros s; Vie w fro Northe mth . feefeet8 9 inche6 tC, B, ; B A feeCD, s; 11 6. t are A, 10D fee; 8 t interioe Th fairls i r y leve smoothd viewo an l f thiTw o s .s groue par taken (figs. 9,10) formere ,th , fro northe mth , looking int Roundee oth l

Fig. 10. Stone Circle, Dunmoid, Dalginross ; View from the South-east. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S . 59

Wood e latterth , , fro e south-eastmth , showin noble gth e contourf so Aberuchie th l Hills beyon flae dth t ground lying adjacen rivere th o .t t . Remains10 . No f Circleo t Cowden.—a leave Asw e Dalginrosy sb

Fig. 11. Remains of Stone Circle, Cowden, near Comrie ; Ground-plan.

roae th d going southward Cultibraggano st observee w , , nearly opposite the road to Comrie Manse, on our left, a huge stone leaning sharply over to the east, and near it two other stones both squat and incon- spicuous site juss ei Th .t over hal mila f e south-wes Roundee th f o t l above noticed, and it is about 217 feet above sea-level. As these

. FigRemain12 . Stonf so e Circle nea Manse th r e Road, Cowden. 60 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

three Stones now lie almost in a straight line, it is impossible to affirm what were their original positions, or if there were others forming with them a circular group. The accompanying ground- plan (fig) show11 . s their respective positions e monolitTh . n o h the west is a great rough block of what seems to be diorite ; its vertical height is 6 feet 4 inches and its basal girth 21 feet 6 inches. Barely

"Fig. 13. Cup-marked boulder, Cowden.

2 feet from its east side is a block of whinstone about 1 foot 10 inches in thickness, and measuring 3 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 10 inches (see fig. 12). At about 6 feet to its east there lies a rounded and thinner boulder of whinstone, smooth to a remarkable degree, and having a slight downward inclination from ease thid eas th westen o tst t t A . Stone is about 18 inches above ground ; part of the opposite extremity bees ha n fractured e surfacTh .s coverei e d wit ha grou f twentypo - two neatly made cups (see fig. 13)majorite th , y being abou inche2 t n si diameter muc, w witfe h h a smaller cupo Tw s measur. e onl incy1 h REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 61

n diameter.i e vie Th f thiwo 1 s singular grou s pfroi e (fig) mth 12 . south-east. . Standing11 . No Stone AuchinganicTc.—t a mose Thisth s ti northerly of several monoliths in this section of the district of Strathearn,

Fig. 14. Standing Stone, Auohingarrick ; View from the South.

which, in local parlance, are known as " the Eoman stones," and this bettefoo n r r reason than because they occupy position fielde th n so s d mooran s between Dalginros d Ardocan s h Boman Station. That t stantheno linn o di yd e with each other, and, therefore, ove spaca r e of some fifteen miles could be of no use as guide-stones between those 1 This cup-marked boulder is briefly noticed in the Chronicles of Strathearn, p. 163. 62 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

two places, is obvious, both from the evidence of the O.M. and niy own observations. The Stone at Auchingarrick (fig. 14) stands a few score yards to e W.S.W th e steadinth f a smalo . n go l grassy knoll which bearo n s evidence of the sites of any other stones. It is a strikingly square- edged, massive, block of reddish conglomerate schist, oblong in section, wit basaha l feegirt 12 inche 8 heigha t hof and st above grounof d

Fig. 15. Standing Stone, Craigneieh ; View from the South-east.

8 feet 7 inches. The south side is the smoothest and most vertical. Auchingarrick is half a mile south-east from South Cowden, and the Standine th sit f eo g Ston t aboua s ei t 450 feet above sea-level. . Standing12 . No Stone t Craigneieh.—a This mile Stond on ean s ei a furlong S.S.E. of the last, on the north side of the road between Strai Shillinghilld dan fee4 51 t t abova , e sea-level localite Th . y lies e nortth f Aodao ho t n Mohr, whice namth s ehi e uppegiveth o nt r portion of Dunruchan. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 63

In form and outline this block of rather rounded whinstone bears no resemblance to the monolith at Auchingarrick. Its base is of an extremely irregular four-sided shape, having a jutting-out ledge on the south (see fig. 15). In basal girth it measures 15 feet 9 inches, and in height 6 feet 4 inches. The longest axis points N. 33° E.. by S. 33° W.

G-ROUP II.—DUNRTJCHAN STONES. No. 13. The Norih-East Stone, Dunruchan.—For the better under- standing of this group of five great Stones, there is here appended a plan made from the O.M., which shows their relative positions (see fig . theso 16)T .e I hav e added lettering mediae Th . l distances have been carefully measurepresumable ar mape d th an n , do y trust- worthy. From Craigneich Stone to Stone B, 466 yards 2 feet; from yard8 yard, 38 3 foot, D 1 s 54 A footo , 1 s t B;o C t C fro;o t mA yard1 9 , feetsE 2 yardfro0 o d t . an 30 mD s ; e mosThith s tsi anomalous grou Standinf po g Stones these reports have hitherto dealt with. Dunruchan Moor stretches, at a general height of about 700 feet above sea-level, for nearly two miles towards the south and south-west of Craigneich. At its northern extremity, and distant fro e Craigneicmth h Stone abou yards0 61 t , stande th s first and the tallest of the group (A on the plan), a huge pointed mass of conglomerate schist, its apex being 11 feet 4 inches above ground. s bas somewhaa It s ei t regular oblong, measuring alon norte gth d han south faces 4 feet 2 inches, and across the edges 3 feet 10 inches an feed2 inches2 t widee th , f theso r e easte beinth n . go Smald lan insignificant boulders lie loosely around it. The smoothest and most vertical side face e northe illustratioth s Th . n (fig. 16A s drawwa ) n from the east, with the Aberuchil Hills as a background.1 n ChroniclesI 1 f Strathearn,o . 165p s statei t i , d tha t Blarinroara t , fielf o d violent contest, some of these Stones are 20 feet in height. Blarinroar is to the nort f Dunruchanho above highese on e stone Th e th .th describedf o s tsi . 64 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

No. 14. The North-West Stone, Dunruchan.—This block of conglom- erate, not half the height of the one last described, is'B on the general

FARM J\\

CltAIGNEICH STONE

•B

. FigGenera16 . l pla Standinf no g Stone Dunruchan so n Moor. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI 5 S6 .

plan t I occupie. a rathes r lower positio e west5 yardth 38 no . t s Its basal girth is 8 feet 10 inches and its height 5 feet 1 inch, the south bein e smoothesquitw gth no e s fou t it vertical no f r o ts sidesi t I , . having a lean to the south. Like the great North-east Stone, this tapere rathea on o t s r fine point (se e vieweth , fig. 17). From this

Fig. 16A. Dunruchan North-ease th , t Ston e; Vie w fro e Eastmth .

Ston e otheeth groue r th fou s weln pa i rs tha a lt Craigneica t e ar h visible. No. 15. The Middle Stone, Dunruchan.—This huge block, C on the plan, rugge irregulad dan r (see fig. 18), makes, fro extraordinare mth y angle at which it leans over southwards, a surprisingly picturesque object amid the heather and the various small boulders that lie scat- VOL. XLV. 5 66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

. DunruchaFig17 . North-wese th n; t Ston e; Vie w fro Easte mth .

. DunruchanPig18 . Middle th , e Ston e; Vie w fro Easte mth . REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S . 67 tered about in its vicinity. Of oblong basal section, the Stone tapers sharplsmala o t l p ynarrou w edge, whic t presena s hi fee9 t inche4 t s in vertical height above the grassy ledge surrounding the base. In girt t hi measure s e uppeslop it th ove f feet7 o ed 1 r r an surfac, s i e

. DunruchanFig19 . South-wese th , t Ston e; Ground-plan . over 12 feet in length. Intervening undulations in the moorland preven Stoneo seeine tw on te s gth whic h stand farther down south- wards. The main axis of its base is N. 18° W. by S. 18° B. No. 16. The South-west Stone, Dunruchan. — This is D on plan. New feature presentee ar s combination di n with this Stone lien I u. 68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. DECEMBER 12, 1910.

of being set absolutely solitary on the heath, there are, extending for a considerable area almost around its base, many stones and boulder a flattise sfor th f laio mn i dh circular cair r platforo n m (see the ground-plan, fig. 19). The monolith, which leans over e cairn e crese soutth d towardth th f an f o ,t h o o t e northt th sse s i ,

. DunruchanFig20 . South-wese th , t Ston e; Vie w fro Easte mth .

there is a considerable fall from the crest to the level of the moor aroun , indicatindit g tha vera t y great quantit smalf yo l stones must have been employe makinn di cairninteriore e gth Th . , shown dotted on the plan, bears signs of having been partially excavated, probably e Stoncause th th f e o e vertical beinth stone f muco o gs Th t y. hou cair platforr no m measure fee5 sdiameter1 n i t consistd an , moderatf so e sized stones. The base of the great Standing Stone is oblong, and measures in girth 14 feet 2 inches. Down the slope of its back the REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE9 6 .

s presenit lengt feet0 d 1 an s ,thi vertical heigh fee8 t inches6 t e Th . longer axis is almost exactly due east and west. From this spot the next Stone in order can be easily seen (see the view, fig. 20). No. 17. The South Stone, Dunruchan.—This monolith, in respect of position, somewhat resembles the last, because it stands on the

D0

Fig. Dunruchan21 . Soute th , h Ston e; Ground-plan . rudela f o wes yc ar tcircula r settin f smalgo l stones, which, however, e cast t merel arplaceth f Stonbu a mouneno o n , i n o dys eD) (a d lie on the flat of the moor. Five of these blocks are large enough to be noticeable, and they occupy the positions shown by the outlined e ground-plastoneth n i s n (fig. 21) e farthese ,easth th t o t beint g 15 feet distant from the inner face of the standing monolith A. The dimension f thio s s Ston :e ar eheigh fee6 t inches9 t , basal girth 16 feet 1 inch. In the illustration (fig. 22) I show this Stone 70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

with the other great one near set on its platform, and to the right e numerouth f o o stw small cairnw lo , s whic e scatterear h d about this part of the moor. Some distance to the east, near the unnamed stream flowing past the South Stone, my friend Mr James Simpson has seen another great Stone t lyinbu , g prostrate. e Owinincreasinglth o t g y thick e afternooth mis r visin o ou tDunruchano t f o n were w , e precluded from wandering far over the moor, and therefore this Stone was not observed.

Fig. 22. Dunruchan, the South Stone.

A good deas beeha l n written d stilan ,l more surmised, regarding thes sitex e si Dunruchann fiv so r o e claie bees Th t mfortha . npu h that these Stones common i , n with othersf Eomao e ar ,n origino T . this I cannot assent; there is no feature connected .with them which singles them out as radically different from the majority of Standing Stones in Perthshire and elsewhere. If the monoliths commemorate burials, it can only be through patient observation of the associated structures and relics that come to light after competent excavation, tharesulty an t f importanco s o archaeologet obtainede b n s ca yA . fa rr presenaou s t knowledge extends e t Romanerecth ,no td di s huge unchiselled, somewhat amorphou totalld san y unlettered Stand- Stoneg in commemoration si eventy an f no . And s simila,a r mono- REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 71

liths are to be found in other districts not traditionally associated with Roman fai a sitess ri inferenct i , e that thes t Dunruchaea y nma justlbs ea y entitle tere th m o dt " prehistori othersy can s ".a

GROUP III.—CRIEFF DISTRICT. No. 18. Standing Stone at Dalchirla (West).—In a field south of

5?ig. 23. Standing Stone, Dalchirla (West) ; View from the South-east.

Machany Wate d N.B an f rDalchirlo . a farm-steadin 0 yards26 g , there stands this tall and striking monolith (fig. 23). The site is at about the 400-foot contour line. In essential features this Stone much resembles most of the great schistose blocks which characterise e maith n portio e Strathearth f no t taperi n t arebu s a; upward o t s 2 7 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R . a very thin and narrow summit that rather distinguishes it from its fellows t standI . fee9 s inche4 t s above ground e girthd th an ,t a s bast wit se fees longee inches7 1 hs it i 1 t t I r . axis nearl norte ydu h and south. Aroun s basdit e ther severae eli l large masse stonef so — not earth-fast—amid a conglomeration of smaller pieces evidently cleared off the field. The appended view is from the B.S.E. No. 19. Remains of Stone Circle at Dalchirla (East).—Such is the o e titlStoneO.M. poina th tw eyard0 t n e a ,o affixes30 t th s o t d e S.S.Elastd nearlth an f , o .y three miles wes f Muthio t l Church. There is no indication at present on the site of the former position of othe rs impossibl i Stones t i d an ,conjecturo et e fro e groundmth -

Fig. 24. Remains of Stone Circle, Dalchirla (East) ; Ground-plan. plan (fig. 24) whether the others stood to the north or to the south of these beinn I . g place rigidlo ds y "line,n i " they resemblo tw e eth groups surveyed some t Edintiayeara o sag Fonad nan b Moor.1 A space of only 8 feet separates the inner opposite ends of these two Stones, which are both of the usual reddish schist. Stone A is 7 feet 8 inches in height and 12 feet 4 inches in girth ; the other is only 4 feet 4 inches in height and 9 feet 6 inches in girth. They are both vertical, having their broader sides fairly smooth and regular. The view (fig. 25) is taken from the south. No. 20. The Belted Stone, Calfward.—This is the map-name attached to a site in a wood two miles and a quarter E.S.E. of the railway statio t Muthilna . Severa e treeth thin f i so ls wood having fallen, 1 See Report in Proceedings, vol. xlii. pp. 108-112. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S . 73

the interior is in parts a confused tangle of stumps and roots, rendered more th l e al difficul searco t t luxuriany hb t growt vegetationf ho e Th . site was, however, carefully examined, with the unsatisfactory result that no monolith was now discoverable. No. 21. Standing Stone at Concraig.—At one mile and a quarter south-wes f Criefo t f railway station n opea n i , field abou0 30 t e north-wesyardth o t s f Concraigo t , there stands this irregularly

Fig. Remain25 . f Stonso e Circle, Dalchirla (East); View fro Southe mth . four-sided bloc f conglomerato k e schist e sit s markeei Th e .th n o d O.M. at about 200 feet above sea-level. The Stone measures 9 feet inche3 s roun base standd dth ean fees7 inche3 t heightn si . About half-wa s easterit p yu nbees facha n t leavo ei broket s a evera o ns y distinct ledge, shown in the view (fig. 26). The main axis is S.E. 28° by N.W. 28°. No. 22. Remains of Circle at Dargill.—This place-name deserves brief notice pronounces i t I . persony db localite t weri th f i n s i es ya spelt like the Irish name Dargle, having the stress on the first syllable. 74 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

Th fiela e n dsiti s betweeei maie nth n road from Crief Auchtero t f - arde Dargild an r l Islanrivee th n r fee do 1 heighe Earn th 12 t f t a o ,t above sea-level, and nearly half a mile north-east of the last site. Ther s herei indistincn a e teasil w moundno y t traceableno , f o r no , any considerable height; but it is significant to have to report that

Fig. 26. Standing Stone, Concraig, near Crieff ; View from the North-east.

up to 1909, when a new tenant entered the farm, two other great Stones were standing. These were remove e newcomerth y db , much to the surprise and indignation (I was told) of the neighbours. . The remaining monolith is an unusually square and massive oblong block of schist, girthing over 16 feet, and standing clear of the ground 7 fee inche8 t heightn si s easterIt . n edge is roug rived an h n into EEPOET ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 75

long vertical hollows; but the other sides are, on the whole, smooth. I appen dviea w fro south-ease mth t (fig. 27). . Standing23 . No Stone t Duchlage.—a This sit s ratheei r over half a mile east of Criefl Bridge and a quarter of a mile south-east of Duchlage. The O.M. shows it to be about 150 feet above sea-level.1

Fig. 27. Remains of Stone Circle, Dargill, near Crieff ; View from the South-east.

It is on the north side of, and close to, the main road. In shape a narrow rhomboid at the base, this Stone rises to an acute angle at a height of 6 feet. Its longer axis is B.S.E. 52° by W.N.W. 52°, and in basal girth it measures 8 feet 11 inches. A view from the west s givei n (fig. 28). No. 24. Stone Circle at Ferntoiver.—The five sites just described as forming a portion of the third or Criefi group are situated on the 1 Near it, on the south of the road, was the old Stayt of Crieff, now a site only. 76 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

south of the river Earn. Those that immediately follow are on the northern bank l withif thaal o s e t na moderatelar river t bu , y easy distance of Crieff. Ferntower is about one mile north-east from Criefi on the road to Perth; and close to the policies about a quarter of a mile south of e houseth cultivaten o , d land fee0 t40 , above sea-level, there remain

Fig. 28. Standing Stone near Duchlage, Criefi ; View from the .West.

the six Stones arranged in the peculiar manner shown in the ground- plan (fig. 29). Four Stone salmosn a res n i t t true th e o circlet d an , o 'othertw 7 fee ease 2 sa greaar t t f theses distanto i , te E. , On . erect monolit feeh6 inche5 t heightn si . Beginning wit e circulath h r group e south-weshavee th w ,n o , t arc, Stone A, 6 feet long, 4 feet 6 inches wide and 2 feet 4 inches thick, an irregularly shaped mass of whinstone ; next Stone B, a rounded boulde fee2 inchefee 6 5 footy rt1 b t y b s; thirdly, Stone REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 77

C, an irregular and quartz-seamed block of diorite, 6 feet by 4 feet 6 inche fee2 inche0 fourthlyd 1 y t b an s s; , Ston a boulde , D e f o r whinstone also containing seam f o quartzs 5 fee , 6 inchet n i s length and breadth, and 2 feet 3 inches above ground. At some perio e intentioth d f blastinno g this block must have been considered e r beginnintherth fo , s i ea jumper-hol f o g e neae th r s centruppeit f o er surface. Clos o thit e s unmistakably modern hole there is one single genuine cup-mark about 1J inch in diameter.

'+.

Tig. Ston29 . e Circle, Ferntower, Crief ; fGround-plan . These four block circumference sth lin eo circla f eo e whose diameter is 27 feet 6 inches, and if the Circle of Stones were once complete, there would have been two other Stones on the north arc near the points marke crossey plane db th n .so Measured between their centres the distances from Stone to Stone 4 fee 1 2 fee Bt 1 A C fee6 inches6 1 tinches: 6 D t e D d ar A ,an , 6 inches. e greaTh t Standin ga rounde Stons i E e d boulde f whinstoneo r , flattis tope th fee,t 7 ha inche 9 t heightn si witd ,an h basaa l girt7 1 f ho feet 1 inch. The block lying near it is of very rough reddish schist, nearly 6 feet in length, 4 feet 9 inches in width, and about 2 feet thick. 78 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

1 02 REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 79

The illustration (fig. 30) gives a view of the Circle from the east. No. 25. Cradle Stone, Knock of Crieff.—Such is the appellation printed in O.E. lettering on the O.M., given to one of two huge boulders difficul e fir-wood th e westerfin o t n th ti d t a s n extremity a heigh e Knockt oa th f nearl o d t feet0 an , 60 y, midway between Knockearn Hous d Culcrieffan e n visitinO e .site e th congth , - clusion became apparent that these two blocks were merely natura lo interes e archaeologiscuriositiesn th d r ha fo t d an , t beyond the name.1 . Remains26 . f StoneNo o Circle, Hill f Callander.—o The more westerly of the two farms thus named is situated two miles and a half N.N.W. of Crieff, above the Falls of Barvick, and at about 700 feet above sea-level. Three hundred yards south-east of the stead- ing, the O.M. records the site of a Circle of which only one Stone (fig. 31) now remains. It is a vertical and somewhat rounded and smooth-sided pilla f schisto r n basaI . l girt t i hmeasure 5 fee1 s t 2 inches, and it stands above ground 7 feet 2 inches. The longer . 82° W possibilito .n y b Therw ° no 82 s f ascertainine. i yaxi o E s si g the probable positions occupied by the other members of this Circle. On calling at the farm, my repeated knocking received no response; and there being no one in sight whom to approach with the view of acquiring information, my steps were reluctantly turned southwards, leaving this solitary monolit a particularl n o h y lonel deserted yan d secretsn spo keeo ow t t s p.it No. 27. Remains of Stone Circle at Keppoch.—This place-name is becoming obsolete name th somf e t eo useI b .e o d t groun d aboua t quarter of a mile N.E. of Monzie Church, near Ibert Burn, at a height of about 400 feet above sea-level. An old road, steep and now rough,

1 Dr Thomson, Professor of Chemistry in Glasgow in 1838, was of opinion that thes pieceo etw f syenitio s c granite were originall bloce yon k whic s spliy hwa b t Stat.lightningw Ne Ace.,e Se . loca . 492e volp . Th l.x . stor tha s yi Cradle th t e Ston whers ei babiee eth s came from! 80 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R . cuts over the hill here between Monzie and the turning of the main road up to Conichan. The site is not marked on the O.M. •

Fig. Standin31 . g Stone, Hil Callandef lo r; Vie w fro Weste mth . It is, however, recorded1 by John Laurie, schoolmaster in Monzie, that " a large stone with rude carving upon it lies on the side of the

I 4-

Kg. 32. Remains of Circle, Keppoch, near Monzie ; Ground-plan. 1 New Stat. Ace., vol. x. p. 272. REPOR STONN TO E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S . 81

public road betwee e villagenth f Monzio s d Keppochan e . This wa s one of a Circle which Mr Monroe, the then minister, caused to be broke build w dispersean nno t e rese inte th stonar t th od ; e wall which surrounds the glebe." How far this statement is accurate may perhaps be open to question ; for at the spot indicated there are e seelargo b stil tw no et l Stones resemblin d n shapsizgi an e th e Stone f theso s e Perthshir neithen eo Circle t f theo bu r ms; could

Fig. Remain33 . Stonf so e Circle, Keppoch, near Monzi e; View fro Easte mth .

we discern any carving of any sort. These blocks (see fig. 32) lie on the north edge of the old Keppoch road, the larger one, B, about 17 yards to the south-west of the school wall. It is of coarse grey granite, stand fee2 s0 inche 1 t s above ground d measurean , s fee4 fee7 inches6 y t b t spacfee7 A 1 inche8 .t f eo s separatee sth e smalleth Stone o e (whicd tw on ran f vers; ho seeme yb haro t s d smoothed an d basalt fee4 inches 5 i t) sfee2 loninche5 d t gan s wide. It is about 2 feet 2 inches in thickness. The view (fig. 33) shows the two Stones fro easte mth . VOL. XLV. 6 82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

No. 28. Standing Stone, Monzie Policies.—This monolith is the westerly of the two prehistoric sites grouped on the O.M. as Standing Stones. It stands a few yards to the south of the avenue, almost hal mila f e fro Ease mth t Lodge Stone sligha s Th eha .t lean towards e north th s southerIt . n sid s remarkabli e y broa d smoothan d , measurin feeg4 t acros base thasth n eo t side girtn i , fee3 hinch1 1 t ,

. Standin34 . Kg g Stone, Monzie Policie s; Vie w fro Easte mth . vertican i d an l heigh fee4 t inches9 t vieA .w ) fro(fig e eas34 m.th t is appended. No. 29. Stone Circle in Monzie Policies.1—This is 330 yards east of lase th t sitecomprisesd an , , beside remaine sth Circla f so smallis f eo h stones larga , e fiat embedded Stone richly carved with cup ringd -an - marks. In the accompanying ground-plan (fig. 35) nine Stones in all are shown, eight of them being parts of the Circle, and the ninth the large outlying cup-marked Stone. The upper surface of the

1 Described and drawn by J. Romilly Alien in Proceedings, vol. xvi. p. 90. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 83

Stone H on the south-east arc also bears a few cup-marks. Con- siderable disturbance must have occurred here, for, if the close proximit e average e takefivth b th e s f a nE o yStone e A- dis t a s -

Pig. 35. Stone Circle, Monzie ; Ground-plan.

tributio Stonee complete th th f no n s i e Circle cleas i t i ,r that thers ei space enough for four others on the south arc, two others on the east, and two more on the north ; Stone F displaced may be one of them. Thus, originally there may have been fifteen Stones here.

Fig. Ston36 . e Circle t Monzia e; Vie w fro Easte mth . 4 8 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

None of the Stones is more than 2 feet above ground, and their dimensions vary from that of F, 4 feet 3 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, to that of E, 2 feet 3 inches by 1 foot 6 inches. A slight grassy ridge marks off the Circle, the diameter of which is 17 feet 6 inches. The large cup ring-marked -an d Stonfee0 1 inche 6 ts ei s distant froe mth centre of the Circle. In the illustration (fig. 36) there is shown a view taken from the north-east.

GROUP IV.—FOWLIS-WESTER. . Standing30 . No Stone Cairnn o t Neiva Fowlis.—A thickly wooded moun de angl closth Fowlis-Westee eo et th Perte madth d y han eb r roads proved to be a great cairn at about the level of 350 feet. It is shown on the O.M., but the words " Standing Stone " are printed n plaii n lettering. Ther a Ston s i e e here, small t verticabu , d an l earth-fast d bearinan , o obvioun g s mark y whicb s t i hshoul e b d excluded from the category of prehistoric Stones. e slope positioth f feeTh smal8 eo p 1 u ts ni l stones formine th g s extremit n o cairn ed easteran , n edge, show ne plablacth nn o k (fig . summie 37).e cairTh th lf n o textend r nearlsfo a fee4 y5 n i t westerly direction s fartheit d an r, slope being abou fee5 4 t t more, we hav a etota l diamete f abou o e monolitr7 feet Th 11 t . h stands 4 feet above groun d measuredan fee2 s inche2 t fee2 crossn i y t sb - diameters e illustrationth n I . s seei s fro, t na i e eas(fig mth ) t.38 end of the cairn. No. 31. Stones at Thorn, near Fowlis-Wester Church.—These two huge sligh a masse n o t e moundsli north-ease th o t , smala f o t l stream flowing between Crofthead and Thorn, at a height above sea-level of ovefeet0 50 r, nea a cart-tracr k connecting thes placeso etw . They occup a yspac e measurin e largefeet2 1 Th gfee2 .y r2 b ovet l al r thStonn o e A ground-plane( triangulaa s ,i fig) 39 . r mas f granitso e 1 The plan purposely shows only a portion of the Cairn. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 85

1fee1 6 1 feeinches0 fee 6 t 1 y b tt d measurean , d alon sidess e git Th . surfac a distinc s ha e t inclination toward e south-eastt i th s n o d an ,

Fig- 37. Standing Stone on Cairn, near FowJis-Wester ; Ground-plan. there are three clear cup-marks, A, B, and C ; A and B being 4 feet 7 inches apart, B and C 5 feet 9 inches, and C and A 6 feet 5 inches. The other block seems to be of some diorite-like mineral. It is 86 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R . roughly four-sided measured an , feet7 s uppe 2 feeIt y 1 s.b t r sur- face, which slopes steeply downwards to the south, bears a remarkable

Fig. 38. Standing Stone on Cairn, near Fowlis-Wester ; View from the North-east. couple of channels crossing each other at right angles, which are probably attributable to purely natural causes. Both these Stone e verar s y prominent objects, standing cleaf o r the surrounding field levels some 5 feet or more, and from them one

Tret' ? 15 Feet

Fig. 39. Two prostrate Stones, Thorn, Fowlis-Wester ; Ground-plan. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S7 8 .

can easily tal o discertw l Standine nth g Stone snoticede b nex o t t . Thes prostrato etw e block showe nexe sar th tn i illustratio n (fig. 40). No. 32. Standing Stones at Crofthead.—These two erect and massive Stone s othee stanth n same rd o sid th f eeo little fee0 stream35 t t bu , distant fro e lase ground-plamth th t sites A . n shows (figf o . 41)e on , the ms withii e strea th a feewell-definen9 f n o mto d mound, while the other, similarly placed, stands about 10 feet to the west, with a hollow between. I took both to be masses of whinstone. The one

Fig. 40. Two prostrate Blocks, Thorn, Fowlis-Wester.

nearer the stream stands 5 feet 3 inches in height, has a slight fall toward e north th sd measure an , 3 fee 1 sinche6 t n basai s l girth. othee Th r Ston fee7 s eti higd measurehan s nearl fee5 y1 girthn i t . From the fact that the mounds upon which they are set do not begin to slope off close to their very bases, I infer that the flat space thus left might be worth excavation, with the view of ascertaining if burials were deposited close to these Stones. By standing a few feet away on the north of this couple of Stones, we get a view (fig. 42) of the two prostrate blocks above described, a vas f o t stretcd an f gentlo h y undulating country beyonde Th . Standing Stone alse sar o shown sees (figa ) n .fro43 easte mth . PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

Fetf 5 Jfeef

ig. 41. Standing Stones, Crofthead, Fowlis-Wester ; Ground-plan.

Fig. 42. Two Standing Stones, Crofthead, Fowlis-Wester ; View from the West. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S . 89

. Stone33 . No Circles Standingd an Stone Moorn o of Ardoch, above Fowlis-Wester.—Amid e decayeth rottind an d g ruina wood f o sn o , uplane th d moor about hal mila f e N.N.E Croftheae th f o . d site, there is a specially interesting group of megalithic remains. They are shown on the O.M., at a height of nearly 800 feet above sea-level, and they extend over a space of the now heathery ground of about

Fig. 43. Two Standing Stones, Crofthead ; View from the East.

110 feet by 86 feet. These remains comprise two nearly complete Circles, A and C on the ground-plan (fig. 44), a great Stone, B, set between them, northere andth n ,o n limit fina , e Standing Stone (D). The larger Circle has a diameter of 28 feet 6 inches, the smaller of 19 feet e solitarth ; y flat fee9 e erecStonlength n i s th ti td eB an , monolit standD h fee6 s inche4 t s above ground. Fro e innemth r edg thif eo s monolit nearese thao th ht f o t t a e Circlston s th i n eC i distanc feet0 3 f e;o fro e south-wesmth e t th Stone Circl th o t f eo eC feet0 d fro 4 e e Stonedg an edgs m ,th th i f Ston f o eeB o facineB g 90 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

e circumferencth Circl o t eA f thao e t distance Circlfeet4 1 Th s .ei e betwee circumferencee nth Circleo tw e almoss si th f so t exactly twice e diamete th e largeth f o re distanc Circleth d an e, betweed an D n the circumference of the smaller Circle is almost the same as the diameter of the larger Circle. There may be nothing intentional

»« I , ^ Q. \

Fig. 44. Stone Circles on Moor of Ardoch, above Fowlis-Wester ; Ground-plan. n thesi e measurement e coincidences—ith t bu s; f only that—are worth noting. e nexth tn I ground-plan (fig. 45), ther e showar e e Stonenth f o s the two Circles on a larger scale, but not with the Circles in their true relative positions. e largeth n rI Circle e dimensionth , e Stones followa th f e o sar s : s fee2 (a fee 5 inche9 )y t b t s; (& fee3 ) inche9 t fee2 inche4 y t sb s ; REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 91

(c) fallen, 7 feet by 4 feet 9 inches ; (d) 5 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 6 inches ; (e) 4 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 10 inches ; (/) 5 feet by 3 feet; (h) 4 feet 3 inches by 3 feet 7 inches ; and (*') 6 feet 9 inches by 2 feet 8 inches ; (g) is an angular fragment with a jumper-hole in it. If we suppose (h) to have originally been set at the east edge, where I have place otheo otheo tw dcrossa rtw d rStonee an ,crosses th t a s , we should have a Circle of ten Stones. The three highest of these

Fig. 45. Enlarged Plans of Stone Circles on the Moor above Fowlis-Wesfer.

Stone e south-wessth resn o t tt excee arcno d the o an ,fee2 yd t 8 inches. The great intermediat e generaeth Stonen o l B plan, , measures 9 fee inche6 t nearly a verb s s i yfeet y6 t roundeI . smootd dan h boulder of whinstone. At its north end it is 3 feet 2 inches above lona s groundg ha inclinatio d an , n toward south-easte sth . e smalleth n I r Circle Stonee th , muce ar s h more slab-like ar d ean set up on their edges, the longer axis " in line " with the circumference. They var lengtn yi h from abou foo 1 inchesfee0 4 t 1 o t t tonld an ,y 92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

their tops are visible above the heather. There were probably three more Stones whe e Circl nth s complete wa e , thus making fifteen i n

Fig. 46. The South-west Circle, on Moor at Fowlis-Wester ; View from centrEase th f te o Circle. blockx si e s allTh show. outlinn ni scatteree eli t no de abouar d an t earth-fast. It was stated many years ago1 that in this Circle (which is de

Fig. 47. Standing Stone near the Circles on Fowlis-Wester ; View from the South-east. 1 In the New Stat. Ace., vol. x. REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I 3 S9 .

scribe s beina d g doubly concentric) there were forty Stonee th n i s outer ring ; therefore, some serious destruction must have occurred during the interval between 1837 when the account was written and the present time. groww Heathe no amonp u ns ha rg these Stones to suc extenn ha t possiblno t thas i mako t et i t edrawina themf go . illustratioe Th n (figCircleo ) showtw . 46 s seee e largea s th th s nf o r from the centre of the smaller one with the great Stone (B on the ground-plan) lying between e succeedinth n I . g illustration (fig) .47 I sho e wStandina vieth f wo plan,e gth Stonn o fig take) D e.( 44 n fro south-easte mth base girtn th I e .t hthia s fine upright monolith measures abou feet5 1 t . Some little distanc wese th f theso t o t ee Circles there is a hillock called Shian, Fairy Mound, where, it is stated, urns were discovered.

GROUP V.—GLEN ALMOND. No. 34. Clack Ossian, in the Sma' Glen.—Taking its rise in small streams that flow eastward from the great hills bordering Loch Tay, the beautiful river Almond, after a course of some fifteen miles, reache e Smae heath th sf 'o d Glen—a glen which, although barely four miles long, is truly noble in its impressive grandeur of contour ane steepnesth d d variet s slopesan sit f yo . Approachin t i frog m Crieff r attentioou , s directenwa d a hugfirs o t et bloc f whitiso k h stone lying only a few yards to the right of the road, at a point not many score yards befor sevente eth h milestone from Crief reached.s i f 1 This is wrongly named on the O.M. Ossian's Stone. The real Ossian's Stone of the local tradition is rather more than a mile farther up the Glen, close to a strip of ground where river and road almost touch each other, and immediately below the steepest of the crags of Dun e easterth Mo n e debrio rnth sidd s an eslope f Mealo s l Tarsuinn no the west, a most impressive environment, be the Stone a prehistoric monument or not. The spot is interesting for itself, apart from all 1 This boulder is locally known as Saddle the Mare. 94 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

remaine legendth d an s; consis mighta f o t y monolit plane hth (n B,o fig. 48) and a narrow grassy mound, C, to its east, with a few earth-

. ClacFig4S . h Ossian, Sma' Gle n; Ground-plan .

fast blocks set edgewise near its eastern extremity. Close to the e samroadsideth t feee0 a leve 69 t f abovbu ,o l e seaeth , ther. a s ei slab-like Stone set up, measuring 3 feet in width, 1 foot 3 inches in REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 95

thickness, and about 2 feet 6 inches in height. A space of 63 feet separates thiplane th s n )bloc o fro huge A k( mth e rhomboidal mass called Ossian's Stone. Five feee e lattee tbasth th easth f f eo s i r o t grassy mound which measures about 12 feet in length, 4 feet in greatest breadth fee3 inche0 1 d te nort heightan n ,d th i s an o h T . the south in a slightly curving line are set the six small slabs shown. There seem vagua se alsb eo t continuatio thif no s strange alignment in both directions. All ove groune th r d betwee man e Bd ar an y nA

Fig. 49. Clach Ossian, the Sma' Glen ; View from the South.

strang parallew elo l ridge smallisf so h stones havin ggeneraa l direction of nearly north and south. The rest of the ground is grassy, and here and ther littlea stonee eplath e drawe stonyl th n sal ar n I n. larger than exactl scaleo yt . The great Ston a basafee8 s es ti lha (fig ) high girtd 49 . f an ,ho 27 feet. Several small stones lie near it. Such are the facts as at present to be observed on the ground.1 traditioe Th ' n als worts oi h recording earliess it n I t. for mt appeari Lettersn si from Gentlemana Northe th n i of Scotland, 1732 (quote Chroniclesn di of Strathearn, p. 323) :— "I hav latelo es y mentioned Glenalmond roae th dn i ,fro m Crieff, northward, that I cannot forbear a digression, though at my first setting out, in relation to 96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

. Clach-na-Tiompan,35 . No Wester Glen Almond.—The Neio Statistical Account informs us that at a place called Clach-na- Tiompan "in oblona s g cairn about sixty pace lengtn d i s an h; pieca antiquitf eo y which happene discoveree b o dt than di t vale t manno , y hours befor journeyy I wenem f o t e sthroug southwardson n i t hi . " A small part of the way through this glen having been marked out by two row f camp-colourso s , place t a.gooda d distanc froe on em another, wherebo yt describ e intende th e lin f eth eo d breadt regularitd e eyehan th e roa ,th y db f yo there happened to lie directly in the way an exceedingly large stone, and, as it beed ha n mad erula e fro beginnine mth roade carro gth t straighn n si yo t lines, as far as the way would permit, not only to give them a better air, but to shorten e passenger'th s journey s resolvewa t i , d thae stonth t e shoul removede db f i , possible, although otherwise the work might have been carried along on either side of it. e soldiers"Th vasy b , t labour, with their lever jacksd an sr hand-screws o , , tumble t dovei oved an r re way tilth f l,t quito i thealthoug t t yeou go f o s h ifwa c suc enormoun ha s size tha t mighi t mattee b t greaf o r t wonde t wouli w dho r ever be remove humay db n strengt artd han , especiall neved ha suco ro yt seehwh n na operatio f thano t kin d; and , upon diggin glittla e into tha e grount parth f o td where the centre of the stone had stood, there was found a small cavity, about two feet square, which was guarded from the outward earth, at the bottom, top, and sides, by square flat stones." subsequena n I t portio thif no s Lette writee rth r use wore sth d Urn connection i n with the discovery ; but it is quite clear that there was no vessel of pottery in the cist, and that the word Urn was loosely used (perhaps on account of the extreme smallnes ciste th designat o )f t so square eth e cavit stonef yo s itself. Thomas Newte publisheo wh , Tours d hi 1791 n i , remarks :— "About fifty years, ago, certain soldiers employed under General Waden i , makin e militarth g y road from Stirlin o Invernesst g , through the Highlands, raise e stond th largy b e e engine discovered an s d unde a cofH t i r n fulf burno l t bones. This coffin consisted of four gray stones, which still remain, such as are mentioned in Ossian's Poems. " Ossian's Stone, with foue th r gray stone whicn si bones hsaihi e havo sar dt e been deposited, are surrounded by a circular dyke, 200 feet in circumference, and 3 feet in height. The Military Road passes through its centre " (Newte's Tour, p. 229). My explanation of the site is that we possibly have in the single slab at A (fig. 48) one of the stones of the circular dyke, and that the curved line of stones behind the mound C is a portion of the same circle of stones set round it. That mound is said to mark the burial " of a soldier who died during the construction of the road." Newte further says tha t people countrye "th th f eo severar fo , l miles around, e numbeth o t f threo r r foueo r scor f meneo , veneratin e memor gth e Bard th f yo , REPORT OH" STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE7 9 .

immediately adjoinin e severaar g l Druidic Stones." e O.MTh .1 shows these relics at a point near the extreme east of Auchnafree where it marches with Conichan, and Rev. W. Campbell of Fortingal confirmed these record telliny seed sb ha thae n ge m thes h t e Stones. The site is nearly four miles up the Almond beyond Newton Bridge, and about three-quarters of a mile north-west of the shepherd's hous t Conichanea poina t a , t where road rivean d r come nearls a y close together as they do at Clach Ossian. Through the kindly offered hel f Duncao p n Macgregor, shepher t Conichana d I mad, e the following notes of these remains. e roae Osout th tallis, nth da f o h h Stone firss t it ;e arrestey e sth ground-pla e closelth d yan n surrounding circular ridg f smalo e l stone raisee showe Th sar d . fign portioni 50 . n enclosin e hollogth w

rose witconsente hon d carriean , d awa e bonesyth , with bagpipes playingd an , other funereal rites, and deposited them with much solemnity within a circle of large stonese loftth yn o ,summi a rock f o t , sequestere f difficulo d an d t access, where they might never more be disturbed by mortal feet or hands, in the wild recesses of western Glen Almon. One Christie, who is considered the Cicerone and Antiquarian of Glen Almon, and many other persons yet alive, attest the truth of this fact, and point out the second sepulchre of the son of Fingal." There is on the summit of the steep slopes on the west of the Almond, at 1750 feet above sea, a great Cairn. Perhaps it is this spot that now contains the bones revere thoss da Ossianf eo spoe Th t .agree s wit above hth e descriptio Newtey nb . Rev. J. R. Omond, in the New Statistical Account of Monzie parish, states that the grave " contained bones and pieces of coin," and in a footnote he adds, " These particular communicatee sar eighty-fouf Peteo y db n rma M'Arad rol stiln a , l alive [1837], and a native of Glenalmond, who received them from an eye-witness." Mr Omond's account does not differ materially from that of Thomas Newte, except for the affirmed discovery in the grave of " pieces of coin." We may most naturally conclude that these were in reality fragments of a bronze implement or weapon, and that this short cist, rendered conspicuous by a megalith of such weight and size, was the burial of a prehistoric hero of earlier date than that ascribed to Ossian. 1 With regard to the name, there is in Foddcrty another Clach-an-Tiompan. meanine Th g Watsoy ascribeb t i no t d (Place-Names of Boss C'romarty)d an a s i rounded, one-sided knoll, and in this sense is allied to the English lump. In Kirkcudbrightshire a variant of the word occurs, in Dunjumpon in Colvend and Dinchimpoti in Buittle. The Gaelic word also means a musical instrument. 7 VOL. XLV. 98 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

(H) measures abou fee4 inche1 t6 t s from cres directioe creso t on n ti n nearld an e oppositesame th yth n ei smalA . l detached oval piecf eo ridge stands towards the centre, and various blocks of stones lie about A 0 Tl

Fig. 50. Remains of Circle at Claoh-na-Tiompan, Wester Glen Almond ; Plan.

regulao n n i r ordere StandinTh . g Stone, presumabl a e las f yth o t group, is of rough whinstone 5 feet 2 inches in height (fig. 51), and wit hbasaa l girt f abouho interioe feet8 t Th . r hollo rougs wi d han rather stony, suggesting attempt t excavationsa . Standing neas it r righe th whole n th t o centree lengtse e w ,perspectiv n hi a grea f eo t REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S . 99

cairn, surmounte e extremitth t a d a sli my b nearepils f u o e o t r stones evidentl ya moder n erection. When treadin e stoneth n gso of the cairn (see fig. 52), it is observable that the structure is of most unusual lengt d foran hm ; bein ga vas t hea f stoneo p d an s

Fig. 51. Clach-na-Tiompan, Wester Glen Almond ; View from the East. boulders measuring abou fee4 17 tt nearly easwestd roughld an t an , y 42 fee breadthn i t e heighth , t abov e generath e l level being about 6 feet. It is now very irregular ; but at four somewhat regular distances ther e embeddear e d large oblong cists (som fulf w o lno e water), each wit s greahit t covering-stone flun ge righ bacth r o to k t 100 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

left. The cist nearest the east end was measured, and found to be mad fouf eo r great slabs, those formin e sidegth fees6 inche3 t d an s those formin e endth g fee3 s inche5 t lengthn i se cover-stonTh . e measured 7 feet by 4 feet 2 inches, and was about 10 inches thick.1 r Stone,Ko . near36 . No Harrietfield, Logie Almond.—This names i d

Fig. 52. Cairn at Claeh-na-Tiompan, Wester Glen Almond ; Ground-plan sectionad an l view.

thin I 1 s neighbourhood soute th n hAlmonde o th sidt f eo bu , , ther streaa s ei m called Allt a coire cultrain (Stream of the Corrie of the Blackthorns ?), and near it, at an altitude of 1600 feet, the O.M. records the strange name Kirk of the Grove. Whatever meanings may be attached to the words " kirk " and " grove," there seem evidenco sn shoo et w that ther echurca eves wa rh hergrova r eo f trees eo . objece Th r moro t itselo groua e tw s greai ff po t boulders f whicho e on , partly resting upon and partly covering the others, affords a rude sort of sheltering-place. The site is a purely natural one. It has been briefly noticed, with a photograph, in the Trans. of the Perthshire Nat. Hist. Soc. (vol. iv. pt. v. pi. 18). But the name requires elucidation. Stone Circles in Aberdeenshire are known in certain localities as Kirks, e.g. the Auld Kirk of Tough, Chapel o' Sink, the Sunken Kirk, etc. Mr William J. Watson, however, has recently made the interesting discovery tha name th t ee Grov Kirth f reallks o ei ytranslatioa e Gaelith f no c name Eaglais an Doire, attache thio dt s anotheo spot near s o tit rn i rvicinity surroundine Th . g area shoul e thoroughlb d y searche e possibln th viei d f wo e discover f earlo y y ecclesiastical remains, althoug s altitude'abovhit e sea-leve greatls i l y against that fort-sitee th f o o suppositionKirkcudbrightshirn i s tw r o e On . localle ear y known as the Auld Kirk. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 101

on the O.M. Carse Stone. In the New Statistical Account it is stated that " there were three other stones in its immediate vicinity. It is commonly called the Kor Stone." The site is on a southward sloping fiel Milton o d n farm, exactl e marcth n yo h between Fendoch and Drumnahar, the fence being taken right up to the narrower sides of the Stone. It is an imposingly large and erect block of rugged whinstone, 9 feet 9 inches in height, with a basal girth of 15 feet

Fig. 53. Kor Stone, Logie Almond ; View from the East. 10 inches, but at about midway of its height the girth increases to fully 17 feet. The view (fig. 53) shows the Stone as seen from the east. This is not the first example of the occurrence of the epithet Kor, or Corr, as applied to stones of Stone Circles. At Druminnor 1 we e greasurveyeth f to Recumbene don t Stone Circle o characteristis c of Aberdeenshire e talth l d Wesan , t Pilla than i r t grou s knowpi s na the Corr Stone. 1 Repor Proceedings,n i t vol. xxxvi . 560p . . 102 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

No. 36A. Stone Circles at Tullybeagles Lodge.—This site is almost due west of the village of Bankfoot in Auchtergaven, about four miles.s nearli t I y1 midway betwee e interestin th e sitf th no e g Circle on Airlich, surveyed two years ago, and the Circle with central monolit t Blelockha , also already surveyed.

Kg. 53A. Sketch-plan of two Circles, Strath-head, near Tullybeagles.

The fairla sit s ei littlyo lofttw e e Circleyth one situated e sar an , d t Strath-heada eacn o e h fencsida on , f eo e which passee easth tn so of Tullybeagles Lodge. The outer edges of the Circles are only about 7 feet apart d the e an nearl,li y e easd westdu yan t . The Circle marked A on the plan (fig. 53A) is about 27 feet in diameter and at present consists of ten Stones, the majority of them being prostrate. siteinformee s visis th e wa ,hi o th t f Majot o y db y r da Mercer e th n o , greatlm a 1I y indebte Majoo dt r Mercer Huntingtowerf ,o , notesfoe rth , measure- ments, and sketch-plan of this very inaccessible site. REPORT ON STONE CIRCLES IN PERTHSHIRE. 103

old keeper, Anderson, that thirt ye thre th year o e ag Stones , d,c , sb were standing e originaTh . l arrangement, then, judgine th y b g o , talleswould tw d e thae b dtan lengt th tStonec f ho s occupied e soutth h arc—an arrangemen t witme th occasionally elsewheret bu , far from being common.1 Stone edgen on o S.We O enc th p , u (shadear . t plane se th s i n )di and is about 2 feet above ground. An unusually long Stone lies on the S.E. In its original complete condition this Circle probably had fifteen Stones. The adjacent Circle, B on the plan, is about 24 feet in diameter, y havma e d formerlan y consiste f thirteeo d n f Stoneswhico e hon , nea wantinge w N.Eth rno s .i .

GROUP VI.—WES r PERTHTo . No. 37. Stone Circle at Bachilton.—This site is nearly one mile east of Balgowan House fiela n do , called Skelfie which lies nearl yquartea r e E.N.E oa milth f o et f Bachilto o . n farmhouse a heigh t a f o d t an , abou fee0 16 t above sea-level. Many years ago, several Stonea f so

1 Major Merce s furthewa r r informe a monolite sit f th o e f o d h e calleth n i d distric Sace t "kTh Stone," whic t onca e heh wen seeo t . Pro notes mhi sgatheI r that thigreaa s si t smoothed boulder, havin sidothee e th geon rd fla roundedan t , both with deep longitudinal glacial grooves t I stand. s abou fee9 t inche6 t n i s height fee 6 breadtn s i i t, d abouhan fee3 t t thick nea e baseth r , from whict hi increases to about 4 feet near the upper part. Its position, as far as could be ascertained from the map, is about three-quarters of a mile N.E. of Creag na Criche, near the 1000-foot contour-line, and on the north side of the burn that divides Tullybeagles from Tullybelton, on the slope of the hill near the latter place. Anderson, the old keeper, said that the current tradi- tion—doubtless, to account for the name—was that some one had brought this lefd t Sacther i f an tthiresidua I g s k si e! ba Stonf som eo a n ei early legend telling of the Stone being " dropped out of the apron of a witch," it is still one more instance of the folk-lore of Standing Stones. There is an old double-walled circular fort on Cairn na Liath, measuring about 90 feet in greatest diameter, which seems to be hitherto unrecorded. 104 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

Circle stood here, upon what artificialn appearea e b d quit o t an d, e distinct mound whic s stili h l visible e StoneTh . s were, however, e ploughe reacth th f f ho o ,t undermineou e b o t d buried s dan a o s , clos o theit e r respective sites. This informatioy b s give e wa nm n Mr Thomas Ross, LL.D., architect, who remembers being told of e occurrencth e ploughmanth y b e , John Lawson liveo t a wh d, Meckphen. No. 38. Stone Circle at Moneydie.—The eight sites immediately

Fig. 54. Remains of Stone Circle, Moneydie ; View from the South-west.

following were investigated, wit e valuablth h e assistanc f Majoo e r Mercer, during a delightful week spent at his mansion-house of Huntingtower e earlth yn i , day f Septembeo s r last. Major Mercer's keen interes botn i te prehistori hth e morth ed recenan c t remains which crowd upo e archaeologisth n n Perthshiri t s alreadha e y been of signal servic tendinn i e o influencgt e tenants towards cultivating mora e san respectfud ean l attitud relation ei objecto nt antiquityf o s . The Stone now remaining erect at Moneydie stands in a field between that farm and the farm of Moneydieroger, and south-west of the church three-quarters of a mile. Through the efficient and friendly aid of REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S5 10 .

Major Mercer and of Mr R. Mercer I was able to measure certain other Stones, now almost completely buried, but each marked by either a growing tree or the stump of a decayed one, little suspecting at the moment that these were in any way truly associated with the one erect Stone. The field was full of corn-stooks, which would have rendered futil e mosth e t painstaking single-handed measure- ments. The result obtained, therefore, is due entirely to our co- e interesoperatioth o t t d friendy show an nm a somewha y n i sb n t irksome employment. On working out the measurements (which were afterwards supple- mente y morb d e careful oney Majob se rtakem Mercer nfo r when cleares fiele s th corn)wa dit f e followindo th , g results were obtained, which are shown in the plan (fig. 55). The Stone on the east at C conjunction i t se stile s i on l t i erecte n id th s wit otherso an , htw G , d H ,e an circumferenc trulth n o y a Circl f o e e wit ha diamete f o r 9e als0otheo ar feeto , Tw nearE . Stonesd r an enoug e B b , o t h considered as members of the same group. Thus there are five possible Stonee remainth s a Circla s f o sf ver eo y unusual diameter. e ar H d an Stonee G Th t a s . F Ther d tree-stumpe an ar e , E , B t a s flat, level with the surface, and earth-fast. At D there is a tree still growing ; and the Stone A, so near the centre of the Circle, is a few inches above ground d slopean , s slightly toward e north-eastth s . The conjecture might be hazarded that it is part of a cist-cover. But this point, and the further points arising out of the abnormal d V, an Stoneo coul presencD tw t de a s th onl f satisfactorile o eyb y settled after careful excavation. It may be noted, however, that the spaces between A and F, and F and D, are each almost exactly doubl e interspace e spacTh th e . e D betwee d s an betwee G n C B n nearle samee ar th thos d . E e y so an , ar G e betweed H an E C d nan H . Standing39 . No Stone t Cowford.—a This, show a heigh t a nf o t 240 feet above sea-level, is two miles almost precisely due north of the last site, and one mile and a half south of the Circle at Pitsundry 6 10 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

(Blelock Auchtergavenn i ) , already surveyed.1 Unhappily, thia s i s fallen Stone (fig. 56), and its prostrate state, we were informed by a man who lived near, is due to its being upset only two years ago,

fflA

c| /

•E * , .

Hm • • . • ' '* * F'tf

. FigRemain55 . Stonf so e Circle, Moneydi e; Ground-plan.

during a hunt for rats. Its dimensions are 5 feet by 2 feet 2 inches ovey b fee2 r thicknessn i t northere Th .rest d nen s partl smala n yo l slab-like stone.

Repore Se 1 Proceedings,n i t vol. xlii . 154p . . REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S7 10 .

No. 40. Standing Stone at Look; in a field to the east of Ordie Burn, at a height of about 200 feet above sea-level, and a quarter of a mile e farmhousesoutth f ho . Abou coupla t f hundreeo d yardo st south-ease th t there ihigsa h circular earthen mound whic names hi d e O.Moth n . Cour a fairl ts i Hilly t I conspicuou. s e objecth n i t landscape, and is planted with trees. This Stone, broa proportion di s heightit o nt , stand fees3 inche9 t s e groundcleath f o r , measures roun e bas dth fee0 1 einches3 t d an , across its nearly flat top 4 feet 4 inches by 2 feet 5 inches. The sides

Fig. 56. Fallen Monolith at Cowford ; View from the South-east.

are fairly vertical and rather smooth, and the mineral is striated schist (see fig. 57)directioe Th .s longe it f no r sid s S.Wei . 68°. . Standing41 . No Stones t Oillybanks.a —This sit s slightli e y over on ee S.S.Ee last milth th t abou a f , o et feeo 0 . 12 tt above sea-level, and in a field on the west of an old cart-road. The two Stones stand most remarkably close together (se e ground-planeth , fig. 58). They are both rough block f quartzosso e schist, standin feeg3 inche9 t d san fee3 inche2 t s respectively abov e stonth e y ground d measurinan , g in girth 10 feet 3 inches and 10 feet 8 inches. The direction of their longer sides is W. 82° N". by E. 82° S. ; and there is a space of only 8 or 10 inches between their inner edges. In the illustration (fig. 59) this group is shown from the south-east. 108 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

No. 42. Standing Stone at Benchill.—This monolith, partly from its conspicuous positionheightn ow frod e facs an m,th it ,t tha gooda t -

•\

Fig. 57. Standing Stone, Loak ; View from the North-east.

sized sun-dia s beeha l n affixes summit,it o t d muswell-knowa e b t n landmark for considerable distances around. It stands S.S.W. of

.y }

Tig . Standin58 . g Stones, Gillybank s; Ground-plan . EEPOR F STONO T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S . 109

e farmhouseth , whic a mil s hi e nort f Strathoro h d railway station. The height above sea-leve abous i l feet0 20 t. This is an unusually pillar-like mass of quartzose schist, yet very jagged on the narrow edges, but smooth and vertical on the eastern side, risin heigha fee8 o g t inchesf 2 to t d havinan , ga basa l girth of 17 feet 4 inches. Part of the roughness of its west side (see fig. 60) quito t e ei du smoder n attempt t wha a ssplitting-ua e I taktb o et p

. StandinFig59 . g Stones, Gillybank s; View fro South-easte mth .

of the Stone, in confirmation of which we noticed an oblong piece of thinnish, flat iron deeply fixed int lone oth g niche that run thip u s s e Stoneth fac f o e . . Standing43 . No Stone t Cramflat.—a Site abou 0 yard20 t s north- west of Shochie Burn, on the south of the road between Pitlandie and Ordie Mill, at a height of 218 feet above sea-level. Similar in almos l respectal t o mant s y others, this Stonfee5 s ti e) (fig61 . inche8 n heighti s s ,longe it e basgirth feet0 th d 1 ert an a ,s axis points nearly N.W S.Ey b .. 110 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBER 12, 1910.

No. 44. Standing Stone at Luncarty.—This is one of the two Stones associated with the traditional Battle of Luncarty. It stands in a field close to the east of the railway opposite Denmarkfield, and distant from Luncarty station three-quarter e south mila th f o so et . The height above sea-leve feet5 11 . s li Though broa ponderousd dan - meano n lookingy b conspicuousa s i t i , s monolith onls i feet y2 I .t

. StandinFig60 . g Stone, Benchill; View fro South-weste mth .

9 inches in height, and in girth about 12 feet. The longer sides face S.W. and N.E. On closer examination there appeared to Major Mercer and myself e nea b e ground-level th ro t s wesit n t o ,face , a distinctlpar f o t y incised curve, whic t firsa h t suggeste e " crescenth d t symbol.s A " r gooou ds fortun wa e presentlb t i o t e y accoste r MaxtonM y b d e Graham of Redgorton, a spade was at once, by his orders, procured, digginn o d an g away som einche6 f soilo s , nearl e wholyth e outline REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN SI . Ill

axe-likn oa f e figur revealeds ewa vertica e Th . l lengtcurvee th f ho d " blade " (if it be one) is 5| inches ; hut, owing to severe weathering t possibl no e Stoneawa th s i f et yo i , eithe o measurt r o drat r wo e othee th r extremit incisee th f yo d work. Fro mphotograpa h taken by Major Merce t i seemr s clear that, neae loweth r r curved edge e axe-likth of e object, ther e severaar e l incised lines which form

Kg. 6Z. Standing Stone, Cramflat, near Strathord; View from the South-west.

a sor f tooth-liko t e line parallel wit e horizontath h l upper linf o e the object. e King'sTh . No 45 . Stone, Denmarkfield.—In popular tradition this Ston s believeei commemorato dt spoe eth t upon whiche th t a , Battl f Luncartyeo e Danisth , h kin s situategi fellt I . d som0 24 e yards toward Stone ease th sf th eto last described irregularln a s i d an , y four-sided bloc f striateko d schist fee4 , inche8 t heighfeen s8 i d t an t in girth. Close a largbesid s i e t i efragmen f anotheo t r Stone—a whinstone thiw bouldersho camt bu e knows, e on her Th o n .e 112 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH P O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

Stone stands nearly easd e westviean tTh w s fro. i e (fig) mth 62 . east-south-east. No. 46. Standing Stone at Tarsappie.—On coming out of Perth by the main road going south to Bridge of Earn, after passing Friarton, there is a road which turns sharply off at right angles eastwards, aboud an quartea t mila f ro e along this road (which Fingaskgoeo t n so ) s Westei r Tarsappie e O.MTh .. mark Standina s g Stone w herefe a , scor ee farmhouse e wesyardth th f o t o st nearinn O . g this d sitan e

King'e Th . Figs 62 Stone. , Lunoart y; Vie w fro E.S.Ee mth .

seeing no Stone, I interviewed the present tenant (who happened to be passing), and from him obtained the following particulars : That, o about e datp u th tf 1895 eo greaa , t monolith use stano dt d here whic oves hwa fee6 r height n i t t thaA .t datfallinn i t d fellei gan , broke in two pieces. The proprietor of Kinfauns then directed that thes fragmento etw s shoul raisede db , carted e awa th fara n o myt o south of the Kirkton Wood, and there the two pieces were re-erected, and now remain looking as one stone. Being so circumstantially t recor, ther nothins bu tolme o ewa dd o d t thi o gt s account, although it is permissible to state that it is the most extraordinary story of r

REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE N PERTHSHIREI S3 11 .

many that I have heard with regard to the Standing Stones of Scot- land. On the occasion of my visit to Tarsappie, the afternoon proving very wet, I had not then an opportunity of walking up to " the farm sout f Kirktoo h n Wood." But, having informed Major Mercef o r the above statement, I subsequently received from him the follow- ing particular e gardes: Tha th n t i Craigelowatna n ther larga s ei e monolith. This inquiryn o , "e , largth prove e b e o Stondt e thas wa t at Tarsappie," and which was " removed atid erected there some seve r eigho n t years ago. Unfortunately e removinth a n , i it , f go portion of the Stone broke off. The whole Stone was reckoned to weigh aboue indebte ar 0 tons. 1 e tr thiW fo d"s informatioo t n . JacksonC M. A r , South Methven Street, Perth. Major Merce informes wa r d tha e Stonth t e fell durin e wintegth r of 1895-6, and that, upon orders being given to have it broken up for road-metal, Mr Roy, then farming Tarsappie, removed it to its present positionstandw no t sI abou. fee 8 t n heighte S.Ei t th n . o , corne a turfe f o r d platform mada moun n o ef debri o d s froe mth Friarton tunnels triangulai t I . n sectioni r , each side measuring about 6 feet wide, and appears to have been partially dressed. No. 47. Standing Stone at Hilton of Moncrieffe.—Subsequently to my visit to Tarsappie, happening to have some time to spare at Perth, I went in search of confirmation of the above story, and on p frou my Friartonwa y m , betwee o strip tw nf wood o s , bordering e confineo th nt Magdalene's S f o s s opportunele th wa y I ,b t me y head keeper, who informed me of this monolith on Hilton. He knew of no other in the vicinity. The Stone (fig. 63) is set upon a high, but not the highest, ridge of rocky ground in an open hill-pasture, e heighth t f aboua o tfee0 39 t above sea-level d commandinan , a g clea easte rsoute th vie.th d wo han t It is a fine, straight-sided pillar of whinstone, 7 feet 6 inches in height, and girthing at the base about 8 feet. Its longer axis lies nearly easwestd an t . VOL. XLV. 8 114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 12, 1910.

Abou s yardN.N.E0 it 2 t o t s . ther a curiou s i e s circular hollow, some 6 feet in diameter and perhaps 6 feet in depth, evidently scooped e rockth f yo t groundou . Bot e Standinhth thid an sg Stone ar e shown on the O.M. In conclusion, there is one point of rather unusual interest connected with this report, viz. that it contains no fewer than six sites which are unrecorded on the Ordnance Maps. These are the sites at

Fi«. 63. Standing Stone, Hilton of Moncrieffe ; View from the West

Kindrochet, Drumnakill, Balmuick, Tom-na-Chessaig, Keppochd an , Bachilton. For information concerning these we are indebted to either local resident thos o t onco r o sewh reside neighboure th n di - hoo f Comrieo d . Anothe e mucb o ht r e deploredfeatureon d an , , is the comparative emptiness of many of the sites ; there has been such frequent occasion to report only the remains of a Circle, or even only the site of one ; and that the group once at Dargill was so much despoile e mor s recentlon a d et piecye s 1909s a f yevidenci o e , o t e sho e crasslwth y stupid attitude still lamentably characteristif o c REPOR STONN O T E CIRCLE PERTHSHIREN I S5 11 . the agriculturist, or indeed we may go so far as to say occasionally of the landowners and factors upon whose ground such senseless spoliation is permitted. All the Circles reported on which are measurable, belong, like many others in Perthshire, to a small type. If we except the speci- mens at Moneydie and Clach Ossian, not one lias a diameter of even 30 feet. Again, quit a large e numbe e site e th represente ar f s o r d now by a monolith alone, and in many cases, even where the Circle consist f severao s l Stones t conspicuousl, no thes e ar e n yi tallt bu , the main merely great amorphous boulders rarely more r thao 3 n 4 feet above ground. One other salient feature should be observed ; that is the remark- able manner in which several sites are grouped together, in a space comparatively small when the whole area investigated is considered. For instance, the twelve sites in the first or Cornrie group are included within about 24 square miles ; the five remarkable monoliths on Dunruchan stand within sight of each other on a space of moorland only half a square mile in extent; in the Criefi group an area of 24 square miles comprises twelve sites. In the Fowlis-Wester division, a space measuring barely over one square mile (completely isolated from all the other sub-districts) contains the six varied and notable relics above described n GleI . n Almon have dw e four sites scattered ove a lonr g narrow stri f countro p mile9 y s lon y 1gb J milen i s breadt h; whil e eleveth e n e wes d soutth site an f to Perth t o hs , although found ove aren a rf abou ao 8 squar4 t e miles, show ninf o e theswithie b o e t nspac a onlf eo squary9 e miles. Actual evidence of sepulture is not to any great extent forthcoming ; but this, I hold, is attributable to the fact that so extremely few competent excavations have been mad Strathearnn ei . In addition to the sites enumerated above, I must draw attention to one more which is situated in so very isolated a locality as not truly to belong to this Strathearn district. It was quite out of my reach. 6 11 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , DECEMBE , 191012 R .

I a Stonrefe o t re Circle discovered, durin e pasgth t Augusta t a , place called Shian, near the upper end of Loch Freuchie,1 by Mr C. G.alread has Cash ywho , supplied valuable notice otheof s r Circles n Inverness-shirei . The notable featur f thio e s Circl s thai e th t Stones l composinmasseal e f puro ar s t ei g white quartz. From wha Casr M t hI judg tell, me se this Circl resemblo et e that reported on last year t Coillieaichua , w whicsa e hw r abov Falle eth f Monessso . Mr Cas s compilinhi g a, descriptio t himseli f n o I shal ; f l not, there- fore, trespass upo s provincnhi e excep poino t tt thaou t t onla n yi few sites, very distant from Strathearn, hav evee w e r lighted upon white quartz Stones in connection with the Circles. One group of three small separate Circles is at Logie Newton in Auchterless, Aberdeenshire ;2 another sit t Balquhaina e , near Inver- a magnificenurie s ha , t 12-foot pilla f whito r e quartzt Aucha d an -, maliddie, in Deer, there remain two great Stones of the same con- spicuous material, one of which was probably the Recumbent Stone of a typical Aberdeenshire Circle. It should also be noted that at Lochearnhea r CharleM d . BooB s g Watson discovered this year several Stones of what he believes is a Circle at Druidsfield, and, a flat-toppenea , it r d Stone carved wit a hnumbe f cup-markso r . enclosurn "A gardea r bees efo nha n formed amon Stones.e gth "

1 Loch Freuchie is 6J miles due south of Aberfeldy and therefore rather more withi r Case reacM nth hf ho ther e than withi mile1 1 ns i s minet i r fo , !N.N.E f Comrio . ee onlove th e hills yth d r approacan , vera roay y yhb b s di long detour. - For these three Aberdeenshire localities, see my Reports in Proceedings, vols. xxxv. p. 231, xxxvii. p. 97, and xxxviii. p. 263.