EAB15663 - Excavation - STRICHEN STONE CIRCLE

Excavations of the site were carried out between 1980 and 1982, begun by Dr Aubrey Burl and continued by Hampsher-Monk and Abramson. These revealed that the recumbent and flankers (still in their original positions) originally lay on the southern side of a stone circle which was probably built in the Early Bronze Age. The monoliths of the stone circle were set in a rubble bank. A rubble cairn was constructed on the inside of the circle, and two stone-lined graves are also associated with this phase. Quartz, flints and sherds of prehistoric pottery were discovered during the excavation. The cremation of a woman lay within the prehistoric bank to the north east of the recumbent. Several hammer stones and rubbing stones were found along with a cup and ring marked stone with six cups in total (now in Strichen Library) which was buried in a small stone-lined pit on the northern periphery of the central area. Excavations revealed that a roundhouse like structure and a timber circle were constructed in the Early Iron Age within the Early Bronze Age monument. After excavation the stones were replaced in their original positions and the circle reconstructed.