Monument record MAB19073 - MAINS OF BALQUHAIN
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Remains of a recumbent stone circle measuring circa 21m in diameter.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 3961
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7350 2408 (43m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ72SW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Chapel of Garioch |
Type and Period (6)
Full Description
Remains of a recumbent stone circle measuring circa 21m in diameter. It probably originally consisted of 12 stones (and suggested there may have been 14) of which only nine are now present. Five, including the recumbent and west flanker, are still standing. The fallen east flanker has four cup-marks on its horizontal upper surface, and there are 15 cup-marks on the stone next to this flanker. What looks like a deep cup-mark on the recumbent is probably the beginnings of a much latter bore-hole to hold a charge to break up the stone. The outlier is a magnificent white quartz monolith, 3.1m tall. The recumbent, weighing over 10 tons, is a white-grained granite. The fallen flanker has veins of quartz.
Limited excavation in front of the stone facing the recumbent revealed a rough paving of boulders, themselves lying on top of larger rough stones and slabs. What this was is not clear.
SC 678943, SC 678943 (Ground Photograph). SAB20151.
SC 679910, SC 679910 (Ground Photograph). SAB20152.
LOGAN, J, 1829, ARCHAEOLOGIA 22,55-58,198-202, 201 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1060.
COLES, FR, 1901, PSAS 35(1900-01) 187-248, 230-7, ILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB231.
RITCHIE, J, 1918, PSAS 52(1917-18) 86-122, 91-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1511.
BROWN, GF, 1921, ANTS.IN NEIGHBOURHOOD,DUNECHT, 93-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB95.
KEILLAR, A, 1934, MEGALITHIC MONS OF NE SCOTLAND, 14, 17, 20 (Bibliographic reference). SAB954.
THOM, A, 1980, BAR 81, 172-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1922.
Apr 21 1993 , LE 8-25, LE 8-25 (Ground Photograph). SAB33882.
Apr 21 1993 , LF 1-16, LF 1-16 (Ground Photograph). SAB33885.
Aug 24 1990 , KO 20-33, KO 20-33 (Ground Photograph). SAB33828.
Feb 1 2000 , SC 1115546, SC 1115546 (Ground Photograph). SAB20154.
Feb 1 2000 , SC 1115549-51, SC 1115549-51 (Ground Photograph). SAB20155.
Jan 1 1904 , SC 680033, SC 680033 (Ground Photograph). SAB20153.
Jan 1 1911 , SC 678940, SC 678940 (Ground Photograph). SAB20150.
Jan 1 1921 , DP 043129-130, DP 043129-130 (Ground Photograph). SAB20149.
Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT121, 127, 138, AAS/GR/77/CT121, 127, 138 (Ground Photograph). SAB32500.
Jul 18 2006 , AAS/07/2/DG141-147, AAS/07/2/DG141-147 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18625.
Jun 24 1999 , AAS/99/07/CT15-20, AAS/99/07/CT15-20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17263.
Nov 25 1996 , AAS/96/18/CT16,29,34-7, AAS/96/18/CT16,29,34-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16538.
Nov 25 1996 , AAS/96/18/G44/4-6, AAS/96/18/G44/4-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16535.
Oct 7 1984 , DN 2, DN 2 (Ground Photograph). SAB14278.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 3961;
- NMR Card Number: NJ72SW2;
- NRHE Numlink: 18989;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ72SW0002;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM3961 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18989 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (22)
- --- SAB1060 Bibliographic reference: LOGAN, J. 1829. ARCHAEOLOGIA 22,55-58,198-202. 201.
- --- SAB14278 Ground Photograph: Oct 7 1984 . DN 2. Black & White. DN 2.
- --- SAB1511 Bibliographic reference: RITCHIE, J. 1918. PSAS 52(1917-18) 86-122. 91-4.
- --- SAB16535 Air-oblique Photograph: Nov 25 1996 . AAS/96/18/G44/4-6. Black & White. AAS/96/18/G44/4-6.
- --- SAB16538 Air-oblique Photograph: Nov 25 1996 . AAS/96/18/CT16,29,34-7. Colour Transparency. AAS/96/18/CT16,29,34-7.
- --- SAB17263 Air-oblique Photograph: Jun 24 1999 . AAS/99/07/CT15-20. Colour Transparency. AAS/99/07/CT15-20.
- --- SAB18625 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 18 2006 . AAS/07/2/DG141-147. DG. AAS/07/2/DG141-147.
- --- SAB1922 Bibliographic reference: THOM, A. 1980. BAR 81. Y. 172-3.
- --- SAB20149 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1921 . DP 043129-130. Black & White. DP 043129-130.
- --- SAB20150 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1911 . SC 678940. Black & White. SC 678940.
- --- SAB20151 Ground Photograph: SC 678943. Black & White. SC 678943.
- --- SAB20152 Ground Photograph: SC 679910. Black & White. SC 679910.
- --- SAB20153 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1904 . SC 680033. Black & White. SC 680033.
- --- SAB20154 Ground Photograph: Feb 1 2000 . SC 1115546. Colour Transparency. SC 1115546.
- --- SAB20155 Ground Photograph: Feb 1 2000 . SC 1115549-51. Colour Transparency. SC 1115549-51.
- --- SAB231 Bibliographic reference: COLES, FR. 1901. PSAS 35(1900-01) 187-248. 230-7, ILL.
- --- SAB32500 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT121, 127, 138. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT121, 127, 138.
- --- SAB33828 Ground Photograph: Aug 24 1990 . KO 20-33. Black & White. KO 20-33.
- --- SAB33882 Ground Photograph: Apr 21 1993 . LE 8-25. Black & White. LE 8-25.
- --- SAB33885 Ground Photograph: Apr 21 1993 . LF 1-16. Black & White. LF 1-16.
- --- SAB95 Bibliographic reference: BROWN, GF. 1921. ANTS.IN NEIGHBOURHOOD,DUNECHT. 93-5.
- --- SAB954 Bibliographic reference: KEILLAR, A. 1934. MEGALITHIC MONS OF NE SCOTLAND. 14, 17, 20.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Mar 20 2026 4:23PM
