Monument record MAB41648 - ESLIE THE GREATER
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Summary
Remains of recumbent stone circle and ring cairn, which stands just below the crest of a low saddle with wide views to the south and west.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 977
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 7171 9158 (56m by 55m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO79SW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Banchory Ternan |
Type and Period (9)
- RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLE (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- RING CAIRN (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- PLATFORM (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- CIST (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- PIT (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- CLEARANCE CAIRN (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- BURIAL (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- BURIAL (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
- BURIAL (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 801 BC)
Full Description
Remains of recumbent stone circle and ring cairn, which stands just below the crest of a low saddle with wide views to the south and west. This monument consists of a ring cairn enclosed by a circle of eight standing stones and a recumbent with two flankers. Five of the eight standing stones still stand. They range in height from 1.5 m to 0.8 m in height, the smallest opposite the recumbent. The recumbent is 2.9 m long. In plan, the circle is an ellipse, measuring 26.5 m by 23.2 m. The whole feature apparently stands on an earth and stone platform. The enclosed ring cairn is 18 m in diameter with a clearly visible central space. The cairn has been augmented by field gatherings.
Excavations in 1873 revealed a stone cist in a pit within the central area of the cairn. It contained traces of burial. Also at a depth of circa 0.61 m was revealed evidence that 3 or 4 bodies been laid to form perimeter of a circle. Two lines of small stones appear to connect the outer perimeter of the cairn with the pillars supporting the recumbent.
Around 800 m to the northeast is Eslie the Smaller RSC (NO79SW0001) while circa 700 m to the southeast is the Nine Stanes RSC (NO79SW0008).
ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No3,148 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.
SMITH, RA, 1880, NOTES ON STONE CIRCLES IN DURRIS, KINCARDINESHIRE, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. IN PSAS 14(1879-80) 294-309, 301-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1811.
COLES, FR, 1901, REPORT ON THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE NE OF SCOTLAND, INVERURIE DISTRICT PSAS 34(1899-1900) 139-98, 161-166 (Bibliographic reference). SAB230.
KENWORTHY, JB, 1972, RING-CAIRNS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. IN SCOT ARCH FORUM 4, 24 (Bibliographic reference). SAB998.
THOM, A, 1980, BAR 81, 200-201 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1922.
SHEPHERD, I, 1996, ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED), p. 159 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4829.
Aug 11 1994 , AAS/94/15/CT15-16, AAS/94/15/CT15-16 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19580.
Aug 11 1994 , AAS/94/15/G28/30, AAS/94/15/G28/30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15915.
Mar 14 2001 , AAS/01/2/CT53-4, AAS/01/2/CT53-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17632.
Mar 14 2001 , AAS/01/2/G3/27, AAS/01/2/G3/27 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17631.
RCAHMS, n.d., N KINC LIST, No19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1509.
Oct 9 1984 , DQ 22-37, DQ 22-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB12432.
Oct 12 1984 , DS 2, DS 2 (Ground Photograph). SAB12433.
Sep 9 2009 , DG 1086-8, DG 1086-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB20002.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 977;
- NMR Card Number: NO79SW2;
- NRHE Numlink: 36714;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO79SW0002;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM977 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36714 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (14)
- --- SAB12432 Ground Photograph: Oct 9 1984 . DQ 22-37. Black & White. DQ 22-37.
- --- SAB12433 Ground Photograph: Oct 12 1984 . DS 2. Black & White. DS 2.
- --- SAB1360 Bibliographic reference: ORDNANCE SURVEY. 1871. Ordnance Name Book. No3,148.
- --- SAB1509 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. n.d.. N KINC LIST. No19.
- --- SAB15915 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 11 1994 . AAS/94/15/G28/30. Black & White. AAS/94/15/G28/30.
- --- SAB17631 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 14 2001 . AAS/01/2/G3/27. Black & White. AAS/01/2/G3/27.
- --- SAB17632 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 14 2001 . AAS/01/2/CT53-4. Colour Transparency. AAS/01/2/CT53-4.
- --- SAB1811 Bibliographic reference: SMITH, RA. 1880. NOTES ON STONE CIRCLES IN DURRIS, KINCARDINESHIRE, AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. IN PSAS 14(1879-80) 294-309. 301-3.
- --- SAB1922 Bibliographic reference: THOM, A. 1980. BAR 81. Y. 200-201.
- --- SAB19580 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 11 1994 . AAS/94/15/CT15-16. Colour Transparency. AAS/94/15/CT15-16.
- --- SAB20002 Ground Photograph: Sep 9 2009 . DG 1086-8. DG. DG 1086-8.
- --- SAB230 Bibliographic reference: COLES, FR. 1901. REPORT ON THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE NE OF SCOTLAND, INVERURIE DISTRICT PSAS 34(1899-1900) 139-98. 161-166.
- --- SAB4829 Bibliographic reference: SHEPHERD, I. 1996. ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED). p. 159.
- --- SAB998 Bibliographic reference: KENWORTHY, JB. 1972. RING-CAIRNS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. IN SCOT ARCH FORUM 4, 24.
Finds (2)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Apr 6 2026 9:34AM
