Building record MAB42947 - CAIRNWELL

Relocated and reconstructed stone circle enclosing a ring cairn.

Relocated and reconstructed stone circle enclosing a ring cairn. The original site (NO90719734) is an inconspicuous position in a hollow. The inner circular stone setting suggested that this was a Clava-type ring-cairn. When excavated in 1858, there were 15 stones, but only three remained prior to re-excavation in 1994. The slabs of the inner stone-setting were on their long sides. Some of the stones had been displaced by the 19th Century, but originally the setting was carefully constructed and an accurate circle. A. Thomson, in 1865, stated that the kerb, which could only be traced intermittently, 'Consists of a tolerable close wall of small stones, nearly touching each other, set on edge'. Fragments of an urn found in the cairn during the 19th Century excavations have since been lost. Complete excavation of the cairn was carried out by AOC in 1994 prior to its reconstruction nearby. After excavation, the structure was reconstructed 175 m to the northwest (at NO 9063 9750). The ring cairn was found to have three main structural elements: (1) the ring cairn, composed of an outer and inner kerb with rubble between, (2) a stone circle, enclosing the ring cairn, which had three stones in situ and excavation revealed a fallen stone and 3 possible stone sockets, (3) a later deposit of rubble with an outer revetment. Beneath the ring cairn, an earlier timber enclosure was found. Within the site, five possible cremation pits were located. The site originally comprised an arc of pits, in use by the Middle Neolithic period, surrounding a stone circle which may have been of similar date. After a long hiatus, a pyre was burnt within the stone circle. A timber enclosure, with an entrance to the south, was then erected within the stone circle and five urn cremations interred in pits in the centre of the enclosure. Later the timber enclosure was replaced by a stone ring-cairn which respected the interior area delimited by the timber enclosure. This ring-cairn was subsequently expanded to incorporate the stone circle.

Period Notes
GU-4402 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from a pit, containing fragments of pottery including what may be Grooved Ware, and grain, outside a ring cairn, 4680 BP +/- 80 (which equals 3646 BC - 3125 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4396 hazel, alder and birch charcoal from one of four cremations in an area later occupied by a ring cairn, 3020 BP +/- 50 (1410 BC - 1126 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4397 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from the old ground surface under a ring cairn, 3100 BP +/- 50 (1494 BC - 1220 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4398 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from one of four cremations in an area later occupied by a ring cairn 2970 BP +/- 50 (1378 BC - 1041 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4399 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from a pre-enclosure burnt deposit including burnt bone and cereal grain, 3070 BP +/- 60 (1489 BC - 1130 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4400 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from providing a terminus post quem for a small central ring-slot enclosure in the middle of, and earlier than, the ring cairn, 3020 +/- 70 (1494 BC - 1127 BC at 2 sigma). GU-4401 Hazel, alder and birch charcoal from a pit, in which was cremated mammal bone, under a ring cairn, 2970 BP +/- 50 (1378 BC - 1041 BC at 2 sigma). The above calibrated dates are derived from OxCal 4.1

THOMSON, A, 1863, PSAS 5(1862-3) 130-5, 131-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1963.

COLES, FR, 1901, REPORT ON THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE NE OF SCOTLAND, INVERURIE DISTRICT PSAS 34(1899-1900) 139-98, 149-51 (Bibliographic reference). SAB230.

HENSHALL, AS, 1963, CHAMBERED TOMBS OF SCOT 1, 400 (Bibliographic reference). SAB724.

KENWORTHY, JB, 1972, RING-CAIRNS IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND. IN SCOT ARCH FORUM 4, 24 (Bibliographic reference). SAB998.

REES, T, 1995, DES : CAIRNWELL RING CAIRN, 33 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1591.

RING CAIRN

REES, T, 1995, EXCAVATIONS OF CAIRNWELL CAIRN (Bibliographic reference). SAB1577.

REES, T, 1996, CAIRNWELL RING CAIRN : EXCAVATION, REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB1587.

Mar 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT125-128, AAS/GR/97/CT125-128 (Ground Photograph). SAB33026.

Record last edited

Feb 19 2026 1:32PM