Document record MAB54518 - CASTLE HILL
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Site of a Norman motte and a stone circle of possible recumbent type.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7939 1634 (40m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ71NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Kintore |
Type and Period (8)
- MOTTE (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLE? (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 801 BC)
- PIT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
- MOUND (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1560 AD)
Full Description
Site of a Norman motte and a stone circle of possible recumbent type. Remains of a stone circle were buried beneath a conical mound, 30 ft by 150 ft on which a Norman motte was raised. The motte was visited by Edward I in 1296
The motte was removed during railway construction. On the south and east sides of the hill, small conical pits were found containing burnt bones and charcoal. One pit, covered by a stone, contained a large urn in which was 'a damp substance like meal'. Some pits also contained fragments of iron and some pieces of solid tin which were embedded round one of the pits, in a vertical position.
Two Pictish Class I stones were found amongst the tumbled stones of the circle. One had the elephant symbol on one side and the elephant and double disc and Z-rod on the other side. The second stone had two crescents, placed with convex sides touching, and a tuning fork symbol. Both now in NMAS.
Period Notes
Motte mentioned in 1296.
D 8608-9 (1856 Drawing), D 8608-9 (1856 Drawing) (Photograph). SAB20069.
STUART, J, 1856, SCULPTURED STONES OF SCOTLAND, 110-11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1800.
SYMBOL STONES
DONATIONS & PURCHASES, 1857, PSAS 2(1854-7), 219 (Bibliographic reference). SAB364.
SYMBOL STONES
WATT, AA, 1864, EARLY HISTORY OF KINTORE, 140-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2013.
SYMBOL STONES
Author unknown, 1892, CAT OF NMAS., 260 (Bibliographic reference). SAB265.
SYMBOL STONES
ALLEN, JR, 1903, EARLY CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND 3, 172-3 FIG 186-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3.
SYMBOL STONES
SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 97, 129 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.
SYMBOL STONES
SIMPSON, WD, 1949, EARLDOM OF MAR, 31 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1681.
SYMBOL STONES
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
FRASER, I, 2008, THE PICTISH SYMBOL STONES OF SCOTLAND, 28-29 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2523.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NJ71NE32;
- NRHE Numlink: 18589;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ71NE0025;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18589 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (10)
- --- SAB1676 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1943. PROVINCE OF MAR. 97, 129.
- --- SAB1681 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1949. EARLDOM OF MAR. 31.
- --- SAB1800 Bibliographic reference: STUART, J. 1856. SCULPTURED STONES OF SCOTLAND. 110-11.
- --- SAB20069 Photograph: D 8608-9 (1856 Drawing). D 8608-9 (1856 Drawing).
- --- SAB2013 Bibliographic reference: WATT, AA. 1864. EARLY HISTORY OF KINTORE. 140-2.
- --- SAB2523 Bibliographic reference: FRASER, I. 2008. THE PICTISH SYMBOL STONES OF SCOTLAND. 28-29.
- --- SAB265 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1892. CAT OF NMAS.. 260.
- --- SAB3 Bibliographic reference: ALLEN, JR. 1903. EARLY CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND 3. Y. 172-3 FIG 186-7.
- --- SAB364 Bibliographic reference: DONATIONS & PURCHASES. 1857. PSAS 2(1854-7). 219.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
Finds (6)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Apr 2 2026 3:26PM
