Find Spot record MAB59156 - GREENBRAE
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Summary
Findpost of a hoard of twelve Neolithic 'monster beads', four amber beads and blade-polished axehead of Yorkshire flint found in 1817.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NK 0570 3588 (40m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NK03NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Cruden |
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
Findpost of a hoard of twelve Neolithic 'monster beads', four amber beads and blade-polished axehead of Yorkshire flint. The finds, found in 1817, either came from a grave from within a mound, or they were buried as a hoard. The Ordnance Survey noted that they "were dug out of a tumulus near the farm of Greenbrae". This find has been previously confused with nearby Uppermill beaker burial NK03NE0017 (under name of Ardiffery) - for full description of confusion see Kenworthy 1977. The 'monster beads', dating from the Early to Mid Neolithic, are made from jet with one exception, the largest bead, which may have been made from cannel coal. These, together with the four amber beads, may have formed a single, large necklace with a combined length of nearly 71cm. The 'monster beads' range in length from 29mm to 124mm, with the source material most likely coming from Whitby in North Yorkshire.
ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No22(1868) 2,164 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.
JET/AMBER BEADS
BLACK, GF, 1888, PSAS 22(1887-88), 366 (Bibliographic reference). SAB139.
JET/AMBER BEADS
PRATT, JB, 1901, BUCHAN, 45 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1411.
JET/AMBER BEADS
CALLANDER, JG, 1916, PSAS 50(1915-16) 201-40, 239, No9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB212.
JET/AMBER BEADS
KENWORTHY, JB, 1977, ‘A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ‘ARDIFFERY’ FINDS, CRUDEN, ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 108(1976-7) 80-93, 80-93 (Bibliographic reference). SAB958.
JET/AMBER BEADS
CLARKE, D. V., 1985, SYMBOLS OF POWER AT THE TIME OF STONEHENGE, 66,210,214,250,338 (Bibliographic reference). SAB229.
JET/AMBER BEADS
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, (1845) 355 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
JET/AMBER BEADS
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NK03NE15;
- NRHE Numlink: 20871;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NK03NE0010;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20871 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. (1845) 355.
- --- SAB1360 Bibliographic reference: ORDNANCE SURVEY. 1871. Ordnance Name Book. No22(1868) 2,164.
- --- SAB139 Bibliographic reference: BLACK, GF. 1888. PSAS 22(1887-88). 366.
- --- SAB1411 Bibliographic reference: PRATT, JB. 1901. BUCHAN. 45.
- --- SAB212 Bibliographic reference: CALLANDER, JG. 1916. PSAS 50(1915-16) 201-40. 239, No9.
- --- SAB229 Bibliographic reference: CLARKE, D. V.. 1985. SYMBOLS OF POWER AT THE TIME OF STONEHENGE. 66,210,214,250,338.
- --- SAB958 Bibliographic reference: KENWORTHY, JB. 1977. ‘A RECONSIDERATION OF THE ‘ARDIFFERY’ FINDS, CRUDEN, ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 108(1976-7) 80-93. 80-93.
Finds (4)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Jun 22 2026 3:47PM
