Grampian - Prehistoric Sites
- Map of Prehistoric Sites in Grampian
- Map of ALL Prehistoric Sites in Scotland
- Map of all attractions in Grampian
Included in this category of our heritage guide to Grampian are Pictish carved stones and crosses - one of the most fascinating features of the Aberdeenshire and Moray region. Grampian is extraordinarily rich in 'ancient' sites, with numerous examples of cairns, burial mounds, and stone circles dotted about the landscape.
Why is the region so well-supplied with these ancient monuments? One simple answer is that Aberdeenshire and Moray were settled earlier and more densely than the Highland regions to the north and west. The sheer weight of numbers of ancient peoples resulted in much greater numbers of ancient sites that survive today.
Aikey Brae Stone Circle is a prehistoric monument in a lovely location overlooking the village of Old Deer, Aberdeenshire. The circle is composed of nine stones and one recumbent stone, making a circle of just over 14 metres in diameter. There was apparently one more upright stone but this has now disappeared.
Old Deer, Grampian, Scotland
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Berrybrae Stone Circle is a complex site consisting of several distinct phases. There was originally a circle here (actually an oval) consisting of a recumbent stone surrounded by nine standing stones arranged around an earthen bank ranging from 12.8 metres to 1.8 metres diameter.
Crimond, Grampian, Scotland
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Brandsbutt Symbol Stone is an early Pictish symbol stone with an Ogham (ancient British and Irish alphabet of twenty symbols formed either to the side of or across a continuous line) inscription. The stone was broken up for use in repairing a nearby dyke, but has now been restored.
Brankie Road, Inverurie, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Bucharn Cairn is a huge early Bronze Age or late Neolithic cairn on a terraced hillside site above the River Feugh. The cairn stretches 27 metres across, and up to 4.5 metres high.
Banchory, Grampian, Scotland
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The town of Burghead occupies a promontory joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. Though the town itself dates from the 19th century, the site has been in use since at least the Pictish era, as evidenced by not one, but two fort enclosures, called, appropriately, the upper and lower forts.
Burghead, Grampian, Scotland
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The Aberdeenshire town of Burghead packs a lot of historic interest into a small area. Among the numerous historic remains is a peculiar underground chamber, cut out of the solid rock. Steps lead down below the surface of King Steet to a large, vaulted chamber. At the centre of the chamber is a rectangular cistern, or well, with a raised ledge, or seat, at one side.
King Street, Burghead, Grampian, Scotland
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Despite the name, Cairn Catto is not so much a cairn as an elongated barrow, about 49 metres long, 22 metres wide at the head (SE), tapering to about seven metres wide at the end (NW). It was probably built between 1000 and 2000 BCE.
Cruden Bay, Grampian, Scotland
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The name Cairn O' Mount is given to both a prehistoric cairn and the hill it stands on. The cairn is located at the summit of the hill, on an ancient route from Banchory to Fettercairn and the Angus glens. That route is now the path taken by the B974.
Fettercairn, Grampian, Scotland
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Camus's Stone is a solitary standing stone, about 1.75 metres high, composed of a mix of quartz with mica and schist. On the north face of the stone are well-preserved cup and ring carvings.
Duffus, Grampian, Scotland
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Candle Stane is a solitary standing stone, the only survivor of a recumbent stone circle about 13 metres in diameter, situated beside an old quarry. There were originally eight stones arranged around a central cairn about seven metres wide. One stone has disappeared, and the others have fallen, leaving only the Candle Stane upright.
Ellon, Grampian, Scotland
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