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.
Built into the exterior wall of Fyvie church, below the east window, are four ancient carved stones. Two bear traditional Pictish symbols, including a crescent and v-rod, a beast that may represent an elephant, a mirror, and eagle, and a double disc.
Fyvie, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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The small stone circle of Glassel Dam lies in a Forestry Commission plantation just north-west of Banchory. The circle is composed of five stones, arranged in an oval shape about 5.5 x 2.8 metres. The stones are of red granite and range from 0.84 metres to 0.99 metres high.
Banchory, Grampian, Scotland
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Though the name suggests a cairn, the Gourdon monument is actually a long barrow, or barrow cairn, measuring about 46 metres long and 14 metres at its wide end. The barrow is oriented NE to SW, and is about 1.7 metres at its highest point.
Gordoun, Grampian, Scotland
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An Iron Age fort later used by the Picts. Remains of the fort at Green Castle are fairly scanty, consisting mainly of a low turf bank that has been worn away in places. The north coast of Grampian offered ancient settlers several easily defensible locations to build settlements or enclosed forts, such as that at Cullykhan or the famous fort at Burghead.
Portknockie, Grampian, Scotland
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The Innesmill Stone Circle (also known as the Devil's Stanes or Urquhart Stone Circle) is a large circle covering an area of about 33.5 metres. There are only seven stones, at least two of which have fallen.
Urquhart, Grampian, Scotland
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The parish church of the little hamlet of Inveravon holds an archaeological gem. Embedded in the south wall of the church is a Pictish symbol stone of blue slate.
Inveravon, Grampian, Scotland
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There are four early Pictish symbol stones preserved in the cemetery at Inverurie. The tallest of the stones has incised carvings depicting a V-rod and crescent, Z-rod, another Z-rod with a double disc, and a rectangle serpent.
B993, Inverurie, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Kinord Cross is a beautifully carved cross slab which dates to the end of the Pictish era, most likely sometime in the 9th century. One side of the kite-shaped stone slab is carved with a relief of an ornate cross, filled with interlace designs.
B9119, Kinord, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Cross Slab
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A Pictish symbol stone discovered in the churchyard of Kintore. The stone is carved on both faces; on one side is a triple disc and cross bar, with a fish above, which may represent a cooking pot seen from above. The other face shows a Z-rod or V-rod, a beast, and a crescent shape. The Z-rod may represent a broken arrow.
Kintore Kirk, B977, Kintore, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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A solitary standing stone of grey granite atop a small hill, the Lang Stane O'Craigearn may be the last surviving stone from a stone circle. The Lang Stane stands over 3.5 metres high (about 11.5 feet), which makes it one of the tallest standing stones in Grampian. It is quite hefty around the middle, too, at about 2.75 metres around.
Kemnay, Grampian, Scotland
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