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.
Mither Tap is the easternmost summit of the Bennachie massif. The bare granite top of the hill, which rises to 518 metres, is encircled by a low stone wall running about 30 metres below the summit.
Chapel of Garioch, Grampian, Scotland
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The Battle Stone is a late Pictish symbol stone of green slate, probably dating to the mid 11th century. It is a Class II stone, which means it bears Christian symbols on one side and more traditional Pictish symbols on the other. In this case, the stone has an incised Celtic style cross, a pair of fish monsters, and a beast on one side, and a serpent, ox skull, bird, dog, and horseman on the other.
Mortlach Kirk, Dufftown, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Set within the grounds of Newton House, near Inverurie, are two Pictish symbol stones. One has incised depictions of a serpent and Z-rod, with a double disc, all traditional Pictish symbols.
Newton House, Inverurie, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Also known as the Mulloch Stone Circle, Nine Stanes stands in a wooded setting within a forestry plantation in Mulloch Wood, two miles west of Blairydryne Bridge on the A957 road between Banchory and Stonehaven. Like so many stone circles in the north eat of Scotland, Nine Stanes is a recumbent circle, with a large stone laid flat, flanked by two large upright stones.
Banchory, Grampian, Scotland
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The Aberdeenshire County Council calls Old Kinord a promontory fort, which is stretching things a bit, as there's no promontory to be seen. Rather, this ancient settlement, complete with hut circles and a carefully laid out field system, is set on a neck of land between Loch Davan and Loch Kinord and is part of the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.
Kinord, Grampian, Scotland
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Picardy Symbol Stone is one of the oldest Pictish symbol stones in Scotland, dating to the 6th or 7th century. This beautifully carved stone stands in a farm field a few miles west of Inverurie. The stone is set over a small burial cairn dating to 1300-1500 years ago, which was found to have a grave recess beneath. Whether the stone is connected with the cairn burial is not certain. When the cairn was excavated a small pit was found on one side, probably dug for burial purposes.
Insch, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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When you hear the word 'henge', do you instantly think of a large stone circle? I'll bet the answer is yes, but if you do, you'd be wrong. Perhaps we're conditioned to think of a stone circle when we think of henges through the most well-known henge of all, Stonehenge, in Wiltshire. But the 'henge' is simply an earthen enclosure, usually composed of one or more circular banks and ditches.
Quarry Wood Forestry Plantation, A96, Elgin, Grampian, Scotland
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In 1978 farmer Gavin Alston was ploughing his fields at Barflat, near the village of Rhynie, in Aberdeenshire, when he discovered a large boulder carved with a depiction of a man. Closer inspection showed that the carving dated to the Pictish era, probably sometime between AD 700 and 850, which makes it the earliest known figure carving in Grampian.
Grampian Regional Council, Woodhill House, Aberdeen, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Three Pictish symbol stones stand in the old kirk graveyard car park at Rhynie. The smallest of the three stones has a carving of a beast and a comb. A larger, rectangular stone shows a crescent and V-rod, mirror, and a double disc and Z-rod symbol.
Rhynie, Grampian, Scotland
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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Rodney's Stone is a beautifully carved Pictish stone of grey sandstone, standing beside the drive to Brodie Castle. The stone, which is almost six feet high, was discovered in 1781 by workmen digging the foundations for a new church at Dyke. The situation of the stone suggests that it was associated with the old medieval church there.
Brodie Castle, Forres, Grampian, Scotland, IV36 0TE
Attraction Type: Prehistoric - Carved Stone
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