List of recumbent stone circles facts for kids

Tomnaverie recumbent stone circle

Recumbent stone circles are found in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. Their most striking characteristic is that in the general direction of south-southwest there is a large stone lying on its side with its length lining up with the perimeter of the circle. Thought to have been from the Bronze Age, their unusual design, and the possibility of being associated with astronomical observations, has attracted several surveys starting at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 2011 the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland published an authoritative book on this type of monument and produced an online gazetteer. Since publication, two other recumbent stone circles have been identified by archaeologists.

Surveys including recumbent stone circles

Easter Aquorthies stone circle showing the recumbent stone and two flankers

The particular characteristic of recumbent stone circles is that, as well as being a ring of upright stones (orthostats), they have a large stone lying on its side along the perimeter of the circle towards south to southwest. On both sides are particularly tall orthostats. The recumbent stone and flankers, as they are called, together form the recumbent setting. Around the ring the orthostats get progressively lower in height and more closely spaced until they reach the opposite side from the setting. These stone circles contain a low central ring cairn surrounded by comparatively small kerb stones.

Coles' plan of Easter Aquhorthies stone circle, 1900

Thought to have been built in the Bronze Age, over the millennia many of these circles have become ruinous, being particularly vulnerable in the 18th and 19th centuries due to agricultural improvement, so many stones have fallen or been taken away and, indeed, only about half of the circles show any signs of a cairn without archaeological excavation.

As early as 1527 Hector Boece was writing about the stone circles in Scottorum Historia. Until the mid 19th century these circles, when they were noticed at all, were spoken of as being "Druidical Temples" or similar epithets and it was Frederick Coles who was the first person to carry out a systematic survey which he published in an annual series of papers from 1900 to 1907 in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Although Coles was careful and cautious in his identifications, he sometimes made misidentifications of circles in a ruinous condition. Somewhat similar stone circles were later found in the far southwest of Ireland where they were originally called recumbent stone circles until significant differences led to them becoming called "Cork–Kerry stone circles" and later axial stone circles.

OpenStreetMap display of recumbent circles (all but two in Aberdeenshire)

As part of their wider interest in northern European stone circles, the northeast Scotland circles attracted Alexander Thom, Aubrey Burl and Clive Ruggles who catalogued them as part of their investigations into whether the recumbent setting could in some way be shown to have an astronomical significance. Those identified as recumbent stone circles all were found in the traditional counties of Aberdeenshire (historic county) and Kincardineshire (with a very few just over the borders into Angus, and Banffshire). In current terms except for two they are all in the Aberdeenshire council area. In 2011 the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) published an authoritative book, , on recumbent stone circles specifically. The RCAHMS also issued an online gazetteer giving details of each monument that listed 71 as confirmed being recumbent and another 85 as not belonging in this category.

List of circles categorised as recumbent by RCAHMS

List of circles categorised as recumbent

No.	Name, parish	Condition Stones: S+F/T	Code	Diameter (metre)	Axis	Burl refs.	Canmore map/ ID Grid ref		Lat/ Long
1	Aikey Brae, Old Deer	ruin 5+5/11	wRE	16.5x15	185.5°	Ab90 Ab1	NJ94NE 4 20571 NJ958470		57°30′50″N 2°04′13″W / 57.51398°N 2.07041°W / 57.51398; -2.07041 (Aikey Brae)
2	Aquhorthies, Banchory-Devenick	good 15+0/18	WR_	25x23.5	174°	Ki165 Ki2	NO99NW 1 37186 NO901963		57°03′29″N 2°09′49″W / 57.05801°N 2.16351°W / 57.05801; -2.16351 (Aquhorthies)
3	Ardlair, Kennethmont	ruin 5+3/9	WRE	11	159°	Ab91 Ab2	NJ52NE 4 17641 NJ552279		57°20′23″N 2°44′41″W / 57.33978°N 2.74472°W / 57.33978; -2.74472 (Ardlair)
4	Ardtannes Cottages, Inverurie	gone 0+0/?	___	-			NJ72SE 34 18906 NJ757204		57°16′25″N 2°24′12″W / 57.27369°N 2.40327°W / 57.27369; -2.40327 (Ardtannes Cottages)
5	Auchlee, Banchory-Devenick	ruin 25+5/13	_R_	20		Ki1	NO89NE 4 37069 NO890968		57°03′46″N 2°10′56″W / 57.06284°N 2.18233°W / 57.06284; -2.18233 (Auchlee)
6	Auchmachar, Old Deer	gone 3+2/9	wrE	15		Ab4	NJ95SW 11 20746 NJ948502		57°32′32″N 2°05′16″W / 57.54226°N 2.08784°W / 57.54226; -2.08784 (Auchmachar)
7	Auchmaliddie, New Deer	gone 0+2/?	wr_	-		Ab5	NJ84SE 1 19879 NJ881448		57°29′37″N 2°11′58″W / 57.49363°N 2.19932°W / 57.49363; -2.19932 (Auchmaliddie)
8	Balnacraig, Lumphanan	gone 3+2/13or14	_R_	29	224°	Ab8	NJ60SW 5 18024 NJ603035		57°07′16″N 2°39′24″W / 57.12099°N 2.65676°W / 57.12099; -2.65676 (Balnacraig)
9	Balquhain, Chapel of Garioch	ruin 6+4/14	WR_	21	190°	Ab94 Ab9	NJ72SW 2 18989 NJ735240		57°18′24″N 2°26′29″W / 57.30653°N 2.44147°W / 57.30653; -2.44147 (Balquhain)
10	Bankhead, Clatt	gone 0+1/10+	___	23		Ab27	NJ52NW 25 17663 NJ529269		57°19′51″N 2°47′00″W / 57.33092°N 2.78341°W / 57.33092; -2.78341 (Bankhead)
11	Bellman's Wood, Marnoch	gone 0+2/?	___	6.9		Ba1	NJ65SW 4 18427 NJ604504		57°32′31″N 2°39′44″W / 57.54208°N 2.66215°W / 57.54208; -2.66215 (Bellman's Wood)
12	Berrybrae, Lonmay	ruin 5+0/10	WRE	13x10.7	231°	Ab95 Ab10	NK05NW 2 21099 NK027571		57°36′16″N 1°57′20″W / 57.60444°N 1.95563°W / 57.60444; -1.95563 (Berrybrae)
13	Binghill, Peterculter	gone 3+5/10+	wRe	11.3	187°	Ab11	NJ80SE 16 19377 NJ855023		57°06′43″N 2°14′26″W / 57.11206°N 2.24069°W / 57.11206; -2.24069 (Binghill)
14	Blue Cairn of Ladieswell, Logie Coldstone	ruin 3+5/10	_R_	23	207°	Ab12	NJ40NW 4 17000 NJ411063		57°08′39″N 2°58′28″W / 57.14407°N 2.97446°W / 57.14407; -2.97446 (Blue Cairn of Ladieswell)
15	Braehead, Leslie	gone 1+0/?	_R_	-		Ab14	NJ52NE 6 17643 NJ592255		57°19′08″N 2°40′41″W / 57.31877°N 2.67805°W / 57.31877; -2.67805 (Braehead)
16	Cairn Riv, Inverkeithny	gone 2+0/?	_R_	30+?		Ab20	NJ64NE 4 18323 NJ674465		57°30′30″N 2°32′42″W / 57.50833°N 2.54504°W / 57.50833; -2.54504 (Cairn Riv)
17	Cairnton, Forgue	gone 2+0/?	WR_	-		Ab22	NJ54SE 1 17855 NJ585446		57°29′25″N 2°41′33″W / 57.49036°N 2.6924°W / 57.49036; -2.6924 (Cairnton)
18	Candle Hill, Insch	ruin 1+7/9or10	wre	15.5	163.5°	Ab23	NJ52NE 10 17615 NJ599299		57°21′30″N 2°40′05″W / 57.35844°N 2.66798°W / 57.35844; -2.66798 (Candle Hill)
19	Castle Fraser, Cluny	good 7+3/10	WRE	20.5	203°	Ab97 Ab25	NJ71SW 3 18719 NJ715125		57°12′10″N 2°28′24″W / 57.20266°N 2.47333°W / 57.20266; -2.47333 (Castle Fraser)
20	The Cloch, Benholm	unc. 1+0/?	_R_	-		Ki6	NO76NE 1 36304 NO781679		56°48′09″N 2°21′36″W / 56.80247°N 2.35987°W / 56.80247; -2.35987 (Cloch)
21	Clune Wood, Durris	ruin 7+2/9	WRE	17.5x16.7	183°	Ki18	NO79SE 2 36696 NO794949		57°02′43″N 2°20′24″W / 57.04517°N 2.34013°W / 57.04517; -2.34013 (Clune Wood)
22	Colmeallie, Edzell	gone 7+6/14	_rE	17	202.5°	An7	NO57NE 3 35145 NO565781		56°53′33″N 2°42′53″W / 56.8924°N 2.71479°W / 56.8924; -2.71479 (Colmeallie)
23	Corrie Cairn, Tullynessle and Forbes	unc. 2+0/?	_R_	18.9?		Ab30	NJ52SE 13 17683 NJ552205		57°16′23″N 2°44′39″W / 57.27312°N 2.74421°W / 57.27312; -2.74421 (Corrie Cairn)
24	Corrstone Wood, Auchindoir and Kearn	gone 1+6/17+	Wre	28		Ab31	NJ52NW 2 17657 NJ510271		57°19′55″N 2°48′55″W / 57.33188°N 2.81532°W / 57.33188; -2.81532 (Corrstone Wood)
25	Corrydown, Auchterless	ruin 1+6/?	wR_	23	186°	Ab32	NJ74SW 11 19197 NJ706444		57°29′22″N 2°29′27″W / 57.48942°N 2.49071°W / 57.48942; -2.49071 (Corrydown)
26	Cothiemuir Wood, Keig	ruin 7+1/13-	WRE	20	200°	Ab98 Ab34	NJ61NW 1 18055 NJ617198		57°16′02″N 2°38′11″W / 57.26725°N 2.63648°W / 57.26725; -2.63648 (Cothiemuir Wood)
27	Druidstone, Premnay	ruin 5+6/?	w_e	14.5	199°	Ab42	NJ62SW 4 18213 NJ615221		57°17′19″N 2°38′23″W / 57.2887°N 2.63984°W / 57.2887; -2.63984 (Druidstone)
28	Dunnideer, Insch	gone 3+0/?	WRE	-		Ab44	NJ62NW 4 18161 NJ608284		57°20′41″N 2°39′07″W / 57.34478°N 2.65194°W / 57.34478; -2.65194 (Dunnideer)
29	Easter Aquhorthies, Inverurie	good 12+0/12	WRE	20x18.5	195.5°	Ab102 Ab46	NJ72SW 12 18981 NJ732207		57°16′37″N 2°26′44″W / 57.27696°N 2.44559°W / 57.27696; -2.44559 (Easter Aquhorthies)
30	Eslie the Greater, Banchory-Ternan	ruin 9+0/12	WRE	24	176°	Ki169 Ki11	NO79SW 2 36714 NO717915		57°00′52″N 2°28′03″W / 57.01458°N 2.46748°W / 57.01458; -2.46748 (Eslie the Greater)
31	Frendraught, Forgue	gone 1+7/?	_R_	22x20		Ab50	NJ64SW 6 18370 NJ610428		57°28′27″N 2°39′01″W / 57.47423°N 2.65041°W / 57.47423; -2.65041 (Frendraught)
32	Gaval, Old Deer	gone 1+0/?	___	-		Ab53	NJ95SE 3 20734 NJ980515		57°33′13″N 2°02′03″W / 57.5536°N 2.03422°W / 57.5536; -2.03422 (Gaval)
33	The Gray Stone of Clochforbie, King Edward	gone 0+1/?	_r_	-		Ab28	NJ75NE 1 19227 NJ796586		57°37′02″N 2°20′30″W / 57.61719°N 2.34178°W / 57.61719; -2.34178 (Gray Stone of Clochforbie)
34	Hatton of Ardoyne, Oyne	good 5+4/13+	_RE	27x25	219.5°	Ab59	NJ62NE 7 18125 NJ659267		57°19′48″N 2°34′00″W / 57.3301°N 2.56665°W / 57.3301; -2.56665 (Hatton of Ardoyne)
35	Hill of Fiddes, Foveran	gone 2+0/10	WR_	14		Ab61	NJ92SW 1 20401 NJ935243		57°18′34″N 2°06′34″W / 57.30941°N 2.10952°W / 57.30941; -2.10952 (Hill of Fiddes)
36	Hill of Milleath, Cairnie	gone 0+0/?	___	23.7		Ab54	NJ44SE 9 17326 NJ467429		57°28′25″N 2°53′20″W / 57.47359°N 2.88884°W / 57.47359; -2.88884 (Hill of Milleath)
37	Inschfield, Insch	gone 1+2/?	_rE	23.5		Ab67	NJ62NW 6 18167 NJ623293		57°21′11″N 2°37′40″W / 57.35299°N 2.62766°W / 57.35299; -2.62766 (Inschfield)
38	Kirkton of Bourtie, Bourtie	ruin 5+0/10or11	_RE	22		Ab105 Ab68	NJ8ZSW 2 19708 NJ800248		57°18′51″N 2°19′56″W / 57.31405°N 2.33216°W / 57.31405; -2.33216 (Kirkton of Bourtie)
39	Loanend, Premnay	gone 2+0/?	_R_	25		Ab70	NJ62SW 1 18190 NJ604242		57°18′24″N 2°39′27″W / 57.30676°N 2.65741°W / 57.30676; -2.65741 (Loanend)
40	Loanhead of Daviot, Daviot	good 11+0/11	WRE	21	200°	Ab106 Ab71	NJ72NW 1 18789 NJ747288		57°20′58″N 2°25′15″W / 57.34945°N 2.42088°W / 57.34945; -2.42088 (Loanhead of Daviot)
41	Loudon Wood, Old Deer	ruin 4+3/10or11	WRe	19.6x17.5	194°	Ab108 Ab74	NJ94NE 1 20538 NJ960497		57°32′16″N 2°04′01″W / 57.53769°N 2.06695°W / 57.53769; -2.06695 (Loudon Wood)
42	Mains of Hatton, Auchterless	ruin 2+7/12+	_R_	23x21	165°	Ab75	NJ64SE 6 18357 NJ699425		57°28′20″N 2°30′11″W / 57.47212°N 2.50299°W / 57.47212; -2.50299 (Mains of Hatton)
43	Midmar Kirk, Midmar	OK 8+0/11	WRE	17	231°	Ab109 Ab78	NJ60NE 3 18001 NJ699064		57°08′54″N 2°29′54″W / 57.14831°N 2.49842°W / 57.14831; -2.49842 (Midmar Kirk)
44	Millplough, Arbuthnott	gone 1+0/?	_R_	20-		Ki15	NO87NW 6 36819 NO819754		56°52′12″N 2°17′54″W / 56.87001°N 2.29835°W / 56.87001; -2.29835 (Millplough)
45	Montgoldrum, The Camp, Arbuthnott	gone 3+2/?	_r_	23	179°	Ki5	NO87NW 5 36818 NO816772		56°53′09″N 2°18′09″W / 56.88581°N 2.30258°W / 56.88581; -2.30258 (Montgoldrum)
46	Nether Dumeath, Glass	gone 2+4/12	___	11		Ab85	NJ43NW 7 17280 NJ425378		57°25′39″N 2°57′31″W / 57.42744°N 2.95866°W / 57.42744; -2.95866 (Nether Dumeath)
47	Netherton of Logie, Crimond	ruin 11+17/15?	WRE	17	185°	Ab86	NK05NW 3 21100 NK043572		57°36′18″N 1°55′44″W / 57.60497°N 1.92902°W / 57.60497; -1.92902 (Netherton of Logie)
48	New Craig, Daviot	gone 4+1/?	WRE	22+		Ab87	NJ72NW 3 18811 NJ745296		57°21′24″N 2°25′29″W / 57.35671°N 2.42462°W / 57.35671; -2.42462 (New Craig)
49	The Nine Stanes, Garrol, Banchory-Ternan	ruin 9+1/11	Wre	18.5x15.5	157.5°	Ki171 Ki13	NO79SW 8 36748 NO723912		57°00′41″N 2°27′26″W / 57.01129°N 2.45723°W / 57.01129; -2.45723 (Nine Stanes)
50	North Strone, Alford	good 5+13/18	wrE	18.5	180°	Ab110 Ab88	NJ51SE 2 17588 NJ584138		57°12′50″N 2°41′23″W / 57.21388°N 2.6897°W / 57.21388; -2.6897 (North Strone)
51	Old Keig, Keig	ruin 4+4/?	WRE	27	212.5°	Ab111 Ab89	NJ51NE 2 17530 NJ596193		57°15′48″N 2°40′14″W / 57.26339°N 2.67057°W / 57.26339; -2.67057 (Old Keig)
52	Old Kirk of Tough, Cluny	ruin 2+0/11?	___	25?		Ab6	NJ60NW 1 18006 NJ625092		57°10′22″N 2°37′18″W / 57.17282°N 2.62179°W / 57.17282; -2.62179 (Old Kirk of Tough)
53	Old Rayne, Rayne	ruin 1+7/10+	___	26.5?	195°	Ab112 Ab90	NJ62NE 1 18081 NJ679279		57°20′28″N 2°32′01″W / 57.34121°N 2.53359°W / 57.34121; -2.53359 (Old Rayne)
54	Pitglassie, Auchterless	ruin 1+1/12-	_R_	18		Ab91	NJ64SE 8 18359 NJ686434		57°28′50″N 2°31′30″W / 57.48048°N 2.52495°W / 57.48048; -2.52495 (Pitglassie)
55	Potterton, Belhelvie	gone 1+2/?	wRe	-		Ab92	NJ91NE 7 20294 NJ952163		57°14′17″N 2°04′47″W / 57.23793°N 2.07965°W / 57.23793; -2.07965 (Potterton)
56	The Ringing Stone, Cairnie	gone 1+5/?	_R_	18.3	188.5°	Ab92 Ab3	NJ54NW 12 17827 NJ531454		57°29′49″N 2°46′59″W / 57.49683°N 2.78312°W / 57.49683; -2.78312 (Ringing Stone)
57	Rothiemay, Rothiemay	ruin 5+0/12or14	_R_	28	216.5°	Ba134 Ba13	NJ54NE 6 20294 NJ550487		57°31′35″N 2°45′06″W / 57.5264°N 2.7517°W / 57.5264; -2.7517 (Rothiemay)
58	St Brandan's Stanes, Boyndie	gone 2+3/?	W_E	-		Ba14	NJ66SW 1 18495 NJ607610		57°38′16″N 2°39′33″W / 57.63767°N 2.65903°W / 57.63767; -2.65903 (St Brandan's Stanes)
59	South Fornet, Skene	ruin 2+6/?	W_E	26.8		Ab100	NJ71SE 1 18687 NJ782109		57°11′20″N 2°21′39″W / 57.18902°N 2.36081°W / 57.18902; -2.36081 (South Fornet)
60	South Ley Lodge, Kintore	gone 3+0/?	WRE	16.5? or 29.6?		Ab101	NJ71SE 3 18705 NJ766132		57°12′34″N 2°23′16″W / 57.20942°N 2.38783°W / 57.20942; -2.38783 (South Ley Lodge)
61	Stonehead, Insch	ruin 3+0/?	WRE	19x16?		Ab103	NJ62NW 5 18166 NJ601286		57°20′49″N 2°39′53″W / 57.34696°N 2.66461°W / 57.34696; -2.66461 (Stonehead)
62	Strichen House, Strichen	OK 9+1/10	WRE	15.4x12.8	161°	Ab116 Ab105	NJ95SW 2 20754 NJ936544		57°34′49″N 2°06′27″W / 57.58024°N 2.10749°W / 57.58024; -2.10749 (Strichen House)
63	Sunhoney, Midmar	good 11+1/12	WrE	25	231°	Ab117 Ab106	NJ70NW 55 18543 NJ715057		57°08′29″N 2°28′16″W / 57.14132°N 2.47106°W / 57.14132; -2.47106 (Sunhoney)
64	Tillyfourie, Monymusk	ruin 4+9/13	WRe	20	203°	Ab120	NJ61SW 3 18074 NJ643135		57°12′39″N 2°35′33″W / 57.21087°N 2.59247°W / 57.21087; -2.59247 (Tillyfourie)
65	Tilquhillie, Banchory-Ternan	gone 1+1/?	___	-		Ki19	NO79SW 10 36704 NO725940		57°02′11″N 2°27′17″W / 57.03627°N 2.45473°W / 57.03627; -2.45473 (Tilquhillie)
66	Tomnagorn, Midmar	ruin 7+5/12	WRE	21	202.5°	Ab118 Ab108	NJ60NE 1 17999 NJ651077		57°09′33″N 2°34′41″W / 57.15928°N 2.57792°W / 57.15928; -2.57792 (Tomnagorn)
67	Tomnaverie, Coull	OK 11+0/13	wre	17	235.5°	Ab119 Ab109	NJ40SE 1 17006 NJ486034		57°07′10″N 2°50′59″W / 57.11947°N 2.84962°W / 57.11947; -2.84962 (Tomnaverie)
68	Tyrebagger, Dyce	good 10+1/11	WRE	18.5	178.5°	Ab101 Ab45	NJ40SE 11 19513 NJ859132		57°12′34″N 2°14′03″W / 57.20944°N 2.23421°W / 57.20944; -2.23421 (Tyrebagger)
69	Wantonwells, Insch	gone 1+1/?	_Re	-		Ab115	NJ62NW 2 18139 NJ618272		57°20′04″N 2°38′06″W / 57.33454°N 2.63499°W / 57.33454; -2.63499 (Wantonwells)
70	Wester Echt, Echt	ruin 3+0/?	W__	23		Ab118	NJ70NW 2 18534 NJ738083		57°09′55″N 2°26′02″W / 57.16516°N 2.43399°W / 57.16516; -2.43399 (Wester Echt)
71	Yonder Bognie, Forgue	ruin 6+3/12-	WRe	22x18	182.5°	Ab122 Ab122	NJ64NW 15 18335 NJ600457		57°30′01″N 2°40′05″W / 57.50037°N 2.66807°W / 57.50037; -2.66807 (Yonder Bognie)

Recently classified recumbent stone circles

Coles' sketch of Nether Coullie, 1901

In 2013 a site at Hillhead was excavated and found to be a recumbent stone circle. The site had been noticed in 1998 but was thought to have been the location of the remains of a roundhouse. The excavation uncovered the sockets for two flankers and a depression in the ground where the recumbent probably lay. Nether Coullie stone circle was listed in the 2011 RCAHS gazetteer as not being a recumbent stone circle but following careful inspection of archive records and another site inspection it was reclassified in 2015. Other stone circles investigated recently, but which have found to be modern, include Mill of Birkenbower and Holmhead.

No.	Name, parish	Condition Stones: S+F/T	Code	Diameter (metre)	Axis	Burl refs.	Canmore map/ ID Grid ref		Lat/ Long
-	Hillhead, Tarland	gone 0+1/?	___	26	237°	-	NJ50NW 61 138717 NJ507071		57°09′09″N 2°48′58″W / 57.15248°N 2.81618°W / 57.15248; -2.81618 (Hillhead)
Ap1, 65	Nether Coullie, Monymusk	gone 0+1/?	___	24		Ab84	NJ71NW 11 18657 NJ709156		57°13′50″N 2°28′56″W / 57.23056°N 2.482317°W / 57.23056; -2.482317 (Nether Coullie)