Monument record MHG2400 - Hill O' Many Stanes, Mid Clyth Stone Rows

Summary

22 rows of standing stones, on the south slope of the Hill o' Many Stanes.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 2950 3840 (30m by 30m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND23NE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish LATHERON
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

22 rows of standing stones, on S slope of the Hill o' Many Stanes.
Dryden (J Anderson 1886), in 1871, noted 250 of which 192 remained erect in 1910.
The stones are generally thin slabs set with their faces looking across the rows and packed at the base with smaller stones. The largest are about 3 ft high, 3 ft wide and 15 to 18 ins thick.
To E of easternmost row, one or two protruding stones suggest that the monument may originally have extended further in that direction.
R W Feachem 1963; J Anderson 1886; RCAHMS 1911.

As described above. The stones radiate from the top of a rocky knoll to N, an ideal position for a cairn, though there is no sign of one. That there have been rows immediately to the E is proved by the presence of small hollows edged with packing stones, although the stones themselves have disappeared.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (A A) 1 May 1967.

ND23NE 6 295 384.
Stone Rows (NR) OS 1:10,000 map, (1977)

East Caithness Local Plan, May 1987: P31/2.52.
J Aitken : 22/05/01.

Signed from the road, stones stand in rough heather and areas of erosion betw them. Variety of shapes, some seem roughly shaped, others as found. Rows are not absolutely straight, but rise up the hill side. There are additional recumbent stones (either they have fallen or were left between the standing ones originally). - HAW 9/2002

Display material indicates that these are in a fan shape, widening towards the upwards (W) side. However should be noted that knoll on which stands extends beyond the N of the field in which the majority lie. This knoll has been used for dumping stones, but among them may be further stones still upright. This extent of the scheduled area should possibly be reviewed. The road side ditch that forms the eastern side of the field has been deeply cut - might be worth cleaning the section back - HAW 24/05/2005

The stones were visited and photographed by C Jones in April 2011. A 360 degree panorama was taken at ND 29515 38415, the location of the interpretation board, starting from the north east and proceeding clockwise to the east, south east and so forth. <1>

Sources/Archives (12)

  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Cross-Slab, Mid Clyth.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Cross-Slab, Mid Clyth.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Freer and Myatt, R and L J. 1982. 'The multiple stone rows of Caithness and Sutherland. 2. Their description. I', Caithness Fld Club Bulletin Vol. 3 April 1982, p.58-63. Caithness Fld Club Bulletin. 58-63. 58-9.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Atkinson, R J C. 1981. 'Appendix 4.2: comments on the archaeological status of some of the sites', Brit Archaeol Rep Vol. 88 1981, p.206-9. Brit Archaeol Rep. 206-9. 206.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Anderson, J. 1886. Scotland in pagan times: the bronze and stone ages: the Rhind lectures in archaeology for 1882. 131; plan, fig. 136.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 161, No. 90.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Feachem, R W. 1963. A Guide to Prehistoric Scotland. 1st. 73.
  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Second report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Sutherland. . 79-80, No. 292.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Thom, A. 1971. Megalithic lunar observatories. 91-5; plan, fig. 9.1.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Thom, A. 1967. Megalithic sites in Britain. 95, 156; plan, fig. 12.12 (No. N1/1).
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Ruggles, C L N. 1981. A critical examination of the megalithic lunar observatories. SHG23416. 153-209. 178, 193.
  • <1> Text/Report/Environmental Statement: Headland Archaeology. 2012. Beatrice offshore Wind farm: Environmental Statement. Arcus Renewable Energy Consulting Ltd. Digital.

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Protected Status/Designation

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Record last edited

Feb 20 2015 3:35PM

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