Knowledge (XXG)

Machrie Moor Stone Circles

Source 📝

502: 526: 538: 514: 56: 72: 79: 369: 300:) is the most visually striking of the circles on Machrie Moor. This circle has a diameter of 13.7 metres, and may originally have consisted of seven or eight tall sandstone slabs, three of which survive intact, while stumps of others may be seen. The heights of the three intact stones range from 3.7 metres to 4.9 metres. Within the circle are two large stones, apparently cut from a fallen pillar, one of which now has a central hole as if for conversion to a millstone. Excavations in 1861 revealed a 222: 397: 341: 281: 253: 313: 332:) originally consisted of nine stones. Only one still stands, 4.3 metres high, but the stumps of others are still partially visible in the peat. The stones form a geometrical egg-shape. Excavations in 1861 uncovered a small cist in the centre containing an urn with some fragments of burnt bone and flint flakes. A second cist was found 1 metre south of the centre; it contained a crouched burial, also with some flint flakes. 388:) called "Suidh Coire Fhionn" or "Fingal's Cauldron Seat" consists of two concentric rings of granite boulders. The inner circle is 12.0 metres in diameter and consists of eight granite boulders. Excavations in 1861 uncovered an empty, ruined cist in the centre. The outer circle is approximately 18.0 metres in diameter and is formed of fifteen granite boulders. The outer circle is said to form a geometrical egg-shape. 463:) is the remains of a probable chambered cairn comprising an oval spread of stones approximately 20 metres by 16 metres. The most obvious feature is a 1.8 metre tall standing stone within the east edge of the cairn surrounded by several smaller stones which may have been part of a chamber or facade. 217:
Six stone circles are visible on the moor immediately east of the derelict Moss Farm. Some circles are formed of granite boulders, while others are built of tall red sandstone pillars. The moor is covered with other prehistoric remains, including standing stones, burial cairns and cists. The stone
240:, and numbered 1 to 5. Five other monuments in the area were numbered 6 to 10, and when subsequently a further stone circle was discovered almost completely submerged in peat in 1978, it was numbered Machrie Moor 11. Around 1 kilometer to the west is the remains of the 416:) is a low stone circle with a diameter of around 13 metres. The tallest of the stones is about 1.2 metres high on the western side. Excavations in 1978-9 revealed 10 upright stones, with a pit between each stone possibly representing a post-hole. 218:
circles are positioned over previous timber circles. A radiocarbon date of 2030 ± 180 BCE has been found for the timber circle at Machrie Moor 1. Several hut circles can also be seen as low rings of turf-covered stone.
360:) consists of four granite blocks, about 0.9 metres high. Excavations in 1861 uncovered a cist in the centre. In it was an inhumation accompanied by a food vessel, a bronze awl, and three flint flakes. 1182: 272:) is an ellipse with axes 12.7 metres and 14.6 metres. It is formed from six granite boulders and five sandstone slabs, arranged alternately. Four of the granite blocks have fallen. 501: 304:
in the centre of the circle. A food vessel was found in this central cist. A second, empty, short cist was found between the centre and the northeast upright stone.
1172: 71: 525: 537: 513: 229:
The six stone circles are situated below a prominent notch on the skyline to the northeast where Machrie Glen divides into two steep-sided valleys. At the
553: 487: 472: 459: 446: 433: 412: 384: 356: 328: 296: 268: 1187: 1177: 114: 607: 55: 697: 18: 722: 666: 635: 1124: 1093: 1062: 1031: 997: 966: 935: 899: 859: 823: 783: 743: 583: 549: 483: 468: 455: 442: 429: 408: 380: 352: 324: 292: 264: 557:), is another stone-setting consisting of three granite boulders and which perhaps originally consisted of four stones. 492: 241: 233:
the notch is intersected by the sun at sunrise, and this may explain why the circles were sited in this location.
437:) is the remains of a possible chambered cairn consisting of two touching upright stone slabs at right angles. 368: 1192: 237: 221: 1133: 1102: 1071: 1040: 1006: 975: 944: 908: 868: 832: 792: 752: 396: 718: 662: 631: 603: 340: 312: 280: 252: 178: 597: 197:
is the collective name for six stone circles visible on Machrie Moor near the settlement of
1157: 478: 230: 548:
Around 1.2 kilometres to the east of the Machrie Moor Stone Circles, near the B880 road (
1166: 202: 102: 87: 424:
James Bryce listed five other antiquities to the west of the stone circles in 1861.
710: 654: 623: 129: 116: 33: 20: 162: 206: 198: 1128: 1097: 1066: 1035: 1001: 970: 939: 903: 863: 827: 787: 747: 395: 367: 339: 311: 279: 251: 220: 301: 715:
A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany
659:
A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany
628:
A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany
476:) was a standing stone of which no obvious trace remains. 1129:"Ballymichael, Arran Bridge Farm, Stone Setting (39711)" 184: 174: 169: 158: 153: 145: 108: 98: 78: 1183:Historic Scotland properties in North Ayrshire 599:Building the Great Stone Circles of the North 8: 48: 930: 928: 926: 579: 577: 575: 573: 571: 569: 236:The stone circles were recorded in 1861 by 1026: 1024: 894: 892: 890: 888: 886: 854: 852: 850: 818: 816: 814: 812: 810: 54: 47: 778: 776: 774: 772: 770: 738: 736: 734: 649: 647: 700:, Historic Scotland, accessed 1 May 2014 586:, Historic Scotland, accessed 1 May 2014 565: 497: 450:) is a standing stone 1.6 metres tall. 1173:Archaeological sites in North Ayrshire 717:. Yale University Press. p. 114. 661:. Yale University Press. p. 118. 630:. Yale University Press. p. 35. 225:Map of the Machrie Moor Stone Circles 7: 680: 678: 602:. Windgather Press. pp. 50–. 14: 536: 524: 512: 500: 77: 70: 1188:Scheduled monuments in Scotland 1178:Stone circles in North Ayrshire 1: 1125:Historic Environment Scotland 1094:Historic Environment Scotland 1063:Historic Environment Scotland 1032:Historic Environment Scotland 998:Historic Environment Scotland 967:Historic Environment Scotland 936:Historic Environment Scotland 900:Historic Environment Scotland 860:Historic Environment Scotland 824:Historic Environment Scotland 784:Historic Environment Scotland 744:Historic Environment Scotland 698:Moss Farm Road Stone Circle 493:Moss Farm Road Stone Circle 242:Moss Farm Road Stone Circle 60:Machrie Moor Stone Circle 2 1209: 584:Machrie Moor Stone Circles 195:Machrie Moor Stone Circles 49:Machrie Moor Stone Circles 1098:"Machrie Moor 10 (39726)" 940:"Machrie Moor 11 (39704)" 420:Other prehistoric remains 65: 53: 1067:"Machrie Moor 9 (39770)" 1036:"Machrie Moor 8 (39707)" 1002:"Machrie Moor 7 (39715)" 971:"Machrie Moor 6 (39706)" 904:"Machrie Moor 5 (39705)" 864:"Machrie Moor 4 (39701)" 828:"Machrie Moor 3 (39700)" 788:"Machrie Moor 2 (39702)" 748:"Machrie Moor 1 (39703)" 596:Richards, Colin (2013). 400:Machrie Stone Circle 11 401: 373: 372:Machrie Stone Circle 5 345: 344:Machrie Stone Circle 4 317: 316:Machrie Stone Circle 3 285: 284:Machrie Stone Circle 2 257: 256:Machrie Stone Circle 1 226: 130:55.540829°N 5.313655°W 34:55.540829°N 5.313655°W 399: 371: 343: 315: 283: 255: 224: 135:55.540829; -5.313655 39:55.540829; -5.313655 686:Current Archaeology 244:(Machrie Moor 10). 126: /  50: 30: /  684:"Machrie Moor" in 402: 374: 346: 318: 286: 258: 227: 185:Public access 165:/ Early Bronze age 609:978-1-909686-15-1 192: 191: 179:Historic Scotland 86:Shown within the 1200: 1146: 1145: 1143: 1141: 1121: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1090: 1084: 1083: 1081: 1079: 1059: 1053: 1052: 1050: 1048: 1028: 1019: 1018: 1016: 1014: 994: 988: 987: 985: 983: 963: 957: 956: 954: 952: 932: 921: 920: 918: 916: 896: 881: 880: 878: 876: 856: 845: 844: 842: 840: 820: 805: 804: 802: 800: 780: 765: 764: 762: 760: 740: 729: 728: 707: 701: 695: 689: 682: 673: 672: 651: 642: 641: 620: 614: 613: 593: 587: 581: 556: 540: 528: 516: 504: 490: 475: 462: 449: 436: 415: 387: 359: 331: 299: 271: 141: 140: 138: 137: 136: 131: 127: 124: 123: 122: 119: 81: 80: 74: 58: 51: 45: 44: 42: 41: 40: 35: 31: 28: 27: 26: 23: 1208: 1207: 1203: 1202: 1201: 1199: 1198: 1197: 1163: 1162: 1158:Highlands walks 1154: 1149: 1139: 1137: 1123: 1122: 1118: 1108: 1106: 1092: 1091: 1087: 1077: 1075: 1061: 1060: 1056: 1046: 1044: 1030: 1029: 1022: 1012: 1010: 996: 995: 991: 981: 979: 965: 964: 960: 950: 948: 934: 933: 924: 914: 912: 898: 897: 884: 874: 872: 858: 857: 848: 838: 836: 822: 821: 808: 798: 796: 782: 781: 768: 758: 756: 742: 741: 732: 725: 709: 708: 704: 696: 692: 688:(1988), page 35 683: 676: 669: 653: 652: 645: 638: 622: 621: 617: 610: 595: 594: 590: 582: 567: 563: 552: 544: 543:Machrie Moor 10 541: 532: 529: 520: 517: 508: 505: 486: 479:Machrie Moor 10 471: 458: 445: 432: 422: 411: 405:Machrie Moor 11 394: 392:Machrie Moor 11 383: 366: 355: 338: 327: 310: 295: 278: 267: 250: 231:summer solstice 215: 134: 132: 128: 125: 120: 117: 115: 113: 112: 94: 93: 92: 91: 84: 83: 82: 61: 38: 36: 32: 29: 24: 21: 19: 17: 16: 12: 11: 5: 1206: 1204: 1196: 1195: 1190: 1185: 1180: 1175: 1165: 1164: 1161: 1160: 1153: 1152:External links 1150: 1148: 1147: 1116: 1085: 1054: 1020: 989: 958: 922: 882: 846: 806: 766: 730: 723: 702: 690: 674: 667: 643: 636: 615: 608: 588: 564: 562: 559: 550:grid reference 546: 545: 542: 535: 533: 531:Machrie Moor 8 530: 523: 521: 519:Machrie Moor 7 518: 511: 509: 507:Machrie Moor 6 506: 499: 484:grid reference 469:grid reference 465:Machrie Moor 9 456:grid reference 452:Machrie Moor 8 443:grid reference 439:Machrie Moor 7 430:grid reference 426:Machrie Moor 6 421: 418: 409:grid reference 393: 390: 381:grid reference 377:Machrie Moor 5 365: 364:Machrie Moor 5 362: 353:grid reference 349:Machrie Moor 4 337: 336:Machrie Moor 4 334: 325:grid reference 321:Machrie Moor 3 309: 308:Machrie Moor 3 306: 293:grid reference 289:Machrie Moor 2 277: 276:Machrie Moor 2 274: 265:grid reference 261:Machrie Moor 1 249: 248:Machrie Moor 1 246: 214: 211: 190: 189: 186: 182: 181: 176: 172: 171: 167: 166: 160: 156: 155: 151: 150: 147: 143: 142: 110: 106: 105: 100: 96: 95: 85: 76: 75: 69: 68: 67: 66: 63: 62: 59: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1205: 1194: 1193:Isle of Arran 1191: 1189: 1186: 1184: 1181: 1179: 1176: 1174: 1171: 1170: 1168: 1159: 1156: 1155: 1151: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1126: 1120: 1117: 1105: 1104: 1099: 1095: 1089: 1086: 1074: 1073: 1068: 1064: 1058: 1055: 1043: 1042: 1037: 1033: 1027: 1025: 1021: 1009: 1008: 1003: 999: 993: 990: 978: 977: 972: 968: 962: 959: 947: 946: 941: 937: 931: 929: 927: 923: 911: 910: 905: 901: 895: 893: 891: 889: 887: 883: 871: 870: 865: 861: 855: 853: 851: 847: 835: 834: 829: 825: 819: 817: 815: 813: 811: 807: 795: 794: 789: 785: 779: 777: 775: 773: 771: 767: 755: 754: 749: 745: 739: 737: 735: 731: 726: 720: 716: 712: 706: 703: 699: 694: 691: 687: 681: 679: 675: 670: 664: 660: 656: 650: 648: 644: 639: 633: 629: 625: 619: 616: 611: 605: 601: 600: 592: 589: 585: 580: 578: 576: 574: 572: 570: 566: 560: 558: 555: 551: 539: 534: 527: 522: 515: 510: 503: 498: 496: 494: 489: 485: 481: 480: 474: 470: 466: 461: 457: 453: 448: 444: 440: 435: 431: 427: 419: 417: 414: 410: 406: 398: 391: 389: 386: 382: 378: 370: 363: 361: 358: 354: 350: 342: 335: 333: 330: 326: 322: 314: 307: 305: 303: 298: 294: 290: 282: 275: 273: 270: 266: 262: 254: 247: 245: 243: 239: 234: 232: 223: 219: 212: 210: 208: 204: 203:Isle of Arran 200: 196: 187: 183: 180: 177: 173: 168: 164: 161: 157: 152: 149:Stone Circles 148: 144: 139: 111: 107: 104: 103:Isle of Arran 101: 97: 89: 88:Isle of Arran 73: 64: 57: 52: 46: 43: 1138:. Retrieved 1132: 1119: 1107:. Retrieved 1101: 1088: 1076:. Retrieved 1070: 1057: 1045:. Retrieved 1039: 1011:. Retrieved 1005: 992: 980:. Retrieved 974: 961: 949:. Retrieved 943: 913:. Retrieved 907: 873:. Retrieved 867: 837:. Retrieved 831: 797:. Retrieved 791: 757:. Retrieved 751: 714: 711:Burl, Aubrey 705: 693: 685: 658: 655:Burl, Aubrey 627: 624:Burl, Aubrey 618: 598: 591: 547: 477: 464: 451: 438: 425: 423: 404: 403: 376: 375: 348: 347: 320: 319: 288: 287: 260: 259: 235: 228: 216: 194: 193: 15: 238:James Bryce 213:Description 133: / 109:Coordinates 37: / 1167:Categories 724:0300114060 668:0300114060 637:0300114060 561:References 554:NR92443225 488:NR90053265 460:NR90573237 447:NR90633253 434:NR90733237 413:NR91213242 385:NR90873234 357:NR91003235 329:NR91023244 297:NR91143241 269:NR91203239 170:Site notes 118:55°32′27″N 90:, Scotland 22:55°32′27″N 491:) is the 175:Ownership 163:Neolithic 121:5°18′49″W 25:5°18′49″W 713:(2005). 657:(2005). 626:(2005). 473:NR905324 207:Scotland 99:Location 1134:Canmore 1103:Canmore 1072:Canmore 1041:Canmore 1007:Canmore 976:Canmore 945:Canmore 909:Canmore 869:Canmore 833:Canmore 793:Canmore 753:Canmore 201:on the 199:Machrie 159:Periods 154:History 1140:20 May 1109:20 May 1078:20 May 1047:20 May 1013:20 May 982:20 May 721:  665:  634:  606:  951:1 May 915:1 May 875:1 May 839:1 May 799:1 May 759:1 May 1142:2014 1111:2014 1080:2014 1049:2014 1015:2014 984:2014 953:2014 917:2014 877:2014 841:2014 801:2014 761:2014 719:ISBN 663:ISBN 632:ISBN 604:ISBN 302:cist 146:Type 188:Yes 1169:: 1131:. 1127:. 1100:. 1096:. 1069:. 1065:. 1038:. 1034:. 1023:^ 1004:. 1000:. 973:. 969:. 942:. 938:. 925:^ 906:. 902:. 885:^ 866:. 862:. 849:^ 830:. 826:. 809:^ 790:. 786:. 769:^ 750:. 746:. 733:^ 677:^ 646:^ 568:^ 495:. 209:. 205:, 1144:. 1113:. 1082:. 1051:. 1017:. 986:. 955:. 919:. 879:. 843:. 803:. 763:. 727:. 671:. 640:. 612:. 482:( 467:( 454:( 441:( 428:( 407:( 379:( 351:( 323:( 291:( 263:(

Index

55°32′27″N 5°18′49″W / 55.540829°N 5.313655°W / 55.540829; -5.313655

Machrie Moor Stone Circles is located in North Ayrshire
Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
55°32′27″N 5°18′49″W / 55.540829°N 5.313655°W / 55.540829; -5.313655
Neolithic
Historic Scotland
Machrie
Isle of Arran
Scotland

summer solstice
James Bryce
Moss Farm Road Stone Circle

grid reference
NR91203239

grid reference
NR91143241
cist

grid reference
NR91023244

grid reference
NR91003235

grid reference

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.