Scheduled Monument

Colmeallie stone circleSM116

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
28/08/1933
Last Date Amended
29/11/2005
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring
Local Authority
Angus
Parish
Edzell
NGR
NO 56570 78118
Coordinates
356570, 778118

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a recumbent stone circle. It was scheduled in 1933 but an inadequate area was protected; the present scheduling clarifies the location and extent of the protected area.

The circle is 15.5m in diameter and lies on a turf-covered mound, which measures approximately 0.6m high and which has been truncated on the N side by a road. The ring appears to be circular, with the recumbent and flankers set within a true circle defined by the other stones, The interior has a central ring carin, with a damaged external kerb which turns outward to join the recumbent and flankers. Within the central area are 2 boulders and other large slabs which appear to be displaced and are of unknown origin.

Reference was made in 1853 (Jervise) to the site consisting of two concentric rings, but the evidence visible today cannot confirm this. The New Statistical Account of Scotland (vol 11, 623) refers to two so-called Druidical circles, but there is no reference to their being concentric, and there is no evidence for a second circle. A number of stones are now fallen, including what is believed to be the recumbent, which measures 3.0m by 2.2m by 0.5m and is positioned on the SSW arc of the circle.

The area to be scheduled is a polygon centred on the centre of the circle, with a maximum extent of 36m NW-SE, to include the remains of the stone circle and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the monument may survive, as shown in red on the attached map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a recumbent stone circle, a group of monuments unique to the north-east of Scotland. It is one of the most southerly examples of this type, and therefore has the potential to provide important information about prehistoric ritual activity in this area and to our understanding of regional variation across the country.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NO57NE 3.

References:

Barclay G J and Ruggles C L N 1999, 'ON THE FRONTIER? RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLES IN KINCARDINESHIRE AND ANGUS', Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, 5, 12-22.

Burl H A W 1973a, 'THE RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLES OF NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 102, 60, 79.

Burl H A W 1976a, THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE BRITISH ISLES, London and New Haven, 354.

Jervise A 1853, THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF THE LAND OF THE LINDSAYS IN ANGUS AND MEARNS, WITH NOTICES OF ALYTH AND MEIGLE, Edinburgh, 106.

Warden A J 1880-5, ANGUS OR FORFARSHIRE: THE LAND AND PEOPLE, DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL, 5v, Dundee, Vol. 3, 226-7.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 18:50