Scheduled Monument

Macbeth's Stone, standing stoneSM2408

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
16/04/1964
Last Date Amended
23/02/1998
Supplementary Information Updated
02/08/2019
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art; standing stone
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Meigle
NGR
NO 27997 43472
Coordinates
327997, 743472

Description

The monument comprises a standing stone of prehistoric date, first scheduled in 1964. It is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the scheduled area and to ensure protection for buried archaeological deposits in the immediate vicinity of the stone.

The monument is located SW of the SW gate-lodge of the Belmont Castle policies at around 60m OD. It comprises a standing stone measuring approximately 1.8m by 1.3m at the base, and some 3.6m in height, tapering to a thickness of about 0.3m at the top. On the broad E face there are approximately forty cupmarks, each measuring up to about 6cm in diameter. On the W face there are approximately twenty similar cupmarks. In addition, there are two cupmarks low down on the S face and a single cupmark on the N face.

Standing stones of this type usually relate to ritual activity of Neolithic or Bronze Age date. Cupmarks are decorative circular depressions, generally of similar date.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the standing stone and an area around it within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 20m between its N-most and S-most points, and 20m between its E-most and W-most points, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

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.

Images

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Printed: 17/08/2026 15:03