Scheduled Monument

Fortingall Church, two stone circles and one stone row, 300m ESE ofSM1547

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
14/06/1929
Last Date Amended
14/02/2002
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring; stone rows
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Fortingall
NGR
NN 74533 46955
Coordinates
274533, 746955

Description

The monument comprises a group of two stone circles and one stone row, of prehistoric date, visible as a series of upstanding and prostrate stones. The monument lies in a grass field about 300m ESE of Fortingall Church, at around 120m OD.

The W group comprises three standing stones, the SW of which is marginally the tallest. The stones are all apparently blue whinstone.

The NE group comprises four stones, of which those on the N and E are still standing (c.0.8m and 1m high respectively). The S block (the largest) is lying prone. The fourth block is somewhat smaller and lies between the S and E stones.

These two groups appear to represent the remains of two so-called four-posters (that is, four stones set at the corner of a small rectangular area, often containing a cremation burial). The occurrence of two four-posters side by side is exceptionally rare.

The three standing stones of the SE group are in a row and represent a different type of monument.

Stone settings of this type are characteristic of the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age period.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is sub-triangular in shape with each apex set at a distance of 10m from the outermost stones, 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: 05/11/2026 06:24