Stones of Scotland
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There are many large stones of Scotland of cultural and historical interest. There are so many, it is not possible to do more than discuss a few of them.
[edit] Stone of Scone
The Stone of Scone, (pronounced 'scoon') also commonly known as the "Stone of Destiny" or the "Coronation Stone", is a block of sandstone historically kept at the now-ruined abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. It was used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, the monarchs of England, and, more recently, British monarchs.
[edit] Rocking stones
Ayrshire apparently is endowed with a geology that lends itself towards the formation of rocking stones. There are several rocking stones, or stones that used to rock at one time, in Ayrshire, Scotland.
There is a rocking stone near Loch Riecawr in South Ayrshire.[1]
In the parish of North Carrick in the Straiton District in South Ayrshire, about a quarter of a mile to the west of the White Laise, and near the March Dyke, there is a rocking stone named the Logan Stone. The Logan Stone is a gray granite rock and rests on graywacke, and can easily be moved with one hand. It is 4 feet 3 inches by 4 feet, by 3 feet high.[2]
A rocking stone that some associate with the Druids is on Cuff Hill in Hessilhead, near Beith in North Ayrshire. It no longer rocks due to people digging beneath to ascertain its fulcrum.[3] It is in a small wood and surrounded by a circular drystone wall.
The Lamagee or Lamargle stone is in the center of a stone circle in the village of Lugar in East Ayrshire. The Lamargle stone rests on two stones. Local legend it has it that the Lamargle stone used to rock, but it no longer does.
[edit] Lochmaben stone
The megalith known as the Lochmaben stone was called the Lochmabonstone in a well known book by Logan Mack in 1926. This stone has, in the Borders context, an unsurpassed extent of history attached to it. It stands in a field, nearly a mile west of the Sark mouth on the Solway Firth , three hundred yards or so above high water mark on the farm of Old Graitney in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. Map reference: NY 3123 6600. The area is also known as Stormont.
The stone is an erratic, 7' high and 18' in girth and weighs approximately ten tons. It is composed of weathered granite, exposed to severe glacial action.
[edit] Thurgartstone
The Ogrestone or Thurgartstone near Dunlop in East Ayrshire is thought to have been a rocking stone. However, soil has built up around the base of the Thurgatstone over the years, which now prevents any rocking motion.
The Thurgatstane / Thorgatstane / Field Spirit Stane / Ogrestane near Dunlop in East Ayrshire is a glacial erratic stone near the middle of a field near the site St.Mary's Chapel on the Lugton road.
[edit] The Carlin or Hag's Stone
On top of the Common Crags overlooking Dunlop and the Glazert is a large procumbent boulder known as the ‘Carlin’s Stone or Stane’. This stone is not as well known as the Thorgatstane. A Carl is a commoner, a husband or in a derogatory sense, a churl or person of low birth. A Carlin is a corruption of the Gaelic word “Cailleach”, meaning a witch or the 'old Hag', goddess of Winter. This would therefore be the Witch’s Stone, one of several in Scotland with this name.
Near 'Kirkhill' outside Stewarton are several Kilbrides. Bride , Brigit or St.Brigid was originally a Celtic Goddess linked with the festival of Imbolc , the eve of the first of February. She was the goddess of Spring and was associated with healing and sacred wells, therefore the antithesis of the Carlin. Carlin's Tooth is the name of a rock outcrop in the Scottish borders between Knocks Knowe and Carter Fell (Logan Mack 1926). Several Carling Farms are to be found near Darvel in Ayrshire.
[edit] Scottish stone circles
There are several stone circles in Scotland. This is an abbreviated list:
- Calanais (Callanish I)
- Cnoc Ceann a'Gharaidh (Callanish II)
- Cnoc Filibhir Bheag (Callanish III)
- Ceann Hulavig (Callanish IV)
- Cullerlie
- Easter Aquhorthies
- Loanhead of Daviot
- Ring of Brodgar
- Sunhoney
- Temple Wood
- The Ringing Stone
- Rothiemay Stone Circle
[edit] Scottish standing stones
There are several well known standing stones in Scotland. For example:
- Achavanich
- Clach an Trushal
- Comet Stone
- Hill o'Many Stanes
- Nether Largie
- Stones of Stenness
- Watch Stone
- Maiden Stone
- Yarrow Stone, Selkirk
- Dunfallandy Stone
- Picardy Stone
[edit] Scottish picture stones
There are a number of famous "picture stones" with carvings on them in Scotland. For example:
- The Goose Stone
- Tillytarmont
- Red Hill Stone
- Aberlemmo Territorial Stone
[edit] Scottish recumbent stones
There are some famous large stones in Scotland that lie on the ground. They might have previously been standing stones. For example:
- Korskellie Recumbent Stone
- Avochie Recumbent Stone
- The Wolf Stone, Brora, East Sutherland
- Brandsbutt Stone
[edit] References
- ^ A map showing the location of a rocking stone in South Ayrshire
- ^ Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire, John Smith of Dalry, 1895
- ^ Topographical Description of Ayrshire; more Particularly of Cunninghame: together with a Genealogical account of the Principal families in that Bailiwick., George Robertson, Cunninghame Press, Irvine, 1820
- MacIntosh, John (1894). Ayrshire Nights Entertainments: A Descriptive Guide to the History, traditions, Antiquities, etc. of the County of Ayr. Pub. Kilmarnock. p.195.
- Mack, James Logan (1926). The Border Line. Pub. Oliver & Boyd.
- stones of Scotland page with links
- Dark Isle webpage list of Scottish stone circles
- A list of some Scottish stone circles
- A list of Scottish recumbent stone circles
- Scottish stone monuments
- A guidebook to stone observatories in Scotland
