Blanefield Stone Row
The Blanefield ( Scottish Gaelic Strath Bhlàthain ) stone row - also known as Dumgoyach or Duntreath - is located northwest of Strathblane in Stirling , Scotland .
The stone row of Blanefield consists of five menhirs ( English Standing stones - A – E), which are arranged in a northwest-southeast oriented line on the highest part of the broad ridge that extends from the Dumgoyach hill. Three stones (A, B and C) are standing, while D and E are lying.
- Stone A has an irregular shape and slopes sharply to the north. It is 1.2 m high, 0.75 m wide and 0.35 m thick.
- Stone B stands 1.8 m from stone A. It has a rectangular cross-section with an irregular tip and is 1.5 m high and about 0.75 m wide.
- Stone C, also irregular in shape, stands 3.45 m from stone B. It is so steeply inclined that it is almost lying. It is 1.4 m high, 0.75 m wide and 0.3 m thick. The other two stones are on the ground between stones B and C.
- Stone D is 1.75 m long, 0.9 m wide and 0.45 m thick.
- Stone E, partially resting on D, is 2.35 m long, 1.15 m wide and 0.9 m thick.
During the excavation, four layers were observed from the topsoil to the subsoil. A flint core and some flakes were found in the top two . On layer 3 there were several spots with a white ash deposit containing carbon stains. Using the radiocarbon method , a date of 2860 BC was established. BC determines what dates the series to the Stone Age. The base for one of the upright stones cut through layer 3, while layer 2 appeared to have piled up. The height of the ash deposit seems to be related to the stone setting. The stone lying flat at the SW end of the line could be a later addition to the group.
See also
literature
- DC Heggie: Megalithic science: ancient mathematics and astronomy in north-west Europe. London. 1981
- EW MacKie: Duntreath, Curr Archaeol, vol. 4, 1, 1973, No. 36 1973 pp. 6-7
- JNG Ritchie: Archeology and astronomy: an archaeological view, In: DC Heggie Archaeoastronomy in the Old World. Cambridge 1982. pp. 34-5
Web links
- Description and pictures
- Entry on Blanefield Stone Row in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 55 ° 59 ′ 49.1 ″ N , 4 ° 21 ′ 15 ″ W.