The Cullerlie Stone Circle of Aberdeenshire

Nestled in the heart of Aberdeenshire rests the Cullerlie stone circle, also known as the Standing Stones of Echt. This small circular arrangement of eight irregular red granite stones forms a circle of 10.2 m in diameter. It is regarded as a later development from the recumbent stone circle, though its layout of kerbed cairns within the circle makes it unique.

At the time that the circle was built in the second millennium BC, the surrounding landscape was characterised by wet bogs. The stones were transported to the site from higher ground some distance away. Excavations in 1934 showed that the circle was built in stages. The site was first cleared and burned by setting fire to piles of willow twigs, then the outer stones were placed with their bases shaped into points for stability in a gravel bed.

Within the rings, oak and hazel were burned, leaving charcoal behind. Cremated human bones were deposited in the ashes within five of the rings. The rings were then filled with smaller stones to create the cairns visible today. A 2004 survey further revealed that several of the stones had been carved with previously unnoticed cup marks.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons