Croft Moraig Stone Circle
Croftmoraig Stone Circle
Nestled in the lush landscape of Scotland, the Croftmoraig Stone Circle stands as a testament to the intricate ceremonial practices that took place during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. This monument, characterized by its complex double stone circle and underlying timber post setting, serves as a captivating relic of ancient ritualistic activities and offers invaluable insights into the spiritual and societal workings of the communities that once thrived in this region.
The 1965 excavation of the site unveiled a fascinating chronological sequence of construction and modification, indicative of the site’s prolonged significance and possibly evolving cultural or spiritual practices. Initially, the site featured a horseshoe configuration of approximately 14 timber posts, deliberately oriented to open towards the southwest. This phase was followed by a substantial modification: the area was leveled, and an oval stone setting was erected, possibly symbolizing a transition in ritual practices or societal beliefs.
The third phase marked another transformative stage in the site’s history, with the construction of a full stone circle encompassing the previous oval setting. Additionally, two stones were strategically placed to the southeast, and intriguingly, empty graves were discovered, hinting at the site’s possible funerary functions or symbolic representations of death and the afterlife. However, despite these excavations, much of the area beyond the stone setting remains unexplored, including the stone sockets and surrounding land, which likely hold further artifacts and environmental data. This uncharted territory presents a compelling opportunity for future research initiatives.
The national importance of the Croftmoraig Stone Circle is indisputable. As an unusually well-preserved ceremonial site, it offers an extraordinary opportunity for the study of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age life. The untouched areas around the circle and the uninvestigated stone sockets hold a promise of unraveling more about the rituals, social structures, and perhaps even the cosmological beliefs of the people who once gathered in its midst. The monument, as delineated for protection, excludes modern intrusions, ensuring that the archaeological integrity of the site remains uncompromised.
The enduring legacy of the Croftmoraig Stone Circle is its silent narration of human history. It stands not merely as a collection of stones or an arrangement of ancient timber, but as a bridge to our ancestors’ lives, their understanding of the world, and their expressions of that understanding through enduring monumental architecture. By continuing to study and preserve this site, we honour these ancient individuals and the rich, complex tapestry of human history that they represent.
Created: 21 October 2023 Edited: 5 January 2024
Croftmoraig Stone Circle
Croftmoraig Stone Circle LiDAR Map
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Local History around Croftmoraig Stone Circle
There are some historic monuments around including:
Croftmoraig, burial mound 300m NNW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: barrow; Secular: mound (unallocated to other category) SM9003Caisteal Mac Tuathal, fort 1200m NNW of Taymouth Castle Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM9156Dull,cross,Aberfeldy Crosses and carved stones: cross (free-standing) SM1622Dull,stone circle 270m S of Appin House,formerly the Manse Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring SM1539Home Farm, unenclosed settlement 200m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: settlement SM7757Comrie Castle Secular: castle SM5507Camserney Burn, shielings 900m S of Sliabh Fada Secular: shieling SM7524Newhall Bridge,two standing stones 400m SE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM1586Croftmoraig,stone circle Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring SM5024Home Farm, unenclosed settlement 200m ENE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: settlement SM7750Carse Farm,stone circle 350m WNW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring SM1511Tirinie, three round burial mounds S and SE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: mound (ritual or funerary) SM10843Home Farm, settlement and souterrains 300m E of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: palisaded settlement SM7747Balhomais stone circle and barrow, 20m NNW of junction at B846 and Balhomais Farm entrance Prehistoric ritual and funerary: barrow SM1499Drummond Hill, cupmarked rock 825m NNW of Rock Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM9157Home Farm, ring-ditch 420m S of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: house SM7751.
