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Ardnacross Kerb-Cairns and Standing Stones - NM
541491
Three kerb-cairns and the remains of two flanking
settings of standing stones are situated on a platform
in the hillside above Ardnacross and 600m WS W of the
farm. The largest cairn, at the Send of the group, is
comparatively well preserved; it measures 5.5m in
diameter and has a kerb of large boulders which, except
in the NE quadrant where the perimeter has been
destroyed by ploughing, are almost continuous. The cairn
material is still about 0.4m in height on the S side but
on the Nit is virtually level with the surrounding
ground. Several kerb-stones of a further cairn may be
seen protruding through the turf 4.6m to the NW; it is
about 4m in diameter and, on the S side, is some 0.2m
high. One metre to the N, five kerb-stones of a further
cairn about 3m in diameter, are visible at ground level.
Both groups of standing stones appear to have been
aligned NNE and SSW but only one stone is still upright.
The SE group comprises one prostrate slab (at least 2.3m
long and 1.1 m broad), a standing stone of rectangular
section, now leaning slightly to the S (2.4mhigh and
1.05mx 0.5mat the base) and a third slab, halfofwhich is
coveredbyturfbut which is at least 1. 9m long and 1.25m
broad. The three stones of the NW group have all fallen
and are partly obscured by turfbut the largest is at
least 2.8m long, 1.4m broad and 0.35m thick.
In 1990 excavation and survey was carried out to
investigate the possible astronomical significance of
the two stone rows at Ardnacross. Onlyone stone is
standing in the southern row and all three stones of a
possible northern row are rapidly becoming overgrown.
There are three badly damaged kerb-cairns between the
two rows.
Excavation 1\as revealed the original position of one of
the fallen stones in the southern row, which will allow
the original orientation of the row to be determined.
Detailed surveys have been carried out to test
hypotheses that the row was aligned on astronomical
events and/ or landscape features.
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Last modified
Saturday January 05, 2008
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