Auchagallon Stone Circle facts for kids
Auchagallon Stone Circle
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Location | Isle of Arran |
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Coordinates | 55°33′35″N 5°20′34″W / 55.559789°N 5.342810°W |
Type | Kerbed burial cairn |
History | |
Periods | Neolithic / Bronze Age |
Site notes | |
Ownership | Historic Scotland |
Public access | Yes |
Auchagallon Stone Circle or Auchengallon cairn is the remains of a Neolithic or Bronze Age burial cairn, surrounded by a circle of fifteen stones. It is located near Machrie on the Isle of Arran in Scotland .
Description
The cairn and stone circle is situated on a slight ledge of a west-facing slope, overlooking Machrie Bay. The circle comprises fifteen blocks varying in height from 0.5 metres to 2.3 metres. The stones are of red sandstone, except two which are a pale grey granite. The circle has a maximum diameter of 14.5 metres.
In the centre is a large stone cairn. Antiquarians digging here in the 19th century found a burial cist in the centre, although there are no records of any other remains. Although the monument is now called a stone circle, it was probably built as a kerbed cairn.