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Lost Secrets - an adventure during Neolithic times

The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Aubrey Burl

The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Aubrey Burl

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Sheriff Muir Row - Stone Row / Alignment in Scotland in Stirling

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, 11 November 2002  Page Views: 15793

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Sheriff Muir Row Alternative Name: Wallace's Stone, Lairhill; Lairhill Stones; Wallace Stone; Sheriffmuir Stone Row
Country: Scotland County: Stirling Type: Stone Row / Alignment
Nearest Town: Dunblane
Map Ref: NN83240226  Landranger Map Number: 57
Latitude: 56.198578N  Longitude: 3.883441W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Anne T visited on 13th Jul 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Sheriffmuir Stone Row: Please can I claim the Portal prize for 'the most horsefly bites at one ancient site'? At first glance, it looked easy to walk to this stone row. The reality was it was a couple of hundred yards from the road, in deep heather. Having waded through the shrubbery, and having found the Wallace Stone, however, finding the rest of the stones was easy, as they are more or less in a line running north east to south west. I managed to pull up Sandy G’s ”Stone Rows of Great Britain” website, with details of the stones, which helped enormously. The horse flies were horrendous. I got eaten alive, and was glad to get back to the car to slap some antihistamine on. It was a real shame the Sheriffmuir Inn wasn’t open, as we were desparate for a cold drink (any drink, really) by the time we’d walked to, and photographed, all five stones. We decided to go onto Dunblane for a cup of tea and something to eat (and lots of antihistamine cream for me!). Despite all the bites, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this stone row, in the brilliant sunshine and glorious views.

SandyG visited on 2nd Oct 2016 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Road verge car parking is available at NN 83209 02579. From here carefully cross the road, enter the field opposite via the gate then walk about 300m due south.

hamish have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 5 Access: 4

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by hamish : The recumbant stone it must have been quit impressive when upright. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Stone Row (Alignment) in Stirling

This stone row is recorded as Canmore site no. 25274 which says: "An alignment of five stones (four of which are now prostrate) runs from NN 8307 0214 to NN 83300232, and includes the Wallace stone at NN 83240226; this is 1.8m high and is the only one still erect. One of the others is cup-marked."

A more detailed description is given in the Canmore record from 1893 which adds the stones are " running in a direction south-west to north-east, 253 degrees. The first is 7ft long, 8ft in circumference at one end and 6ft at the other. On the exposed side, which, when the stone was erect, would be the SE, are over 20 cup-marks, from 1 1/2 to 2ins in diameter. About 75 yards distant and in the same line with the standing stone lies a roughly rectangular stone 6ft 6ins long and about 10ft in circumference. The next in the series is a flat stone 5ft 6ins long and 4ft 6ins broad, sunk in the ground, and slightly out of line but near it and in more exact line is a small stone 4ft long. These may be fragments of a single stone. The interval between this and the standing stone is about 150 yards, which suggests that a stone is missing. Next is the Wallace Stone and beyond this in the same line at a distance of about 75 yards, is a stone 10ft long and from 16 to 18ft in girth."

Also see the Modern Antiquarian's page for Sheriffmuir Stone Row.

The Northern Antiquarian (TNA) features a page for Wallace's Stone and the stone row - see their entry for Wallace’s Stone, Dunblane, Stirlingshire which gives directions for finding this site, together with a description of the alignment, and local folklore.

The Wallace Stone is said to have been placed on the muir as a gathering place for Wallace’s troops and to commemorate Wallace’s victory over the English at Stirling Bridge. Although Wallace may indeed have used the stones as a meeting place, the stones themselves were placed on the muir several thousand of years before Wallace’s victory.

Update November 2019: This alignment is also featured on the Stone Rows of Great Britain website - see their entry for the Sheriff Muir Row, which includes a description, a plan of the row, photographs of the alignment and its individual stones, access information and a list of online resources for more information.

The row is also scheduled as SM4539 (Lairhill, standing stone alignment 400m SSW of) on the Historic Environment Scotland (although the site description and the map location displayed is the same as Canmore's, the grid reference given is slightly different).
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Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by peigimccann : The Wallace Stone and the northernmost stone. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by hamish : This is the Wallace Stone, named after the great Scottish Patriot. This may have been a gathering point for troops going to evict the English from Stirling at the battle of Stirling Bridge. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 5 - I seem to be recreating Sandy G's photos here. This is the southernmost stone from the west. It has a reasonably similar shape to Stone 1, the northernmost. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Looking at stone 5 in the alignment from a different angle, trying to highlight any of the 19 cups that Canmore says are on it. There are a few indentations, but otherwise nothing much is visible. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Looking back on my photographs of Stone 5 (the southernmost in the alignment) this may be a large cup, either with a raised edge or a possible worn ring around it.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 5 (southernmost. We were looking for cups, but despite the bright sunlight, were unable to see any. These two deep holes in the side of the stone look like holes where pebbles have eroded out.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Standing just to the south west of Stone 5 (the southernmost), looking back up to the alignment to the Wallace Stone, which is just a pin-prick on the horizon (marked by the arrow) where the hills intersect.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 4/Split Stone looking towards the north. The Wallace Stone (Stone 2) can just be seen in the far distance, where the two hills intersect. The distant copse of trees on the top left hand side of the photo is a couple of hundred metres to the north of where the Wester Briggs Stone Circle stands (stood).

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 4/Split Stone. Is this a cup mark on the smaller part of this stone? There were one or two holes were small pebbles had eroded out, so more likely to be a solution hole? The inner edge of the 'cup' felt slightly rough to the fingertips.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Close up of Stone 4, the Split Stone.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Approaching Stone 4, the split stone, from Stone 3, the recumbent stone. Looking south towards where the Old Wharry Burn meets the Warry Burn.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Trying to capture the triangular shape of stone 3 (middle stone in the row), with its 'shoulder'.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 3, looking south towards where the Old Wharry Burn and Wharry Burn meet. The small, dark figure in the distance is my husband standing on Stone 5, the southernmost stone in the alignment, waiting patiently for me to catch up with the camera.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 3, the middle stone in the row, is level with the surrounding turf. We followed the line of the row south west from stones 1 and 2 and found this just off the alignment (but not far off). The shape of this stone is different to the other two stones we'd already seen; part of one face looks as if it has a 'shoulder' which may indicated quarrying? The Wallace Stone can just be seen to the rig...

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : The Wallace Stone/Stone 2, looking south/south east towards where the Old Wharry Burn and the Wharry Burn meet. Stone at NN 8324 0226.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : The Wallace Stone/Stone 2, looking north-north-west, towards where the Wester Biggs Neolithic Stone Circle was (is?) located. Stone located at NN 8324 0226.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : The Wallace Stone/Stone 2 at NN 8324 0226 looking west. The different faces of this stone all look really different. It is interesting that in the Canmore record, an entry created from Hutchinson's 1893 log says "In addition to the Wallace Stone, five other stones, now prostrate, seemed to have formed a series running in a direction south-west to north-east, 253 degrees", implying there were 6 st...

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : The Wallace Stone/Stone 2, at NN 8324 0226, looking north east. Stone 1 can just be seen in the distance, to the left of the Wallace Stone.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 1 (northernmost). The side of the stone away from the Wallace Stone is worn and eroded, and there are small inclusions where small pebbles have fallen out as the stone has worn away. The hollow way can just been seen, running from one third up the right hand side of the photo towards the top middle.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 1 (northernmost). Standing just to the north east of this stone, on top of the ridge which runs parallel to the valley below, looking over to the Wallace Stone, which can just been seen in the distance.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 1 (northernmost). Standing just to the north east of this now fallen stone, looking towards the Wallace Stone, at what would have been its base.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by Anne T : Stone 1, the northernmost stone in the row. Approaching this stone from the Wallace Stone, to the south west. There is an obvious hollow way which runs just below this stone (which I'm standing in to take this photo).

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by peigimccann : The Wallace Stone.

Sheriff Muir Row
Sheriff Muir Row submitted by peigimccann : Lichen on the Wallace Stone.

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Archaeologist’s joy as ancient stone ball kept in Perth by Andy B on Friday, 17 May 2019
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Local historians and archaeologists are celebrating hitting their fund-raising target to secure the Sheriffmuir Ball, which will now have a permanent home in Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

The ball – which is thought to date from 3000 – 2500 BC – is one of most decoratively carved and southerly examples of its kind.

Around 500 similar artefacts have been discovered across Scotland with experts undecided as to their purpose.

There had been fears the Sheriffmuir Ball was headed for Edinburgh, home to more than a third of similar artefacts.

Margaret Borland-Stroyan, archaeology president, Perthshire Society of Natural Science, thanked Courier readers for helping them reach their target in six weeks.

“After your most helpful support for our fund-raising campaign, we feel sure that you will share our delight at the news that our appeal to secure the Sheriffmuir carved stone ball has reached, and slightly exceeded, its target of £1,625.

“Securing the Sheriffmuir Ball for Perth Museum means that it will be kept safe in a place where it can be studied properly and widely admired and enjoyed.

“We should like to express our gratitude to all your readers who generously donated to the fund.”

The ball was unearthed on the slopes of the Ochil Hills at Sherriffmuir.

Perth Museum and Art Gallery sought to match-fund a £1,625 grant from the National Fund for Acquisitions, which helps cultural bodies secure important finds.

The museum and its supporters raised the money through an online crowd-funding campaign.

A spokesperson for the museum said funding cuts had made it difficult to support acquisitions without public support.

Experts remain split on the purpose of the 4,000 year-old stones, with some believing them to be weapons, tools, status symbols or a combination of all three.

Examples have been found in the north of England, Ireland and Norway, but most have been discovered in Orkney and the North-East of Scotland.

The Sheriffmuir stone is one of the most southerly of the Scottish balls discovered to date. Experts also say it is one of the most decoratively carved.

Dr Hugh Anderson-Whymark, curator of prehistory at National Museums Scotland, said: “These artefacts have captured the imagination for more than 150 years and despite much debate, we’re still not certain how they were used.”

Perth Museum and Art Gallery last displayed a collection of Neolithic carved stones in 2011.

Source: The Courier
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/847636/archaeologists-joy-as-ancient-stone-ball-kept-in-perth/

With thanks to drolaf for the link.
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    Re: Archaeologist’s joy as ancient stone ball kept in Perth by Blingo_von_Trumpenstein on Friday, 17 May 2019
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    So pleased to see this staying home. My estimate of auction value would be around £10k. I don't know of any in private collections. I would sell my garden to get one...
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Smaller stone near Sheriff Muir? by Andy B on Friday, 17 May 2019
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jamesgrahame writes: For anyone who has been to this site, did you notice a smaller stone around the known 5-or-6 that are there? The quote below suggests that a human-liftable stone was present there at one time.

“About two miles south-west of the village of Blackford, on the Sheriffmuir road, and near to the farm-house of Easter-Biggs, is an arch of stones, seven in number, called the " Seven Stanes," varying from perhaps a ton to two tons each. One of these is of a round prismatical shape, and stands in an erect position. Beside these lies a large bullet of stone, called " Wallace's Puttin' Stane," and he is accounted a strong man who can lift it in his arms to the top of the standing one, which is about four feet high,—and a very strong man who is able to toss it over without coming in contact with the upright one. At one time few were to be found of such muscular strength as to accomplish this—not so much from the actual weight of the stone itself, as from the difficulty of retaining hold of it, it being very smooth and circular. This difficulty, however, was obviated about seventy years ago, by the barbarous hand of a mason, to enable himself to perform the feat, since which time a person of ordinary strength can easily lift it.”
Text from “Dunblane Traditions” by John Monteath 1887.
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Re: Sheriff Muir Row by Anne T on Saturday, 12 January 2019
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This page now includes the info and photos for the Wallace Stone and Stone Row (SID 47217) which was in essence a duplicate of this page, was causing confusion and has now been deleted. Thanks to Sandy G for confirmation that the pages needed amalgamating.
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Re: Sheriff Muir by SandyG on Thursday, 04 January 2018
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There is only one stone row at this location.
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    Re: Sheriff Muir by Anne T on Friday, 11 January 2019
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    Hello, Sandy. I will amalgamate the two pages for the stone row, which includes the Wallace Stone, and make it clearer that the Wallace Stone forms part of the row. I've run out of time today, but will tackle this tomorrow (Saturday, 12th Jan) unless anyone else wants to take this on? I still can't get over how many horse fly bites I got looking at these stones - brilliant location, shame about the insects! Thanks for the confirmation.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Sheriff Muir by SandyG on Friday, 11 January 2019
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    Thanks Anne, Timing is probably crucial. You probably arrived on the day that they were in biting mode. The horse flies around the Cairn o' Get in Caithness did for me.
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Re: Sheriff Muir by peigimccann on Sunday, 12 August 2012
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Visited this site today. Absolutely beautiful, heather just beginning to bloom, tormentil, last of the blaeberries, grass going to seed, a feeling of late summer in the air.
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Re: Sheriff Muir by hamish on Friday, 15 July 2005
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There are five stones in the heather here,I have posted three the others didn't come out.The row is aligned roughly SW-NE and only one stone is now upright.
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