Megalithic sites to visit around Edinburgh
Submitted by Andy B on Thursday, 30 August 2018 Page Views: 11531
Neolithic and Bronze AgeCountry: Scotland County: Midlothian Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)Internal Links:
At about 3m high, the Caiy Stane is a broad standing stone slab of red sandstone possibly marking a ritual or burial place in the Neolithic or early Bronze Age - it may also have been the site of a battle in more recent times, with the stone serving as a memorial. The reverse face has six, probably prehistoric cup marks, along with the inevitable graffiti
In the Edinburgh suburb of The Inch, a couple of mile south of the city centre is a strangle little stone - the Cat Stane (pictured right). As it’s such an oddment there is some doubt as to its antiquity, and has previously seen action as a gate post.
It originally stood near the junction of the Dalkeith and Liberton roads and has been moved to various spots before its current resting placeJust to the east are a couple of other standing stones, one at Ravenswood Avenue and another at Niddrie House meaning you could spend a whole day meandering obscure Edinburgh suburbs instead of seeing any of the better known sites - what’s not to like!
There are some classic sites around Edinburgh as well, such as the famous Cairnpapple Hill. This fine site in the Bathgate hills about eight miles south of Linlithgow has excellent views in all directions. The site has been remodelled over millennia, 5000 years ago the timber henge was built; the first grave added 4000 years ago; 1000 years ago Christian graves were added, and in modern times a a modern concrete dome has been erected over the original cist burials, which erroneously gives the impression of a tumulus. There is a small visitor centre manned currently (summer) open Friday through to Monday. Thes site is accessible all year round, but the chamber is only open when the visitor centre is manned.
Heading back towards Edinburgh - in fact under the flight path of the International Airport and slap bang next to a huge road intersection, this site is more notorious than classic - Huly Hill standing stones and prehistoric cairn have become something of a poster boy for the grotty end of urban prehistory. Kenny Brophy, the 'Urban Prehistorian' compares it to “the protagonist in JG Ballard’s Concrete Island, Maitland, this monument is trapped amidst the infrastructure of the car. But with added airplane noise. And the central conceit of that novel has strange parallels with Huly Hill: by stumbling off the motorway, it is possible to become marooned in a very different kind of place, an enclosure with its own rules, temporality and ruins.” You can read more of Kenny’s piece here, along with lots more urban prehistory.If you're staying around Edinburgh there is of course lots of short-term accommodation, hotels and holiday lets in the area, one being the Staycity serviced apartments - it’s an amazing capital city and one you can spend days exploring. The bus services are particularly good and you can also ride on the fairly new multi-million pound tram service. With many thanks to Kenny Brophy, Anne T, Chris Bickerton, Crannog, StayCity and Golux for their assistance with this article.
Check out our pages for more ancient sites around Edinburgh and enjoy your visit.
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