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<< Our Photo Pages >> Balfarg Henge - Henge in Scotland in Fife

Submitted by Nick on Monday, 19 November 2018  Page Views: 24134

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Balfarg Henge
Country: Scotland County: Fife Type: Henge
Nearest Town: Glenrothes
Map Ref: NO2819803123  Landranger Map Number: 59
Latitude: 56.215243N  Longitude: 3.159294W
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.
3 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.
5 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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I have visited· I would like to visit

SumDoood would like to visit

vyvbon visited on 23rd Sep 2023 - their rating: Access: 5

Anne T visited on 1st Nov 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Balfarg Henge: From Balbirnie stone circle, to reach this recreated henge, we needed to turn right across the busy A92, then almost immediately left down the B969 Western Avenue. The SatNav then took us directly to the henge. Right in the middle of a housing estate, on a circular street appropriately called ‘The Henge’. Typically for me, just as we stopped the car and I jumped out with my camera, a large delivery van decided to draw up and park in one of the parking spots right next to the outer boundary of henge, so I tried to avoid photographing him!

SandyG visited on 19th Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 1 Access: 5

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Oct 1996 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 5

Andy B: would like to visit No 2. in Kenny Brophy's Top Ten Urban Prehistory site selections, compiled for our Old Stones book.

DrewParsons have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 2.67 Access: 5

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : Standing by the larger of the two standing stones, looking north over part of the outer bank of the henge. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Henge and Standing Stone in Fife. The Balfarg site is a complex one spanning some 2000 years of history from 4000 BC. In the initial phase around 6000 years ago pits were dug and pottery sherds placed in them. Later similar pits from 5000 years ago had grooved ware sherds, burnt wood and bone interred in them. Subsequently a ditch some 60 metres across with a causewayed entrance was dug and an apparent henge with 16 timber posts erected within it. Later a stone circle seems to have been added although only one stone from that circle survives today.

A further stone offset from that circle is interpreted as a marker stone for the causewayed entrance to the site. Finally around 4000 years ago a burial occurred in the centre of the henge and was covered by a horizontal stone. The body was buried with beaker ware pottery and a flint knife. Additional information submitted by Drew Parsons in September 2010

From the A92 at the north end of Glenrothes turn onto the B969, and proceed to the first roundabout (marked with a modern stone circle!). Turn left here, and then about 100 metres in turn right into Henge Crescent. You'll see it straight away. A large board gives some information about the site. There are only two stones remaining, one at the entrance and one which had been part of the circle, but the massive ditch is very obvious. It was excavated in 1977 prior to the construction of the housing estate which surrounds it. The central area of the great circle is some 65m across. Timber posts mark the position of an original timber ring. Well worth a look.

For more information see Canmore ID 29990.

The development of a housing estate around the henge has been thoughtfully done leaving a pleasant park like atmosphere to the site. Its well worth making a detour to see this important site.

References:
  • Roy Loveday, Inscribed Across the Landscape, Tempus, Stroud, 2006.
  • Richard Bradley, The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2007.
  • Undiscovered Scotland website.

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Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by postman : Early evening late May 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by DrewParsons : View showing the ditch on the left, then the stone which marks the causeway into the circle and then on the right the sole remaining stone from the circle. Photographed in September 2010. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Nick : Looking west across the henge (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by postman : Early evening at Balfarg henge May 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by postman : Closer to the repaired stone (Vote or comment on this photo)

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by postman : As you can see they don't appreciate having henge on their doorstep, or perhaps they just reckon it would look better in yellow

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by postman : Fancy having this on your doorstep, I bet most of the denizens don't appreciate it

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by DrewParsons : The only surviving stone from the circle with the timber posts illustrating the original position of the henge behind it. The other surviving stone marking the causeway entrance to the henge area is not shown in this photo. September 2010.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Antonine : Visited 2015

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : A slightly different view looking over the two standing stones with the posts marking out the henge to their left.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : The henge was too large to capture in one photograph, so this is a stitch of three photos. The perspective isn't quite right, but it gives an impression of how large the henge is. It must be nice to look out on this site every morning.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : The standing stone nearest to the north western bank of the henge. Its shape reminded me of one of the taller stones at the Balbirnie Stone Circle nearby.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : The cist cover towards the centre of the henge. Lying level with the grass, I didn't realise this stone was here until I was almost upon it.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Anne T : Standing towards the north western side of the henge, looking over the two standing stones to the henge itself, marked out by wooden posts.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : The grave lid, not a cist lid, still Bronze age I presume.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : That yellow paint !

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : Looking through the entrance.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : Looking at the entrance, the fence is to stop kids biking up and down the henge.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : Nobody here but us Pigeons

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : Car parks cut into the henge bank. How do you feel about that?

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Postman : A good stretch of henge there.

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by SandyG : Panoramic view from south (19th April 2014).

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by SandyG : Panoramic view from north west (19th April 2014).

Balfarg Henge
Balfarg Henge submitted by Bladup : The remaining standing stones of Balfarg henge.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 282m E 86° Balfarg Riding School mortuary enclosure and henge* Henge (NO28480314)
 417m ESE 111° Balbirnie* Stone Circle (NO2858702969)
 4.9km NW 308° East Lomond Hill Hillfort (NO24400620)
 5.1km NW 324° Westfield Farm Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NO25260735)
 5.4km WSW 251° Strathhendry* Stone Circle (NO23050145)
 6.8km SE 145° Earlseat* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT3197797452)
 7.4km NW 306° Kilgour Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NO223076)
 7.7km SW 215° Dogton* Class III Pictish Cross Slab (NT2360996863)
 8.1km S 169° Bogleys* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT296951)
 8.6km SE 134° West Doo Cave* Cave or Rock Shelter (NT3433097007)
 8.6km SE 135° Court Cave* Cave or Rock Shelter (NT34279694)
 8.7km SE 131° Sloping Cave* Cave or Rock Shelter (NT34619727)
 8.7km SE 134° Jonathan’s Cave* Cave or Rock Shelter (NT344970)
 8.7km SE 133° Well Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (NT345971)
 9.0km NW 323° Auchtermuchty Cursus Cursus (NO22951043)
 9.3km E 90° Balgrummo* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NO375029)
 9.5km E 87° Aithernie (Scoonie) Cairn (NO37690339)
 9.6km NW 316° Strathmiglo* Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NO2166810219)
 9.8km W 260° Scotlandwell* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NO1847801656)
 10.1km N 5° Newton of Collessie Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NO292132)
 10.1km N 5° Collessie* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NO293132)
 10.2km W 263° Kilmagadwood Early Bronze Age cemetery Barrow Cemetery (NO1805702119)
 10.4km NE 37° Walton Symbol Stone Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (NO34651135)
 11.8km SW 232° Hare Law (Fife)* Cairn (NT187961)
 12.3km E 91° Lundin Links* Stone Circle (NO40480272)
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Re: Balfarg Henge by Anne T on Tuesday, 13 November 2018
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I photographed part of the information board. Part of the text (minus photographs) reads:
"Prehistoric Balfarg
You are standing in a revered landscape sacred to generations of prehistoric folk.
Over a period of more than 2000 years this special place, encircled by hills and two burns, housed temples for the living and the dead. They built two ritual enclosures here known as henges – another is reconstructed 275 metres from here, by the main road.
An artist’s reconstruction of the henge nearing completion around 4000 years ago. In the background you can see the Balbirnie stone circle, which was aligned with the main entrance into the henge.
Did you know?
Some archaeologists think that each stone may have represented an ancestor, who you could commune with during a visit here.
About 4000 years ago – a teenage boy was buried at the centre of the henge. You can still see the massive stone slab which was found covering his grave.
Mine’s a pint – this pot (photo), known as a Beaker, was found buried in the grave.
About 5000 years ago – an impression of a feat taking place inside the five or six rings of oak tree trunks, which stood here for about 500 years before being replaced by the stone circles. "
[ Reply to This ]

Henbane traces at Balfarg by Andy B on Sunday, 28 May 2017
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See also nearby: Balfarg Riding School mortuary enclosure and henge

Within the 64.9 metres (213 ft) diameter henge were found broken Neolithic pottery, burnt wood and bone which had been dumped on the site prior to the erection of a 25 metres (82 ft) wide timber circle of 16 wooden posts. Two especially large portal timbers stood on the west side of the circle. It is likely that the henge was built after these phases of activity. Grooved ware pottery found in the postholes dates to around 2900 BC. Some of the vessels may have been used to hold black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) which is a poison but also a powerful hallucinogen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfarg

http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/ant/074/Ant0740049.htm
That link doesn't work for me, this one does https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/use-of-henbane-hyoscyamus-niger-l-as-a-hallucinogen-at-neolithic-ritual-sites-a-reevaluation/97178E89B2D5D0A582BDC0761AFABBCD The use of henbane (Hyoscyamus niger L.) as a hallucinogen at Neolithic ‘ritual’ sites: A re-evaluation. Antiquity, 74(283), 49-53.

However: It is difficult to use the evidence from Balfarg to support theories of the use of hallucinogens during the Neolithic. Such theories require substantial, reliable evidence from multiple sites where possible and, as such, the use of hallucinogenic drugs in prehistory cannot yet be conclusively demonstrated, using palaeobotanical evidence. This is not to say that hallucinogens were not used during the Scottish Neolithic: we need to keep looking for statistically reliable support. The debate must continue but not under the impression that scientifically reliable evidence is already there.
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Re: Balfarg by DrewParsons on Friday, 15 October 2010
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The Balfarg site is a complex one spanning some 2000 years of history from 4000 BC. In the initial phase around 6000 years ago pits were dug and pottery sherds placed in them. Later similar pits from 5000 years ago had grooved ware sherds, burnt wood and bone interred in them. Subsequently a ditch some 60 metres across with a causewayed entrance was dug and an apparent henge with 16 timber posts erected within it. Later a stone circle seems to have been added although only one stone from that circle survives today. A further stone offset from that circle is interpreted as a marker stone for the causewayed entrance to the site. Finally around 4000 years ago a burial occurred in the centre of the henge and was covered by a horizontal stone. The body was buried with beaker ware pottery and a flint knife. The development of a housing estate around the henge has been thoughtfully done leaving a pleasant park like atmosphere to the site. Its well worth making a detour to see this important site.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Balfarg by coldrum on Friday, 16 April 2010
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Re: Balfarg by Anonymous on Wednesday, 21 June 2006
this is my first time on your site, I expect I'll be in communication with a few of you soon for help with finding and understanding these fabulous sites.
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