Croftmoraig

The circle at Croftmoraig is the most complete example of its type in Scotland, a variant of the recumbent stone circles. It was excavated in 1965 and found to have three phases of construction, including a horseshoe arrangement of fourteen wooden posts around a hearth. This was previously thought to have been the first stage of construction although it has now been proved that it was in fact the last stage.

A similarly-shaped setting of eight standing stones, graded in height, was erected, the oval on which they stand being of diameter 6.0 x 7.5 m. On the edge of this setting is a large flat stone decorated with cup-marks. Neolithic pottery from this level in the excavation was dated to the end of the 3rd millenium / beginning of the 2nd millenium BC. At this time a stone bank approximately 17.0m in diameter was built around the site.

Later a circle of twelve large stones was erected around the previous setting, wit ha diameter of around 12.0m. Two outlying boulders mark the entrance to the ESE, near to which were two burials.

Croftmoraig is an incredibly impressive monument which clearly shows the various stages of construction (the timber posts aside) in a site which clearly evolved over hundreds of years.