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Pre-History

Introduction

The Kilmartin Valley is an area of enormous archaeological significance. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a 6-mile radius of Kilmartin, and 150 of those are prehistoric, including standing stones, cairns and chambered tombs, some of the relics dating back 5000 years.

For information on more recent historic sites in the area(AD 500 onwards), click on "History" for details. On this prehistory page the focus is on the most ancient historic sites in the Kilmartin area. Pictured below: standing stones near Ballymeanach (photo courtesy of Marietta Langer).

Kilmartin House Museum

Kilmartin House in the village (website: www.kilmartin.org ) is generally regarded as the best starting point for those interested in the historical background to the glen. It houses a Museum of Ancient Culture and a visitor centre. It also has a café. Contact details: Kilmartin House Trust, Kilmartin, Argyll, Scotland PA31 8RQ; Tel: 01546-510278; Fax: 01546-510330; e-mail museum@kilmartin.org

Glebe Cairn

Glebe Cairn dates from around 1700 BC. It consists of a pile of jumbled pebbles. It was excavated in the mid-18th century when two stone cists were discovered along with a fine quality jet necklace. It measures a 33.5m in diameter and about 4m in height.

Nether Largie North Cairn

Nether Largie North Cairn is more complete than Glebe cairn and you can get into the tomb through the top of the cairn via a modern hatch to view the cist (Neolithic stone coffin). The cairn was excavated in 1930, and a human tooth, charcoal and ochre were discovered. It contains one of the most intriguing, carved slabs in Western Scotland with at least ten carved axes and some forty cup-markings. You can see a picture HERE.

Nether Largie Mid Cairn

Nether Largie Mid Cairn was excavated in 1929, but very little of its former structure remains, due to stones being removed for building purposes over the centuries. It is about 30m in diameter with two cists (Neolithic stone coffins). There is a cup-marking and possible axe carving.

Nether Largie South Cairn

Nether Largie South Cairn is probably the most interesting cairn within the group, dating from around 3000 BC. It contains a chambered tomb approx. 7m long by 1.75m deep and 1.5m wide. The style of the tomb is of a type found mostly in Argyll and Arran. You can view a photo from the outside HERE and the view from inside the cairn can be seen HERE.

Nether Largie Standing Stones

Nether Largie Standing Stones are thought by some to have been part of a lunar observatory. The site consists of a tall central stone - covered with cup and ring markings - with two pairs of outlying stones to the South and West. This interesting configuration of stones can be seen HERE.

Ri Cruin Cairn

Ri Cruin Cairn has been extensively reconstructed after excavations at the site when three stone cists were discovered. This is a Bronze age burial cairn, constructed circa 2,000 years BC. A large flat slab has been moved to reveal one of the cists (Neolithic stone coffins) with 8 axeheads carved on the stone at its westerly end.

Temple Wood Stone Circle

Temple Wood Stone Circles date from around 3500BC, when the first circle was constructed, which is thought to have had some alignment for solar events. This circle was then succeeded by a circle of stones, which are still visible today. The cist in the centre of the circle is a later addition from the Bronze Age. The site had continuous usage up until 1400 BC. Carved spirals and concentric circles can still be seen on a few of the stones. This circle is a wild and pretty place in the spring when the bluebells come out, and it remains a quiet and lovely spot, just off the road to nether Largie. You can see two views HERE and HERE.

Dunchraigaig Stones

Dunchraigaig is the site of the earliest inhabitants of this area between 6000 and 4000 years ago. There are two burial cairns (4000 years old), a group of standing stones, a "henge" or ceremonial enclosure, which was later used for burial, and a decorated rock surface. You can see a picture HERE.

Photo Links

There's a good collection of atmospheric photos by Marietta Langer at her website here: www.my-color2web.de (click on Reisefotos, and then on the Scottish selection and find Day 8 for loads of Kilmartin pictures). Marietta has kindly given me permission to reproduce some of her photos on this site. Do visit her site if you're interested in the stones in the Kilmartin area - she has loads of pictures there.

For some more good pictures of the ancient stones, visit: Sites in the Kilmartin Area (photos by Martin McCarthy): www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/kilmartin1.html

Dunadd and more recent history

For information on Dunadd and other more recent historical sites in the Kilmartin area, click on the 'History' link.