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Carleatheran is a cairn located at the summit of the Gargunnock Hills in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The monument occupies high ground above the surrounding lowlands, positioned on bedrock composed of Dinantian extrusive rocks formed during the Mississippian period, predominantly mafic lava and mafic tuff. This ancient volcanic geology provides a dark stone foundation typical of monuments in this region.
Cairns of this type were constructed throughout prehistoric Scotland, typically serving as burial monuments or territorial markers. The summit location of Carleatheran would have made it visible across considerable distances in the landscape, suggesting its significance as a communal landmark. The exposed position at the hilltop would have been deliberately chosen for the monument's construction and use.
The cairn is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland's designation SM7010, recognising its archaeological and historical importance. The monument forms part of the broader pattern of prehistoric activity recorded across the Gargunnock Hills and surrounding Stirlingshire, contributing to our understanding of how early communities structured their use of the landscape.
Carleatheran, cairn at summit, Gargunnock Hills is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM7010. View the official record →
Carleatheran is a cairn located at the summit of the Gargunnock Hills in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM7010.
Carleatheran, cairn at summit, Gargunnock Hills is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM7010.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Broch, rock shelter and cup marked rocks, 165m W of Leckie House (2.2 km), Touch Muir,dun (3.6 km), Keir Knowe,motte 460m W of Easter Glinns (4.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Carleatheran, cairn at summit, Gargunnock Hills's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Carleatheran, cairn at summit, Gargunnock Hills stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Dinantian, bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.