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Catstane is an inscribed stone and long cist cemetery located 690 metres east of Carlowrie in Midlothian. The monument dates to the Bronze Age and represents a significant funerary site, where the dead were interred in long cists—stone-lined graves characteristic of later prehistoric burial practice in Scotland. The inscribed stone marks an important focal point within this cemetery complex, serving both commemorative and territorial functions within the Bronze Age landscape.
The site sits upon bedrock of the Strathclyde Group, sedimentary rocks formed during the Visean period of the Carboniferous era. This geological foundation provided a practical substrate for burial practice, as the fractured sedimentary layers could be worked to create the stone components of the long cists. The relatively open terrain east of Carlowrie would have been suitable for establishing a communal burial ground in the Bronze Age.
Catstane is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1183, reflecting its archaeological and historical importance as a record of Bronze Age mortuary practices and social organisation in Midlothian. The monument contributes to our understanding of prehistoric settlement patterns and burial customs across the Lothians region during the Bronze Age period.
Catstane, inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m E of Carlowrie is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1183. View the official record →
Catstane is an inscribed stone and long cist cemetery located 690 metres east of Carlowrie in Midlothian. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1183.
Catstane, inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m E of Carlowrie dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m e of carlowrie. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Catstane, inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m E of Carlowrie 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 SM1183.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Easter Norton,standing stone 280m WSW of (2.5 km), Gogar Mains,fort,palisaded enclosure and field system 850m SSE of (2.5 km), Craigpark Quarry, enclosure 450m W of (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Catstane, inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m E of Carlowrie'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.
Catstane, inscribed stone and long cist cemetery 690m E of Carlowrie stands on Strathclyde Group, bedrock that formed in the Visean. The rock here is sedimentary rock cycles, strathclyde group type.