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Craiglea is a cairn situated on Aberdeenshire's high ground, 265 metres west of the settlement. The monument stands on bedrock formed during the Early Devonian period, when felsic igneous intrusions were emplaced across this part of Scotland. The underlying geology of ancient, acid-rich igneous rock has weathered into the moorland landscape that characterises this region of the northeast Highlands.
The cairn itself represents a funerary or ceremonial monument of Bronze Age tradition, when such stone-built structures were erected across upland Scotland as burial markers or ritual centres. Craiglea's elevated location was typical for cairns of this period, offering visibility across the surrounding terrain and placing the monument within a broader ceremonial landscape.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland's designation SM12122, recognising its archaeological significance and its role in understanding Bronze Age settlement and ritual practice in Aberdeenshire. The cairn survives as a tangible link to early prehistoric communities whose monumental practices shaped the cultural heritage of the northeast.
Craiglea, cairn 265m W of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12122. View the official record →
Craiglea is a cairn situated on Aberdeenshire's high ground, 265 metres west of the settlement. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12122.
Craiglea, cairn 265m W of 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 SM12122.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Craiglea, ring-marked boulder 440m WNW of (0.2 km), Christchurch, stone circle and standing stone, Midmar (2.1 km), Auchmore Farm, hut circle 80m NW of (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Craiglea, cairn 265m W of'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.
Craiglea, cairn 265m W of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.