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Craiglea is a ring-marked boulder situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 440 metres west-north-west of the settlement. The stone bears shallow circular markings, known as cup and ring marks, which were pecked into its surface by prehistoric communities. These motifs are among the most enigmatic rock art traditions of prehistoric Britain, concentrated particularly in upland regions of Scotland and northern England, and are generally dated to the Bronze Age, though their precise chronology and meaning remain uncertain.
The boulder rests upon bedrock formed from an unnamed igneous intrusion of felsic composition, dated to the Early Devonian period, between approximately 419 and 359 million years ago. This hard, crystalline stone would have required considerable labour to mark, suggesting the carvings held significant cultural or ritual importance for the communities that created them. The choice to mark such a substantial stone may reflect its prominence in the landscape or its role as a territorial or ceremonial marker within the prehistoric settlement pattern of the area.
The monument is legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the scheduling reference SM12174. The monument's survival represents an important record of Bronze Age artistic expression and the relationship between prehistoric populations and the natural features of the Aberdeenshire landscape. Such cup and ring marked stones contribute to our understanding of early Scottish communities and their cultural values.
Craiglea, ring-marked boulder 440m WNW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12174. View the official record →
Craiglea is a ring-marked boulder situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 440 metres west-north-west of the settlement. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12174.
Craiglea, ring-marked boulder 440m WNW 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 SM12174.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Craiglea, cairn 265m W of (0.2 km), Christchurch, stone circle and standing stone, Midmar (2.3 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, ring-marked boulder 440m WNW 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, ring-marked boulder 440m WNW of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.