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East Aquhorthies is a Bronze Age stone circle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The monument stands upon bedrock of the Argyll Group, a Neoproterozoic formation of psammite, semipelite and pelite that underlies much of this region. These metamorphic rocks, formed billions of years before the circle's construction, provided the local stone from which prehistoric builders selected their materials.
The circle exemplifies the ritual monument tradition of Bronze Age Scotland, when such ceremonial structures served communities across the northern landscape. Built from locally available stone, East Aquhorthies reflects the geological character of its Aberdeenshire setting, where similar stone circles dot the countryside, each positioned within its own distinctive terrain.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM90126, ensuring its preservation for future study and public appreciation. As a surviving example of Bronze Age ceremonial architecture, East Aquhorthies contributes to our understanding of prehistoric religious practice and community organisation in north-eastern Scotland.
East Aquhorthies, stone circle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90126. View the official record →
East Aquhorthies is a Bronze Age stone circle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90126.
East Aquhorthies, stone circle dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a stone circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
East Aquhorthies, stone circle 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 SM90126.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ratch-hill, settlement, field system & enclosures S and SE of (5.7 km), Lang Stane o'Craigearn, standing stone 50m N of Littlewood Cottage (5.9 km), St Finian's Chapel, 85m E of Abersnithack Lodge (5.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of East Aquhorthies, stone circle'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.
East Aquhorthies, stone circle stands on Argyll Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite, semipelite and pelite.