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Ferny Howe is a cairn located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 200 metres east-south-east of the settlement it is named after. The monument sits upon bedrock of felsic igneous origin, formed during the Early Devonian period as part of an unnamed intrusion that cooled and solidified from Late Silurian to Early Devonian times. This geological foundation of hard, light-coloured igneous rock would have presented particular challenges to those constructing the cairn, requiring careful selection and working of stone from the surrounding landscape.
The cairn belongs to a widespread tradition of monumentalised burial mounds built across northern Britain during the Bronze Age. Such structures served as enduring markers of elite or community status, often housing cremated remains or inhumations accompanied by grave goods. Their prominent placement in the landscape ensured they remained visible and accessible to successive generations.
Ferny Howe is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland, registered under reference SM8586. This designation reflects the archaeological and historical significance of the site within the broader pattern of Bronze Age settlement and burial practice across Aberdeenshire. The monument represents an important element of the region's prehistoric heritage.
Ferny Howe, cairn 200m ESE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8586. View the official record →
Ferny Howe is a cairn located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 200 metres east-south-east of the settlement it is named after. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8586.
Ferny Howe, cairn 200m ESE 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 SM8586.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Knockargety Wood, unfinished hillfort 200m to 370m N of Upper Ruthven (0.3 km), Knock Hill, hut circle 315m NNE of Fernyhowe (0.4 km), Leys, homestead 400m NW of (1.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Ferny Howe, cairn 200m ESE 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.
Ferny Howe, cairn 200m ESE of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.