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Holywood cursus is a Neolithic monument located in Dumfriesshire, in the south-west of Scotland. The site consists of two parallel banks and ditches forming an elongated enclosure, a form characteristic of cursus monuments constructed during the Early Neolithic period, roughly 3800–3600 BC. These ceremonial structures typically extend several hundred metres across the landscape and may have served ritual or processional functions, though their precise purpose remains debated among archaeologists.
The cursus at Holywood is positioned upon bedrock of the Stewartry Group, a geological formation of Early Permian age comprising sandstone, breccia and conglomerate. This underlying geology would have influenced both the construction techniques employed and the visibility of the monument across the rolling Dumfriesshire terrain. The monument is situated approximately 1250 metres south-south-east of Holywood settlement.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM4218, recognising its significance as an exceptionally well-preserved example of Early Neolithic monumental architecture in south-west Scotland. Cursus monuments are relatively rare in Scotland, making this example an important record of the ritual practices and landscape use during the early farming communities of the Neolithic period.
Holywood, cursus 1250m SSE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4218. View the official record →
Holywood cursus is a Neolithic monument located in Dumfriesshire, in the south-west of Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4218.
Holywood, cursus 1250m SSE 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 SM4218.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Twelve Apostles,stone circle (0.3 km), Holywood,cursus,linear earthwork,pit alignment & enclosures 975m SE of (0.5 km), Lincluden College, motte and precinct (2.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Holywood, cursus 1250m SSE 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.
Holywood, cursus 1250m SSE of stands on Stewartry Group, bedrock that formed in the Early Permian. The rock here is sandstone, breccia and conglomerate.