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Mains of Moyness is a Bronze Age ring cairn and stone circle situated in Nairnshire, Scotland. The monument comprises two distinct structural elements typical of ritual monuments from the second millennium BC. The ring cairn consists of a circular mound of stones, whilst the associated stone circle forms an outer ceremonial or territorial marker. Both features are positioned on bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, undifferentiated deposits formed during the Middle Devonian period, composed of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. This geological foundation would have provided local stone suitable for monument construction.
The site reflects the ceremonial importance of its Highland location during the Bronze Age, when such combinations of cairns and circles served purposes ranging from burial and ritual gatherings to territorial designation. The juxtaposition of the two features suggests a single integrated monument complex rather than separate constructions.
Mains of Moyness is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the designation SM3115, recognising its significance as a scheduled monument. The survival of both the ring cairn and stone circle provides archaeological evidence of Bronze Age ritual practice and settlement patterns across northern Scotland.
Mains of Moyness,ring cairn & stone circle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3115. View the official record →
Mains of Moyness is a Bronze Age ring cairn and stone circle situated in Nairnshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3115.
Mains of Moyness,ring cairn & stone circle dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a ring cairn & stone circle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Mains of Moyness,ring cairn & 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 SM3115.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Mains of Moyness,Moyness Castle (0.2 km), Easter Clune, ring cairn 285m WNW of (2 km), Meadowfield,enclosure 400m ENE of (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Mains of Moyness,ring cairn & 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.
Mains of Moyness,ring cairn & stone circle stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.