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New Wester Echt is a Bronze Age stone circle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated 170 metres south-west of the settlement of Wester Echt. The monument stands upon bedrock formed during the Early Devonian period, comprising an unnamed felsic igneous intrusion that dates to the Late Silurian through Early Devonian epoch. This geological foundation of hard, light-coloured igneous rock would have presented considerable challenges to Bronze Age communities seeking to quarry and dress suitable stones for the circle's construction.
Stone circles of this period, typically erected between 2500 and 1500 BC, represent significant communal undertakings, requiring the organisation of labour and considerable engineering knowledge. The choice of this particular location, despite the difficult geology, suggests the site held particular significance for the Bronze Age communities of Aberdeenshire, whether for ritual, astronomical or ceremonial purposes.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM6074, recognising its importance as a Bronze Age ritual site. The circle contributes to the broader archaeological landscape of Aberdeenshire, which contains numerous monuments from the Bronze Age, reflecting intensive settlement and ceremonial activity across the region during prehistory.
New Wester Echt,stone circle 170m SW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6074. View the official record →
New Wester Echt is a Bronze Age stone circle located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated 170 metres south-west of the settlement of Wester Echt. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6074.
New Wester Echt,stone circle 170m SW of 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.
New Wester Echt,stone circle 170m SW 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 SM6074.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Sunhoney,stone circle 240m NW of (3.5 km), Christchurch, stone circle and standing stone, Midmar (4.3 km), Midmar, Church, settlement and (Cunningar) motte (4.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of New Wester Echt,stone circle 170m SW 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.
New Wester Echt,stone circle 170m SW of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.