Restored granite stones stand on a small hill above Tarland, rescued from quarry damage after decades of decline. Tomnaverie stone circle is a recumbent stone circle, a Bronze Age ring built around a horizontal south-western slab and a low ring cairn.
Excavation changed how archaeologists understood the monument. Richard Bradley’s 1999-2000 work showed that the cairn and platform were prepared before the circle was added, complicating earlier ideas that people gathered inside the ring for precise astronomical observations.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Construction at Tomnaverie began around 2500 BC in the Bronze Age. The monument originally had thirteen granite stones, including a massive recumbent. By 1930 quarrying and neglect had left only four stones standing.
Alexander Keiller helped stop quarrying and secured scheduled status in 1927. Tomnaverie entered state guardianship in 1930. Richard Bradley led excavation and restoration work in 1999 and 2000.
The excavation found that the hilltop first held pyres and burnt residues, including cremated human bones. The cairn and platform were built before the stone circle and appear to have been designed to receive it. Finds included Beaker pottery, Late Bronze Age pottery, worked stones, and flint blades.
The restoration re-erected stones in their original sockets where possible.
People
-
Alexander Keiller
campaigner who helped stop quarrying and secure protection.
-
Richard Bradley
archaeologist who led the 1999-2000 excavation.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 57.1194°N · 2.8496°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
The source pack does not provide reliable current admission details; verify before travelling.
- The pack notes a visitors’ car park and a short uphill walk to the monument.
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Questions people ask
- What is Tomnaverie stone circle?
- It is a Bronze Age recumbent stone circle on a small hill south of Tarland.
- Why was it restored?
- Quarrying and decay had badly damaged the site, leaving only four stones standing by 1930.
- What did excavation change?
- It showed that the cairn and platform came before the stone circle, challenging earlier astronomical-use ideas.
- Can visitors reach it?
- The source pack notes a visitors’ car park and a short uphill walk to the monument.
Sources
- Wikipedia article
- Source pack: Tomnaverie stone circle
Explore more: Tomb or burial places · Prehistoric · Aberdeenshire
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