Burials, timber circles and a later cemetery all gathered inside the earthwork at North Mains. North Mains is a henge, a prehistoric ceremonial enclosure with a ditch and bank, on the Strathallan Estate between Crieff and Auchterarder.
The site matters because it shows repeated use over many centuries. Before the henge was built, pits and a cremation burial were placed there; later timber circles, burials and an early Christian cemetery reused the same enclosed ground.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
The name
A henge is a prehistoric earthwork enclosure, usually defined by a bank and ditch and often linked with ritual or ceremonial use.
History
North Mains was excavated in 1979 and the final report was published in 1983.
Before the henge was constructed, two pits were dug and a cremation burial was placed at the site.
The henge ditch and one timber circle appear to have been contemporary.
A second timber circle was also present.
A series of burials was dug into and around the henge enclosure.
An early Christian cemetery was later dug into the enclosed area.
The poet Kathleen Jamie worked on the 1979 excavation and wrote about it in Sightlines.
People
-
Kathleen Jamie
Scottish poet who worked on the 1979 excavation and later wrote about the experience.
What to look for
-
Layered ceremonial ground
North Mains was used before, during and after the henge phase.
-
Timber circles
Timber circles were rings of upright posts, here associated with the henge sequence.
-
Cremation burial
A cremation burial placed before the henge shows an earlier ritual use of the site.
-
Early Christian cemetery
Later burials show the prehistoric enclosure remained meaningful or useful long after its original construction.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 56.3272°N · 3.7367°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
- Henge site on Strathallan Estate.
- The source records excavation history but no public access route.
Nearby places
Building or ruin · Medieval
Tullibardine Chapel
Perth and Kinross
A large part of the chapel dates to 1446, when it was built by Sir David Murray, Baron of Tullibardine, of Tullibardine Castle, as a family chapel…
- Near Auchterarder
- 1 min walk from car park
Ancient tree · Medieval
Eppie Callum's Oak
Argyll and Bute
A named, long-standing tree carried in local memory as a landmark — included for its place in the landscape, with age and superlative claims held f…
- Near Argyll and Bute
Questions people ask
- What is North Mains?
- It is a henge in Strathearn on the Strathallan Estate between Crieff and Auchterarder.
- What is a henge?
- A henge is a prehistoric ceremonial earthwork enclosure, usually defined by a ditch and bank.
- When was North Mains excavated?
- It was excavated in 1979, with the final report published in 1983.
- What was there before the henge?
- Two pits and a cremation burial were placed at the site before the henge was built.
- How is Kathleen Jamie connected with North Mains?
- She worked on the excavation in 1979 and wrote about it in her book Sightlines.
Sources
Explore more: Tomb or burial places · Prehistoric · Perth and Kinross
The Ancient Codex, in your pocket
Get the Pocket Codex app
Carry the directory with you — North Mains and thousands of ancient places across Britain and Ireland, offline, wherever you roam.