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There are
eighteen standing stones on Aldourie Estate which form an
evenly spaced circle. The largest stone lies on the South-West side
with two smaller stones on either side and a large flat stone in the
centre. Stone circles like this were often used over long periods
of time and altered during their use. Many of the stones have been
removed and can be seen in use as gate posts on the estate. According
to a map c1870 the site is marked with the words - "Stone circle"
- removed from East to West side of fence.
Standing stones were built and used between 6000 and 4000 years ago.
They were used to mark out sites and places of significance and were
used as places of ceremony with important people sometimes being buried
there.
Many sites like this are known to have links to the movement of the
sun, moon or stars and this must have been of great importance to
the people that relied on planting and the harvest for its survival.
As the sun dipped behind a particular hill, or as at the moon
touched the top of a standing stone the people would know that the
time had come to start the seasonal round once more.
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