Copyright. Paul Blades. Original available at Megalithic Portal.
A single stone row measuring 15.2m long, including six large-sized upright orthostats amazingly situated in a farmyard overlooking West Loch Tarbet. The stones are arranged roughly in order of height with the smallest at the south. The row is orientated NNE to SSW and has restricted views of the nearby sea and surrounding landscape. The location within a farmyard may seem suspicious but a prehistoric explanation seems most plausible.
Location
| Scotland Argyll Argyll & Isles NR 84642 66794 Lat 55.84613 Long -5.4416093 |
Map showing the location of Escart stone row.
Plan of the Escart stone row. Source: https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1456416
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 15.2m |
| No. of stones: 6 | Size of stones: Only large |
| Orientation: 24° | Altitude: 30m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: – | |
| Notes: Shown as a stone circle on 1867 OS mapping. One stone was removed when a wall was erected. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: No |
| Land Status: – |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Identification
Category: Plausible. Originally described as a stone circle by the Ordnance Survey, but current consensus is that this is the remains of a prehistoric stone row. The proximity of the row to farm buildings could be seen to detract from the prehistoric interpretation, but on balance and until further evidence is found it seems plausible that this row is prehistoric.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S2. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
The three southern stones. View from north (Scale 1m).
The two northern stones. A hole in the lower part of the stone on the left was probably drilled in preparation for its destruction. When the wall was constructed a sixth stone was removed. View from north west.
The five remaining stones. It is remarkable that this row has survived given the later use of the area as a farmyard. View from south west (Scale 1m).
View from above and south west (Scale 1m).
View from above and south (Scale 1m).
View from above and NNE looking along the row.
View from above and NNW looking along the row.
The sea view from the row.
Access Information
The stone row stands within a farm-yard and permission to visit should be sought. The owner is very interested, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Permission to visit was readily given in March 2017.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian Canmore Historic Environment Record
Other References
Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 222.
Ruggles, C.L.N., 1999, Astronomy in prehistoric Britain and Ireland, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 197.
Timeline
VISITED:- 15th March 2017
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 4th February 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 15th March 2019
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 