Three edge set stones within a nearby field boundary may be contemporary and represent part of a stone row. View from south east (6 June 2016).
A probable combination single and double stone row measuring 12.7m long, including a large upright orthostat, a recumbent slab and a setting of three edge slabs situated on a north facing terrace overlooking the sea. The row is orientated north west to south east. The form of this row is different to the others in the region and the possibility that the setting of stones may be associated with an historic field boundary contribute to a less than certain identification.
Location
| Scotland Mull Argyll & Isles NM 36267 53307 Lat 56.59729486 Long -6.29833863 |
Map showing the location of Lag stone row.
Plan of the stone row. The stone setting which includes a possible blocking stone is reminiscent of some Dartmoor double rows. Original surveyed at 1:200 by Sandy Gerrard.
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 12.7m |
| No. of stones: 5 | Size of stones: Large and medium |
| Tallest stone: 1.62m | Shortest stone: 0.4m |
| Orientation: 127° | Altitude: 77m |
| Upper end: | Lower end: Blocking stone? |
| Straight (Yes or No) : Yes | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Possible cairn | |
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Notes: This site is recorded by Burl, Canmore and HER as a stone pair. The three upright stones forming the south eastern end of the row have previously been dismissed by the Royal Commission as forming part of a relatively recent boundary wall. An extensive but by no means exhaustive search of the boundaries failed to find anything similar in the vicinity. Two of the stones are set through the boundary bank and this might suggest a narrow gateway which was subsequently blocked by the third stone. If so the proximity of the larger standing stones would suggest that if this interpretation is favoured that they too had an historic origin. The obvious parallel with the blocking stones at the end of Dartmoor rows strengthens the prehistoric explanation as does the fact that the boundary bank appears to kink to incorporate them. Clearly excavation might resolve the matter but until then there are strong grounds for accepting this group of stones as a stone row. It looks like a row and whilst different in character to others in the region similar sites are known to exist in Great Britain. The survival of a possible cairn to the south east of the row combined with the character of the sea views available from this site further enhance the likelihood that it had prehistoric origins. |
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Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: – |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Identification
Category: Probable. Whilst an historic explanation is possible it seems more likely that this site represents the remains of a stone row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type C3. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
Looking along the row from the north west with the large stone in the foreground, the fallen stone behind and setting beyond.
Stone row comprising one large upright orthostat, a fallen slab and a setting of three upright slabs. View from north.
Stone row and possible cairn denoted by the ranging rod. View from north west.
Blocking stone flanked by uprights. The similarities with the blocking stones at Assycombe and Stanlake are striking. View from north east.
Access Information
Car parking is available at NM 35885 53767. From here enter the field to the south and head south east towards the row.
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. 265.
Timeline
VISITED:- 6th June 2016
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 12th June 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 3rd January 2018
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 