Copyright: Paul Blades. Original available at Megalithic Portal.
A probable single stone row measuring 13.7m long, including three large upright orthostats situated within a valley with a restricted viewshed. The row is orientated north east to south west and stands within a medieval township and later field system. The central stone has a pair of cup-marks on one face. There are no other broadly contemporary monuments within the vicinity although the stones are depicted on a nearby sundial erected in 1689.
Location
| Wales | Monmouthshire | Rest of Wales | SO 49934 05150 |
| Lat 51.742804 Long -2.7265198 | |||
Map showing the location of Harolds Stones stone row.
Plan of the Harolds Stones and adjacent earthworks (Source: Survey at 1:200 by Sandy Gerrard).
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 13.7m |
| No. of stones: 3 | Size of stones: Only large |
| Orientation: 51° | Altitude: 209m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : Yes | Sea View: No |
| Context: – | |
| Notes: There may originally have been a fourth stone. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: MM017 |
Identification
Category: Probable. The adjacent historic earthworks provide an historic rather than a prehistoric context for this monument and it is possible that this is the structural remains of a once substantial building. Short stone rows formed by three substantial orthostats are not a characteristic of Welsh rows and it has been suggested that this may be the remants of a chambered tomb. On balance a stone row interpretation seems most likely, supported by the village being named after the stones (which suggests considerable antiquity) and one of the stones having a pair of cup-marks, but enough uncertainty exists to preclude a more definite identification.
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 stones stand in the corner of an historic field. View from north west (Scale 1m).
View from above and west (scale 1m).
Compared to most stone rows this one has very restricted views on all sides.
View from above and north.
View from east.
View from south east.
A pair of cup-marks on the south west face of the central stone.
View from south east.
View from east.
View from south west.
View from south.
View from south (Scale 1m).
View from south.
View from north east.
View from north east.
Detail from the sundial in the nearby church showing the three standing stones. This stone depicts other antiquities in the area and was carved for Lady Magdalen Probert in 1689.
The sundial now stands near to the church entrance.
Access Information
Parking is available in the village at SO 50081 05283. From here walk carefully south along the road to the stones.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian Coflein Archwilio
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. 225.
Timeline
VISITED:- 12th May 2018
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 13th February 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 15th March 2019
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 