S2 – Short single rows composed of less than 10 large sized stones

Callanish, West on the Isle of Lewis

Distribution of short single rows composed of less than 10 large-sized stones

With 39 known examples, this is the most common type of stone row. The distribution of short single rows composed of less than 10 large-sized stones is very much focused on Argyll and Isles, Central Scotland and the Western Isles. Isolated examples of rows of this type also seemingly survive in southern Scotland, Northumberland and Wales. Most significantly, there is only one known example (Joan Ford’s Newtake) on the moors of South West England where nearly half of all Great British rows are found. A further isolated row on the Isles of Scilly at Higher Town Bay is of uncertain identification. The Welsh rows of this type are Carreg Cadno, Court Stone Row 1, Harolds Stones and Saith Maen NW. All four are of less than certain identity for a variety of reasons and to these we can now add their position well beyond the heartland for this form of row. This helpful discovery may help us to narrow down the distribution for this type of row. By contrast the row at Drumtroddan and Five Kings are currently considered to be plausible. Perhaps ultimately it will be demonstrated that plausible rows of this type are found only in the northern part of Great Britain with the greatest concentration being in Argyll and Isles. Future work may in turn provide a date and social context for these rows.