Menu

Mid-Argyll - 11
Temple Wood Stone Circles

Site/Artefact Temple Wood Stone Circles and Cairns Type Standing Stone Circle Site Number National Grid Reference 1826 East 6978 North Map ( 1:25000) Ordnance Survey Explorer No 358 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Excavation Details
Not Available

Description
Remains of two stone circles lie within sight of Kilmartin's linear cemetery and Nether Largie standing stones. Excavations in 1929 and 1974-9 revealed a sequence of use over at least 2,000 years. One circle may date to 3,500. Burials and pottery associated with the other are over 1000 years younger.

This is one of the few key sites around Kilmartin which has been treated to a thorough, modern excavation. Several features give an Irish flavour to this west coast monument. It is thought that the northern circle was constructed to align with the mid-day sun on the winter solstice.

At the heart of the complex known as the 'Linear Cemetery', Temple Wood was used several times in different ways over a period of 2000 years after the first construction, from around 3500 BC to 1400 BC. It found a new use when someone deposited a hoard of coins there in the ninth century.

Access/Ownership
Managed by Historic Scotland, this site is fully accessible, including disabled carpark and gate.

References

• RCAHMS Argyll vol. 6 no. 228
• PSAS 64 (1929-30) p130-1
• PSAS 95 (1960-1) p18 no. 122
• GAJ vol 15 p53-125 

Check out the following sections of the website for related information

• "Linear Cemetery"

Mid-Argyll Sites and Artefacts

1. Kilmory Oib  2. Druim an Dúin  3. Duntroon  4. Dún Ardifur 1  5. Eilean Rígh 1  6. Dún Chonaillach  7. Loch Awe Crannogs  8. Torran Hoard  9. Dún na Nighinne 10. Kilmartin Parish Church 11. Temple Wood Stone Circles 12. Ogham stone, Poltalloch 13. Barnakil Cross 14. Kilbride Chapel 15. Kilbride Crosses 16. Dunadd Fort 17. In Nomine disk 18. Brooch Moulds 19. Dunadd cross-marked quern 20. Loch Glashan Crannog 21. Glebe Cairn

22. Nether Largie North 23. Nether Largie Mid 24. Nether Largie South 25. Ri Cruin 26. Nether Largie 27. Ballymeanoch - Stones 28. Ballymeanoch - Henge 29. Ballymeanoch - Cairn 30. Dunchragaig 31. Baluachraig 32. Carnassarie Castle 33. BallymeanocH - Barrow 34. Dun Mac Samhainn 35. Glenmoine, Upper Largie 36. Creag a' Mhadaidh 37. Carnassarie - Round Cairn 38. Carnasserie - Standing Stones 39. Carnasserie - Cist 40. Carnasserie Cottage 41. Upper Largie - Cist 42. Upper Largie - Rock Carvings

43. Nether Largie 44. Poltalloch - Cist 45. Poltalloch - cists 46. Bruach an Druimein 47. Dunchraigaig - Dun 48. Poltalloch - Round Cairn 49. Rownfield - Cist 50. Ballymeanoch - Cist 51. Poltalloch - Cists 52. Ballymeanoch - Dun 53. Dunadd - Standing Stones 54. Dunadd - Standing Stone 55. Baile Mor - Dun 56. Anaskeog - Rock Carvings 57. Bariole 58. Rhudil - Round Cairn 1 59. Rhudil - Round Cairn 2 60. Kilmartin Castle 61. Slockavullin 62. Rowanfield - Standing Stone 63. Poltalloch - Cremation

Mayo - Vestvågøy - Mid-Argyll

Travels in Time | Overview | Themes |

Timelines | 700BC to 0 | 0 to 800AD | 800AD to 1100AD |

Landscape | Mayo | Vestvågøy | Mid-Argyll | Archaeology |

Other Media | Education | Exhibition | Publication |

Information | Bibliography | Project | Links | Contact |

This project has been supported by the EU as part of the Culture 2000 programme.