Region : Grampian District : Gordon Town or village : Alford Grid Reference : NJ 596 193  Period : 3rd millennium BC  Old Keig RECUMBENT STONE CIRCLE

On a slight crest of a ridge, this ruined stone circle comprises an enormous 53-ton recumbent. With dimensions of 4.9m x 2.1m, it is the biggest known recumbent stone. The huge block is of sillimanite gneiss, not a local stone: it probably comes from the Don valley, 10km away. One hundred people must have been needed for the task. Apart from the recumbent and its two flankers only one upright survives of the stone circle.

Other recumbent stone circles ------------------ Aikey Brae Aquhorthies Balquhain Berrybrae Cothiemuir Wood Easter Aquhorthies Eslie the Greater Eslie the Lesser Loanhead of Daviot Midmar Kirk Nine Stanes (Garrol Wood) Old Keig Strichen Sunhoney Tomnaverie Tyrebagger (Dyce) Other sites in Grampian ---------------------- Aikey Brae Aquhorthies Auquhollie Balquhain Berrybrae Broomend of Crichie Cothiemuir Wood Cullerlie Culsh Easter Aquhorthies Eslie the Greater Eslie the Lesser Glassel Lagmore West (Upper Lagmore) Loanhead of Daviot Memsie Midmar Kirk Nine Stanes (Garrol Wood) Old Keig Raedykes South Ythsie Strichen Sunhoney Tomnaverie Tyrebagger (Dyce)