DB Specific Record

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***SWAAG_ID***	761
Date Entered	13/10/2013
Updated on	13/10/2013
Recorded by	Tim Laurie
Category	Standing Stones / Circles
Record Type	Archaeology
Site Access	Public Access Land
Record Date	28/09/2013
Location	Galloway. Kirkudbrightshire. Cambret Moor East. (Cauldside Burn) NX529571
Civil Parish	Not known
Brit. National Grid
Altitude	210m
Geology	Glaciated river valley.
Record Name	Some Galloway Stone Circles 3. The Cauldside Burn stone circle and associated monument complex
Record Description	This stone circle is located in close proximity with, ie immediately adjacent to a substantial round cairn and ring cairn on the southern side of the Cauldside Burn opposite to the eastern slopes of Cambret Hill. The very fine six turn spiral marking mentioned in SWAAG Record 758 is located on the lower eastern slope of Cambret Hill some 400m to the E on the opposite side of Cauldside Burn. For the context of this spiral and other rock art in Galloway see also SWAAG Record No 758. The stone circle at Cauldside Burn has been surveyed by Professor Alexander Thom together with his son Dr Archie Thom. Thom A. and Thom A.A 1980. Megalithic Rings,B.A.R.81. During a full day of field walking in the area of the stone circle, several further prehistoric sites were noticed, namely: 1. Clearance cairnfield with at least 20 stone dump cairns on the southern slope of Cambret Hill uphill of the spiral marked rock. 2. At least three larger well built stone cairns which may be burials in heather moorland east of the stone circle and large round cairn. The largest of these is at NH53243 57173,225m OD 3. In spite of searching I was unable to locate the fine cup and ring marked rock SW of Cauldside by the Cuttie Burn which is recorded By R.W.B. Morris and located on the 1:50000 OS map.
Additional Notes	The effect of reduced grazing on moorland monument visibility: This record and the photographs were taken during my second and most recent visit to Cauldside Burn. It was immediately apparent that the stone circle and the ring cairn were obscured by thick moorland vegetation. The ring cairn and all the smaller stones in the stone circle were practically invisible. Walking across the area was much more difficult than previously. Alexander Thom devoted 40 years to accurately surveys of all or most of the known stone circles of the British Isles in search for their possible astronomic purposes. His son Archie Thom, Professor of Engineering at the University of Glascow, also surveyed the then recently recognised stone circles on Barningham Moor and at Mudbeck in Arkengarthdale , in my company during 1979/1980 .
Image 1 ID	4755 Click image to enlarge
Image 1 Description	The stone circle and cairn at Cauldside Burn. Only the largest stones are visible ,the smaller stones are obscured in rank vegetation.
Image 2 ID	4756 Click image to enlarge
Image 2 Description	The area of the Cauldside Burn Cairn and Monument Complex photographed from Cambret Hill.
Image 3 ID	4757 Click image to enlarge
Image 3 Description	The largest stone of the Cauldside Burn Stone Circle and the adjacent Round Cairn
Image 4 ID	4758 Click image to enlarge
Image 4 Description	View down towards Cauldside with the largest stone of the Cauldside Burn Stone Circle and the adjacent Round Cairn.
Image 5 ID	4759 Click image to enlarge
Image 5 Description	The round cairn.
Image 6 ID	4760 Click image to enlarge
Image 6 Description	The round cairn.
Image 7 ID	4761 Click image to enlarge
Image 7 Description	Spiral marked rock on the opposing northern side of Cauldside Burn.
Image 8 ID	4762 Click image to enlarge
Image 8 Description	The spiral.
Image 9 ID	4763 Click image to enlarge
Image 9 Description	The spiral
Image 10 ID	4764 Click image to enlarge
Image 10 Description	The ring cairn and central cist obscured by vegetation.
Image 11 ID	4765 Click image to enlarge
Image 11 Description	The assumed cist cover slab of the cairn within the ring cairn.