| 003 Standard Stone, Bordie Moor, Culross. |
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Description
The Standard Stone is a flat rock outcrop with two oblong slots
spaced about 0.35m apart. These man-made slots measure 0.50m
long x 0.30m wide x 0.28m deep and 0.35m long x 0.28m wide x
0.25m deep respectively. The stone is not separate but appears
to form part of the natural bedrock. The stone is well hidden by
2.00m high bracken in late summer and can be very difficult to
find. There are a number of similar boulders (bedrock?) to the
north.
Directions
From the parking area noted below, follow the forest edge east to
approximately the third pole and where the firebreak is reached. A
yellow plastic bag has been tried to the tree nearest the stone
but otherwise good hunting because it might be missing. You should
be able to use GPS from the edge of the wood although the trees
degrade the signal severely. Good luck!
Parking
Take the A985(T) east from Kincardine and before Bordie, turn left
into a single dirt road leading to what is marked
"Nursery" which is actually stables. Ask for permission
to park at the house.
Folklore
The Standard Stone is supposed to mark the site of a
battle between the Scots and Danes in the 11th century, the
latter being victorious. These cavities are alleged to have been
formed as supports for standards used during the battle.
Although the precise purpose of the stone is not known this does
seem reasonable. However, some commentators have though the
battle fictitious. There are also some earthworks in the
vicinity that may be associated with the said battle. There
is also some suggestion that as the Tulliallan/Culross boundary
is close by, the stone may be a boundary marker of some kind or
have associations with the riding of the marches in the area.
Mind you the "Battle of Bordie Moor" sounds just
about right!
Fieldnotes
The dull and wet weather did much to dampen my spirits this fine
Scottish day. Even dressed in high-tech waterproofs from head to
foot, I was still soaking wet when I eventually found the
Standard Stone and it took a further 10 minutes work to clear
way the bracken to fully reveal the stone. Not the most
interesting of stone I've visited but worth calling in if in the
area. It does seem strange to my mind that you would need to
square sockets to support a "standard" during a
battle. And why two sockets? Would not one have been enough and
why square? Surely the standard would have been on a round
timber pole? Does make you wonder what other purpose they might
have served? A portable gallows, perhaps? Oh, yes, if you do
visit, jump and down on the stone and see if you think it hollow
underneath. A burial chamber filled with treasure? One
wonders...
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