The only survivor of the stone circle that
once surrounded the cairn lies fallen at the SW.
We have superimposed Jolly's
(1)
sketch of the stone when it was erect in 1881, we have had to flip his outline
drawing as
his depiction was of the outer face which currently lies underneath. We measured
the stone at 4.6m long, Jolly states that it was "a splendid slab
of red sandstone, 11 feet 8 inches in height above ground," (3.5m), which
would give a buried depth of 1.1m. This agrees exactly
with measurement of the lower section seen above.
Jolly's mention of the monolith being of red sandstone has particular relevance
here, as the builders of the Clava monuments
are known to have particularly selected red stones, both for constructing whole
structures, and also selectively, to emphasise
a particular feature of a monument.
1. Jolly, W., Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 16, p.321-2,1881-82.