A photograph of the Langstane (also styled as the Lang Stane or Lang-Stane). This standing stone located in Aberdeen city centre is thought to be of considerable antiquity. Though little firm information is known about its history.

Fenton Wyness includes a similar image, if not the same, in the first edition of The City By the Grey North Sea (1966). He describes it as follows:

"The 'Langstane' in Langstane Place, probably part of a Bronze Age circle dating from circa 1800 B.C. The photograph shows it in its original site before being built into the niche at the rear of Messrs. Watt and Grant's building." Page 280.

On page 292, Wyness indicates that the stone is marked on Paterson's 1746 plan of Aberdeen.

In Aberdeen Street Names (1911), G. M. Fraser writes:

"The 'Lang-Stane' is thought to have been part of a Bronze Age Circle. Such circles were used by the Druids either as centres of worship or as burial places. Langstane Place would have been part of the old road which entered Aberdeen from the south, passing by the Hardgate and Windmill Brae to the Green." Page 191 in 1986 edition.

Its entry on Aberdeen City Council's online historic environment record indicates that the stone measures 1.8m in height by 0.68m in breadth and at least 0.3m in thickness. On the front face of the stone is the incised legend 'LANGSTANE'. This entry suggests that it was likely an ancient boundary stone.

Location

Aberdeen City Centre

Keyword

Standing stones

Photographer