The Stone Circle at Lochbuie
The monuments comprise a stone circle and two other standing stones, all of prehistoric date and visible as a series of upstanding stones. The stone circle and one of the standing stones were first scheduled in 1964, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this. The stone circle is situated on level pasture at the head of Loch Buie at approximately 10m OD. The two other standing stones lie some 40m SW of and 115m WSW of the stone circle respectively, but within the same present parcel of land. The stone circle originally consisted of nine stones. One of these is now missing and its position has been marked in recent times by a small boulder. The circle measures approximately 12.3m in diameter and is composed for the most part of granite slabs, which have been positioned with their flatter faces set towards the inside of the circle. The tallest stone stands about 2m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base. An outlying standing stone, situated 4.6m SE of the circle, comprises a pointed granite block standing 0.85m high and measuring c.0.6m by 0.3m at its base. The single standing stone situated about 40m SW of the stone circle stands about 3m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base, tapering to a fairly narrow top. The standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle comprises a comparatively flat-sided monolith, aligned NE and SW. This stands about 2.15m high, although the top has been broken off in antiquity, and measures c.0.75m by 0.7m at its base. Stone settings of this type are characteristic of the Neolithic period and normally date to the third millennium BC. Three separate areas are proposed for scheduling, as marked in red on the accompanying map. These include the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. The three areas are as follows:
1. The largest area is sub-circular in shape, centred on the stone circle and the outlying standing stone closest to the stone circle, and has maximum dimensions of 38m NW-SE by 33m transversely. Its NW limit is defined by, but excludes, the field boundary.
2. The second area is centred on the standing stone situated about 40 SW of the stone circle and is circular in shape, measuring 10m in diameter.
3. The third area is centred on the standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle and comprises a truncated circle, with a maximum diameter of 10m. It is defined to the NW by the field boundary, which is itself excluded from the scheduling.
MacPhaidein
The MacPhaidein at War
Synopsis
No warfare record has been found 620AD – 1164AD, however, it is believed that the MacPhaidein became very powerful in number gaining all of Mull to their claim but remaining a neutral Clan because of their Christian beliefs until the Viking Invasion of Europe 789AD-1066AD and started attacking the monasteries. When the monastery of Iona in 795AD was attacked, the Páidín (recorded Phaidein) went to war with Charlemagne's Army against the Vikings. Chief Mungo MacPhaidein 1098AD-1177AD and his son-n-law, Somerled, 1st Lord of the Isles 1158AD–1164AD who had married his daughter Raghnailt, fought against the Danes until the Battle of Renfrew and Chief MacPhaidein went to Broughshane, Ireland and returned with 500 of his kin to fight under Somerled. Somerled was killed and MacPhaidein, a very senior Argyll Chieftain, gathered his army of over 1000 MacPhaidein men and returned to Renfrew to retrieve the body of Somerled and bring him back to Argyll. MacPhaidein returned to Mull with his body and buried him at Iona.
The MacPhaidein was represented at every battle for the Wars of Scottish Independance 1296AD - 1357AD
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Capture of Berwick, 1296
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Battle of Dunbar, 1296
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Battle of Falkirk, 1298
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Battle of Roslin, 1303
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Battle of Happrew, 1304
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Fall of Stirling Castle, 1304
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Battle of Methven, 1306
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Battle of Dalry, 1306
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Battle of Glen Trool, 1307
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Battle of Loudoun Hill, 1307
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Battle of Slioch, 1307
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Battle of Inverurie, 1308
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Battle of Bannockburn, 1314
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Battle of Connor, 1315
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Battle of Skaithmuir, 1316
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Battle of Skerries, 1316
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Battle of Faughart, 1318
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Capture of Berwick, 1318
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Battle of Myton, 1319
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Declaration of Arbroath, 1320
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Battle of Boroughbridge, 1322
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Battle of Old Byland, 1322
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Treaty of Corbeil, 1326
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Battle of Stanhope Park, 1327
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Battle of Dupplin Moor, 1332
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Battle of Halidon Hill, 1333
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Battle of Dornock, 1333
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Battle of Boroughmuir, 1335
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Battle of Culblean, 1335
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Treaty of Berwick, 1357
When Hector MacLaine came to claim the lands given to him by the MacDonalds c1367, he knew the lands were already under the possession of the MacPhaidein's. So, he devised a scheme to take over the lands from within. He convinced Chief Alexander MacPhaidein they would share the land and for mutual protection from various raiders and neighboring tribes, he would restore the MacPhaidein fortalice watchtower at the head of Lochbuie that had fallen into disarray. Chief MacPhaidein granted Hector permission and after Moy Castle was completed, Hector used the Castle to wage war on the MacPhaidein! However, the MacPhaidein fought so fiercely defending their land that Hector had to call a truce to confer. A feast in honor of the MacPhaidein Chief was prepared by the MacLaine at the base of Moy Castle. Hector climbed to the top of the Castle and shot an arrow through a bone that the MacPhaidein Chief was eating piercing his neck, killing him and ending the war. This was the end of the once great Clan MacPhaidein, and the name literally ended here but many spellings remain today. Most clansmen moved on or were absorbed (Sept) into the Clan MacLaine. The only original spelling that survived this event was Pethein because they were the clerics of the clan.