North Mains is a henge in Strathearn on Strathallan Estate between Crieff and Auchterarder in Perthshire, Scotland (not in the valley known as Strathallan). It was excavated in 1979 and the final report was published in 1983.[Gordon J Barclay "Sites of the third millennium bc to the first millennium ad at North Mains, Strathallan, Perthshire", Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland vol 113 (1983), 122-281. ]
Description
Like most henges North Mains saw use over many centuries. Prior to the construction of the henge two pits were dug and a
cremation burial was placed at the site. The henge ditch and one
timber circle seem to have been contemporary to one another. There was a second timber circle. A series of burials was dug into and around the henge enclosure. An early
Christian burial was later dug into the enclosed area.
In literature
The Scottish poet
Kathleen Jamie worked on the excavation of the site in 1979, and wrote about her experiences in her 2012 book
Sightlines, in an essay entitled "The Woman in the Field".
