Balfarg

Balfarg is a prehistoric monument complex in Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland. It is protected as a scheduled monument and forms the centrepiece of a modern residential area developed around it. The wider complex includes the Balfarg henge, a second henge, timber mortuary enclosures, burial cairns and the nearby Balbirnie Stone Circle.

The Balfarg henge is 64.9 metres (213 ft) across and contains the remains of a stone circle, parts of which have been reconstructed. Two standing stones survive and stood on either side of the henge’s north-west oriented entrance. The site also includes traces of a 25 metres (82 ft) wide timber circle with 16 wooden posts, five further post rings, and earthwork remains from earlier activity.

Excavation between 1977 and 1978 established that the two surviving stones belonged to a circle inside the henge. Broken Neolithic pottery, burnt wood and bone had been deposited before the timber circle was erected, while grooved ware pottery found in its postholes dates to around 2900 BC. The timber circle was later replaced by two concentric stone circles. Around 1900 BC, a young man was buried with a flint knife and a handled beaker in a central pit.

Further excavation between 1983 and 1985 found earlier Neolithic pits and a second henge surrounding a Neolithic timber mortuary enclosure. Another timber structure lay just outside it, partly covered by two burial cairns. Monuments of this kind in Britain are usually Neolithic earthworks with an internal ditch and central area, and may contain ritual structures such as stone circles or timber settings.

The Balfarg henge, located at grid reference NO282031, is part of a larger prehistoric ceremonial complex. It contains the remnants of a stone circle which has been partly reconstructed.

The Balfarg henge was excavated between 1977 and 1978 by Roger Mercer prior to the development of a new housing estate, work which established that the two extant standing stones were part of a circle that stood within the henge. The two surviving specimens lined the north-west oriented entrance to the henge.

Within the 64.9 metres (213 ft) diameter henge were found broken Neolithic pottery, burnt wood and bone which had been dumped on the site prior to the erection of a 25 metres (82 ft) wide timber circle of 16 wooden posts. Two especially large portal timbers stood on the west side of the circle. It is likely that the henge was built after these phases of activity. Grooved ware pottery found in the postholes dates to around 2900 BC. Some of the vessels may have been used to hold black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) which is a poison but also a powerful hallucinogen.

Five further concentric post rings had also been erected outside and inside the main wooden circle although these were made from narrower timbers and may have supported hurdling or a palisade.

Later during the site's use the timber circle was replaced by two concentric stone circles, again with an entrance to the west and some time after this the henge was constructed. Around 1900 BC a pit was dug in the centre of the stone circles and in it was placed the body of a young man along with a flint knife and a handled beaker.

Later excavation between 1983 and 1985 by Barclay and Russell-White demonstrated that there were scatters of earlier Neolithic pits round the Balfarg henge. These excavations also discovered a second henge, which surrounded a Neolithic timber mortuary enclosure. A second such timber structure lay just outside the henge, partly overlain by a complex of two burial cairns.

Nearby is the Balbirnie Stone Circle, which is also part of the complex.