Cat-stane

Cat-stane itself stands was, as we have already found Dr. Wilson stating, the site formerly of a large tumulus.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

The Cat-stane stands in the parish of Kirkliston, on the farm of

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

An army marching from Cattraeth or the eastern end of Antonine's Wall, to meet such an army, would, if it took the shortest or coast line, pass, after two or three hours 'march, very near the site of the Cat-stane.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

The battle-ground between the two armies was, in part at least, the district placed between the two Roman walls, and consequently included the tract in which the Cat-stane is placed; this district being erected by Theodosius, after its subjection, into a fifth Roman province.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

For the term "Inver," when applied to a locality on a stream, almost invariably means the mouth of it, [160] and not a site on its course -- such as the Cat-stane occupies -- three miles above its confluence.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

In the extracts that have been already given, it has been suggested, by different writers whom I have cited, that the Cat-stane commemorates a

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

The valley or dale of the Almond, and the rich tract of fertile country stretching for miles to the south-west of the Cat-stane, certainly well merit such a designation as "fair" or "beautiful" valley -- "Gwen-Ystrad;" but we have not the slightest evidence whatever that such a name was ever applied to this tract.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

The only references, however, which Mr. Chalmers gives to a "single stone" in Scotland, bearing the name of Cat-stane, all relate to this monument in Kirkliston parish: -- "The tallest and most striking ancient monolith in the vicinity of Edinburgh is a massive unhewn flat obelisk, standing about ten feet high, in the parish of Colinton."

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

Westwood, who is perhaps our highest authority on such a question, states to me that he is of the same opinion as Lhwyd as to the age of the lettering in the Cat-stane legend.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840

At that time the Cat-stane was a larger and much more imposing monument than it is now, as shown in the following description of it.

Archaeological Essays, Vol. 1 James Young Simpson 1840