Càrn na Marbh, Bronze Age burial mound in Fortingall, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Càrn na Marbh is a stone-built burial mound in Fortingall topped by a marker stone called Clach a' Phlàigh that honors those buried there. The mound sits on a raised spot within the village and shows the layers of its long use as a burial ground.
The mound was built during the Bronze Age and later used in the 14th century to bury victims of plague. This shift shows how important sites kept their sacred purpose across different eras.
The name comes from Gaelic and means 'Mound of the Dead', reflecting how this place served as a burial ground across many centuries. Local people have long recognized this site as a space tied to remembrance and the passage of generations.
The site is reachable on foot through Fortingall village streets, with parking available near the local church. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and paths can get muddy or slippery in wet weather.
Fire festivals linked to Samhain took place on the mound each year until 1924, when the community performed old ceremonial traditions. This festive practice vanished only recently in historical terms, connecting the pre-Christian past to modern local life.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
