Very interesting tiompan.

Your comment, "One distinguishing features of the recumbent stone circles is that the stones are graded in height shortest to the N.E. tallest to the S.W..." suggests that if the stones were originally conceived as posts, with fences or walls between, then it probably is logical to place the highest stones to the south-west as the prevailing winds in Britain are Westerly.

Also your comment that, "When you have cattle rubbing against stone as you would in a corral the stones develop a very distinctive patina. Balkemback stone circle has had cattle rubbing against it for at least a century and is a good example but Meikle Findowie which has plenty of sheep in the area doesn't." is interesting and it occurs to me that the difference between cattle creating a patina, and sheep not, might perhaps be due to the different texture between hide and fleece?