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Like the nearby Tormain Hill, on the opposite side of Ratho, Platt Hill (previously "South Platt Hill") has a stone known locally as The Witches' Stane, and is reputed in local lore to be the location of a medieval witch-burning. As James Clason put it, in his entry for Ratho in The New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-45):
However, while this burning is both part of local lore and also apparently supported with this archaeological find, no contemporary documentary sources are (currently) known. Eager modern witch-hunters often observe that there is normally a curiously-circular "path" around the base of the stone, perhaps suggesting a continuing ritual use — however, this "path" is actually due to cattle using it as a rubbing-stone, rather than anything particularly exciting.

Unlike the now missing Tormain stone, this one has the appearance of a short standing-stone devoid of any cup-marks. In dimensions it is similar to another small local stone at Gogar. It is possible that the Platt Hill Witches' Stane is related to a small mound immediately to its north-west, although this mound is possibly part of the hillfort adjacent to the site. Indeed, the stone itself may be related to the hillfort.

Whether or not the Witches' Stane was once part of a prehistoric monument is unsure, but another similarly-sized stone lies recumbent adjacent to it, and there seems little evidence that they formed gateposts at any point. Further down the hill, to the south, a third stone can be found, also recumbent, although this stone seems more likely to be a rejected remnant from the quarrying which appears to have occurred in the centre of the hill's summit. Overall, the mystery continues...

foontotes
[1] James Clason, "Parish of Ratho", in The New Statistical Account of Scotland (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1834-45), p.90.
