Monument record MHG1074 - Chambered Cairn, Allt Na Buidhe

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 1335 2680 (80m by 80m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND12NW
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish LATHERON
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Chambered Cairn (NR) OS 6" map, (1965)

On right bank of the Allt na Buidhe, about 1/3 mile above the road bridge at Borgue, are the scanty remains of a chambered cairn, the stones of which have been almost entirely removed. Three large upright slabs remain, marking the position of the chamber, but its plan is unascertainable. The entrance appears to have been from SSE.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910. <2>

Allt na Buidhe: Orkney-Cromarty: round, with Camster-type chamber. Although largely removed and now grass-grown, the edge of the cairn is fairly distinct and measures about 50 by 55ft. The cairn, where it can be observed, appears to be composed of horizontal thin slabs. The entrance passage cannot be traced, but it probably ran from the SE side. A pair of large upright slabs, 2ft 8ins apart, facing this direction have the appearance of portal stones. Two slightly lower stones at intervals of 6ft behind these look like the NE and SW partners of two divisional slabs. To the NW and at a lower level, the top of a leaning slab, 2ft 7ins long, can be seen, perhaps part of the chamber. If so, the chamber is unusually long, about 20ft.
A S Henshall 1963. <1> <3>

As described above, this chambered cairn measures 17.5m N-S by 15m transversely with a maximum height of 1.6m on N side.
Visited by OS (W D J) 23 March 1960

No change. Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (RL) 6 3 1968

No change. Visited by OS (N K B) 15 November 1982.

This chambered cairn was visited by S Farrell during a 2010 DBA and walkover survey in advance of a woodland creation scheme. The walkover survey revealed that the site was very visiblwe situated to the west side of the burn, and the centre had been robbed out. The ground to the northwest is former grazing on a southeast facing slope, whilst the ground to the south is heather with a little grass. It was recommended that the site be excluded from planting by a 60m wide area. The scheduled area measured 40m southwest to northeast and 45m southeast to northwest. <4>

Sources/Archives (6)

  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Ch.Cairn, Ramscraigs. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Ch.Cairn, Ramscraigs. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • <1> Text/Publication/Volume: Davidson, JL and Henshall, A S. 1991. The chambered cairns of Caithness: an inventory of the structures and their contents. 90, no. 3; plan.
  • <2> Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. RCAHMS. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 75, No. 271.
  • <3> Text/Publication/Monograph: Henshall, A S. 1963. The chambered tombs of Scotland, Volume 1. 257, CAT 3.
  • <4> Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Farrell, S.. 2010. Report of Archaeological Desktop and Walkover Survey - Grey Cairn, Dunbeath, Caithness, Highland. Unaffiliated. 01/11/2010. Digital (scanned as PDF). Site 1.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Oct 15 2013 12:52PM

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