Monument record MHG1214 - Burnt Mound, Torran Dubh

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 0547 6989 (26m by 25m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND06NE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish THURSO
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Torran Dubh (Brough) (NR) OS 6"map, Caithness, 2nd ed. (1907)

Torran Dubh is a probable cairn, 93ft by 47ft, aligned NW-SE and about 5ft high.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910. <1>

It is unlikely that this mound, now irregularly shaped and measuring 32m by 17m and 2m max height, is a cairn. Recent ploughing has revealed large quantities of black earth and a few small burnt stones similar to the material found in the burnt mounds of Orkney. There is a stream close by which is again significant. There is no local knowledge of any finds having been made here.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 22 October 1964.

Torran Dubh (NAT) Burnt Mound (NR) OS 6"map, (1969)

Torran Dubh is a burnt mound of unusually large proportions as described by previous OS field investigator. It is now under pasture, but soil erosion has revealed a content of burnt stone and black earth. Visited by OS (N K B) 24 August 1981.

A pear-shaped, grass-covered mound, 15m NW-SE by 13m by 2m high, composed mainly of earth. It is being eroded by cattle and there is evidence of burning.
R J Mercer 1981. <2>

Excavations associated with a power line re-routing, in close proximity to this burnt mound, were subject to a watching brief. No archaeological features were noted. The morphology of the burnt mound suggests that the location of cooking tank / area and hence the focus activity lay on the NE flank of the mound and that the original spring would have been similarly located. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 124, No. 447.
  • <2> Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Mercer, R J. 1981. Archaeological field survey in northern Scotland: volume II, 1980-81. University of Edinburgh. 30/12/1981. Paper and Digital. 143, No. 372.
  • <3> Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Humphreys, P. 05/2008. Report on Watching Brief: Power line re-routing - East Brims,Caithness. Highland Archaeology Services Ltd. Digital.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Oct 15 2010 12:36PM

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