Monument record MHG1816 - Camster Round Chambered Cairn

Summary

An Orkney-Cromarty type round cairn, virtually intact. This is one of the group of three cairns known as the 'Grey Cairns of Camster'.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 2607 4403 (60m by 60m)
Map sheet ND24SE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish WICK
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

An Orkney-Cromarty type round cairn, 60' in diameter and 12' high, virtually intact, with a particularly fine chamber which together with ND24SE 21, gives name to its type. This is one of the group of three cairns known as the ' Grey Cairns of Camster' (See also ND24SE 1 and 17) Excavation by Anderson and Shearer in 1865 produced flint implements and an iron knife-blade, now in NMAS (Acc No's : EO 97-123) and pottery, now lost. Further excavation was carried out by R Ritchie in 1967 prior to the public's being allowed access to the chamber. A tiny fragment of beaker was found,and half the blocking in front of the entrance was removed.
Surveyed at 1:10,000. A S Henshall 1963; Name Book 1872; Curr Archaeol 1972; J Anderson 1886; RCAHMS 1911; S Cruden 1967; Visited by OS 11 April 1972. <1>-<6>

Douglas Scott posted a photograph on the Highland HER Facebook page showing the rising sun shining into the cairn at 7:06am on 10 September 2003. <7>

Sources/Archives (18)

  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Camster Round.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1868. 'On the chambered cairns of Caithness, with results of recent explorations', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 6 1864-6, p.442-51. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 442-51. 449-51.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. & Shearer, R.I.. 1866. Report on the ancient remains of Caithness and results of explorations conducted for the Anthropological Society of London by Messrs. Joseph Anderson and Robert Innes Shearer in 1865. Memoirs Read Before the Anthropological Society of London Vol. 2 (1865-6). 226-56. 245-9.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Stuart, J. 1870. 'Report to the committee of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, appointed to arrange for the application of a fund left by the late Mr A Henry Rhind, for excavating early remains', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 7 1866-8, p.289-307. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 289-307. 293.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 164-5, No. 93.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Davidson, JL and Henshall, A S. 1991. The chambered cairns of Caithness: an inventory of the structures and their contents. 102-4; plan.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
  • <1> Text/Publication/Monograph: Henshall, A S. 1963. The chambered tombs of Scotland, Volume 1. 263-6, CAT 13.
  • <2> Text/Publication/Monograph: Ordnance Survey. Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. 13. Book No. 13, 234.
  • <3> Text/Publication/Article: Current Archaeology. 1971-2. Round up: excavations 1971. 132. 132.
  • <4> Text/Publication/Volume: Anderson, J. 1886. Scotland in pagan times: the bronze and stone ages: the Rhind lectures in archaeology for 1882. Vol. 1, 130.
  • <5> 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. . 184, No. 565.
  • <6> Text/Publication/Article: Cruden, S. 1967. Camster Round Cairn, Caithness. 56. 56.
  • <7> Interactive Resource/Webpage: Highland Council. 2011. Highland HER Facebook page. Yes. Douglas Scott, 18/05/2011.

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Record last edited

Feb 20 2015 3:22PM

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