Monument record MHG2155 - Stone rows, Rushy Geo

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 3938 6842 (30m by 30m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND36NE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish CANISBAY
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

(Area ND 394 684) 'Above cliffs on south side of geo which flanks the promontory on which the broch (ND36NE 2) stands, and at the landward end, is a group of stones - some square in section, some oblong - extending over an area of about 25ft by 16ft. These appear to be the remains of four rows roughly set in alignment some 3ft to 4ft apart. The stones vary in breadth from 1ft to 2ft, projecting about the same extent above ground, and are from 2ft 5ins to 4ft apart. Their object is not apparent.'
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.

At ND 3939 6842 are nine stones as described.
Visited by OS (R D) 9 September 1965.

'Landward of the defences there is a curious group of upstanding stones apparently forming 4 rows; object not apparent; very dubiosly may be an example of chevaux-de-frise'
Information from R G Lamb, 1980

Standing stones. Extending over an area of 6 x 5.50m, eight small standing stones of average height 0.30m. No obvious pattern. On the S side of the geo adjacent to Skirza broch. Elevation c.33m. ND 3943 6840.
Dr C E Batey, Caithness Coastal Survey 1980

(ND 3939 6841) Stones (NAT)
OS 25" map, (1969)

The 9 upright stones are as described above. The elderly resident of adjacent farm related local tradition that stones mark the graves of shipwrecked mariners who were murdered by an old lady when they reached cliff top. All were killed except the cabin boy who was spared. They may mark graves of ship-wrecked sailors; they are not remains of stone rows.
Revised at 1:2500. Visited by OS (J B) 10 May 1982.

Several accounts have been collected regarding the graves at Rushy Geo, see assoc. docs. File for details.

J Aitken : 29/03/01.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Batey, C E. 1981. Caithness coastal survey 1981: interim report. University of Durham, Department of Archaeology. . No. 51; plan.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: James T. Calder. 1842. The Graves of the Mariners on Skirza Head in "Sketches from John O'Groats in Prose & Verse..
  • --- 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. . 16, No. 35.
  • --- Text/Publication/Monograph: Lamb, R G. 1980. Iron Age promontory forts in the Northern Isles. BAR British Series. 79. 74.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

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