Monument record MHG2256 - Cairn, Isles Geo

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 2503 7378 (16m by 16m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND27SE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish DUNNET
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Tumulus (NR) (Remains of) OS 6" map, Caithness, 1st ed., (1873)

One of three mounds (others being described on ND27SW 4) in a field called 'the Cairns Park'. It is shaped like an inverted boat, is 4 to 5ft in height and has large stones on edge and large slabs lying flat exposed where soil has been removed. Mr Campbell (R Campbell, Schoolmaster, Dunnet) sent its description to the Soc Antiq Scot, and Mr Anderson (presumably Joseph), one of members, at a meeting of Society pronounced it to be a Norse boat-burial, probably dating from Earl Thorfinn's sea-battle off the coast of Caithness in 1046.
Name Book 1873.

The remains of this heavily mutilated cairn survive to a height of 0.6m. The shape of cairn is quite indeterminate as coastal erosion on N side and erection of a field wall on S have all but eliminated feature. In centre of summit a few large stones set on edge are probably remains of a burial chamber.
Site resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R B) 23 February 1965.

(ND 2504 7378) Cairn (NR) (site of) OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)

A cairn aligned E-W measuring 11.3m in max length and 0.6m high. N side is severely eroded and W end is indistinct. Stones on top of mound could be traces of a burial chamber.
C E Batey 1982.

The remains of turf-covered cairn are generally as described by Batey 1982 and previous OS field investigator. These remains appear to be a southern segment of cairn, surviving to 11.5m long and 4.5m broad. The noted evidence for a chamber is inconclusive.
Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (J B) 5 May 1982.

There are now no traces of any upright slabs to suggest that cairn was chambered. It has been destroyed on N by coastal erosion and on S by cultivation on side of a dyke that has cut across the mound. The N section reveals cairn core of small horizontal slabs. Visited by J L Davidson 4 June 1989.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • --- Text/Report: Batey, C E. 1982. Caithness coastal survey 1982: interim reports 1980-2. . Dun 17.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 3, 51-2.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.