Monument record MHG39859 - Possible Site of Cemetery, Burnside Broch

Summary

During excavations of 1910 it was said that gravestones, the remains of secondary burials from a nearby chapel, were found on an Iron Age broch.

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 1950 6359 (200m by 200m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet ND16SE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish OLRIG
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

(ND 1951 6359) Brough (NR)
OS 6" map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)

Grassy mound of inconsiderable height, evidently containing remains of broch. No part of the building is visible. RCAHMS (1911) say broch is probably covered by foundations of secondary buildings. Mr Durran (Hall of Durran), in removing part of broch, came upon what appeared to be gravestones, possibly of secondary burials associated with nearby chapel (ND16SE 14).
Name Book 1872; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910

The remains of this broch are generally as described by RCAHMS. Situated at S side and on top of a stream bank, it is now a grass-covered mound measuring about 58m E-W by 42m transversely and 2.7m high. In N & E there are traces of terrace similar to those on other proven brochs in area. On top of feature there is a mound of earth and stones about 9.5m diameter by 0.5m high, probably remains of a later construction. No further information concerning gravestones could be found locally.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R D) 11 November 1965

(ND 1951 6358) Broch (NR) (remains of) OS 25" map, (1968)

The remains of a broch, in margin of a field and on S edge of a stream gully. It is visible as a turf-covered mound 42m E-W by 30m transversely by 0.7m high. There are signs of a ditch around base of mound in SE quarter. The traces of a terrace and mound of earth and stone are as previously noted; the latter, which is centrally placed, may be remains of an old marker cairn.
Revised at 1:2500. Visited by OS (J M) 27 October 1981

'Broch'. Dimensions: 36 x 28m. Grass-covered subcircular mound 0.72m wide with traces of 'mound on the mound' form. On NE and SW there are faint signs of a ditch running around the back of the mound. R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995

Sources/Archives (2)

  • --- 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. . 120, No. 436.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 7, 84.

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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