Monument record MHG48195 - Clearance Or 'consumption' Cairn, Loch Watenan

NMRS Report: (27/06/2007 10:56:51)
ND34SW 394 ND 31824 40793 & ND 31814 40872

Two consumption cairns are situated at the NE and SE corners respectively of a triangular field about 65m SW of Loch Watenan. The N cairn (YARROWS04 680), which is roughly rectangular on plan, measures 8.3m fr om N to S by a maximum of 5m transversely and is retained by a drystone stone wall up to 1.6m in height. The S cairn (YARROWS04 679) is roughly triangular on plan and measures about 12.8m from N to S by up to 7.1m transversely; it too is retained by a drystone stone wall, which measures up to 1.9m in height, and is heavily battered on the E.
The cairns are not depicted on either the 1st or 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxix; 1907, sheet xxix), and their respective locations are shown as uncultivated ground.
(YARROWS04 679, 680)
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS) 13 May 2004.

Indexed by the RCAHMS as a Consumption Cairn 'A cairn built to consume stone cleared from the land as part of the agricultural improvements of the 18th and 19th centuries.' <1>