Monument record MHG56033 - Cairns - Culduthel, Inverness

The denuded remains of two cairns were exposed during excavation by Headland Archaeology in 2005 at Culduthel, Inverness. They were both located to the east of Structure 10 and one of them was sealed beneath a band of hillwash that pre-dated the industrial activity in this area (see MHG49950). Both had been disturbed in antiquity, probably by the occupants of the later prehistoric settlement. Cairn 2671 was less well preserved and its remnants had been incorporated into the cobbled yard associated with a roundhouse though its east side had been truncated by modern disturbance. A pit had been cut through the cairn and it was subsequently discovered that this was a re-cut of a slightly larger pit that was originally sealed by the cairn. Cairn 4234 lay 13m southeast of Cairn 2671 and had been sealed by a lyaer of hillwash resulting in a higher level of preservation. There was a pit measuring 1.45m in daimeter in the centre of the cairn, thought to have been formed when the cairn was robbed out. <1>

Further analysis and final dating of the finds assemblage and general site are awaited.

<1> Murray, R., 2007, Culduthel Mains Farm, Inverness: Phase 5: Excavation of a Later Prehistoric Settlement, pp.13-14 (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG23330.