Monument record MHG56812 - Torbreck Cist - Cullaird Wood, Inverness

A prehistoric bural cist was dicovered during landscaping works following the construction of a new access track in Cullaird Wood, south-west of Inverness. The site was visited and photographed by Stuart Farrell in March 2013 before a rescue excavation was carried out. <1>

The excavation by GUARD Archaeology under the Historic Scotland terms of the Human Remains Call-Off Contract uncovered a sub-rectangular stone built cist containing the remains of a probable adult individual with an associated Plain urn vessel and six lithic fragments. The cist was located within an area rich in prehistoric remains and was of a similar style to others found in the wider locale. The cut of the cist was roughly oval in shape and lined in three sides with flat slabs of roughly rectangular shaped sandstone, while the fourth side, which was south-west facing, was constructed of several relatively small fragments of irregularly shpaed sandstone which was positioned in a slight arc. Following its construction a crouched inhumation was placed directly onto the natural subsoil base and a vessel was positioned in front of the face and six fragments of lithic were placed around the body. <2>

<1> Farrell, S, 2012, Photographs of Torbreck Cist (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG26319.

<2> Kilpatrick, M, 2012, Torbreck Cist, South-West Inverness: Human Remains Call-Off Contract: Data Structure Report: Project 3499 (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG26030.