Monument record MHG5688 - Kildonnan, Eigg

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NM 4880 8541 (4m by 4m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NM48NE
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Civil Parish SMALL ISLES
Geographical Area LOCHABER

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

NM48NE 18 4880 8542.

(NM 4880 8542) Stone Cist (NR)
OS 6" map (1903)

Martin describes the finding of a "sepulchral urn" of stone, almost full of human bones, about 30 yds from St Donnan's Chapel. It was about 4' deep and the same broad, and covered by a thin flat stone. MacPherson, in 1878, refers to a stone basin (probably a font or piscina) situated c.60 yds N of the chapel lying just below ground surface, which when investigated, was found to contain mainly earth and a few human bones. This was c.3' across, but only 6" - 7" deep, which suggests it was either a different "urn" or that Martins's measurements were quite inaccurate.
An elderly local informant remembered that soon after 1818 this hollowed stone, and another also full of bones, had been dug up and removed to the edge of the field where they remained for some months exposed. In these circumstances, the find does not appear to be in its original position.
M Martin 1934; N MacPherson 1878

About 1' under the surface of the earth is a stone coffin generally supposed by the community at large to be the grave of St Donnan.
Name Book 1877

No trace, and no local knowledge of the position of this "font".
Visited by OS (AA) 9 May 1972

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: MacPherson, N. 1878. 'Notes on the antiquities from the Island of Eigg', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 12 1876-8, p.577-97. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 577-97. 584-6; fig.2.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Macdonald, A {D S}. 1974. 'Two major early monasteries of Scottish Dalriata: Lismore and Eigg', Scot Archaeol Forum Vol. 5 1973, p.47-70. Scot Archaeol Forum. 47-70. 62-4.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Macleod, D J (ed.). 1934. A description of the Western Islands of Scotland circa 1695. 4th. 303-4.
  • --- Text/Publication/Monograph: Ordnance Survey. Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. 13. Book No.13, 31.

Finds (1)

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.