Monument record MHG8968 - Cairn with Finds, near Mains of Assynt

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NH 5906 6704 (16m by 16m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NH56NE
Geographical Area ROSS AND CROMARTY
Old County ROSS-SHIRE
Civil Parish ALNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The destruction of a cairn "near Assynt in Ross-shire", (reported in a letter to Dr. Hibbert from Sir George Mackenzie of Coul dated September, 15th, 1824 in Archaeol Scot 1831) revealed a cist in which were some bones, an urn and jet ornaments. The cairn was stated to have been 'near the old house of Assynt, and in front of a new farmhouse which Alex. Fraser of Inch Coulter, Ross-shire, lately built there'. The illustration given by Mackensie does not show the four plates illustrated for the first time by Wilson, and these plates are not now with the necklace, donated in 1824 by Fraser to the NMAS. - EQ4, although it is otherwise as Wilson shows it. The urn does not appear to have been preserved.
C Innes 1862; D Wilson 1851. <1>-<3>

The farmer at Assynt knew nothing of cairn or necklace and no trace of the former is to be found in the area.
Visited by OS (R D L) 3 May 1963

Information and corrections were received from participants in the Community Timelines course, run by ARCH. The NMS museum number cited by Wilson is incorrect; this should be EQ 84. <4>, <5>

The illustration which is used in Evans' Ancient Stone Implements entitled Assynt, Ross-shire, is actually the image used by Wilson, of an example from Roxburgh. <6>

Sources/Archives (7)

  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region. . 10, No. 39.
  • <1> Text/Publication/Article: Mackenzie, G. 1831. 'Notice of an urn in which were contained very curious jet ornaments discovered near Assint in Ross-shire', Archaeol Scot Vol. 3 1831, p.49. Archaeol Scot. 49. 49; fig. 4-11.
  • <2> Text/Publication/Volume: Wilson, D. 1851. The archaeology and prehistoric annals of Scotland. 293.
  • <3> Text/Publication/Article: Innes, C. 1862. 'Notice of a tomb on the hill of Roseisle, Morayshire, recently opened; also of the chambered cairns and stone circles at Clava, in Nairnshire', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 3 1857-60, p.46-50. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 46-50. 47.
  • <4> Collection/Catalogue/Gazetteer: ARCH and Invidual Participants. 08/2010. Additional information on a number of sites, contributed by participants in ARCH Community Timeline Courses in Evanton and Golspie. Yes. Digital.
  • <5> Image/Photograph(s): Private individuals. 2010. Photographs submitted by participants in ARCH Community Timeline course in Evanton and Golspie. Colour digital. Yes. Digital. National Museums Scotland.
  • <6> Text/Publication/Article: Callander, J G. 1916. 'Notice of a jet necklace found in a cist in a Bronze Age cemetery, discovered on Burgie Lodge Farm, Morayshire, with notes on Scottish prehistoric jet ornaments', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 50 1915-16, p.201-40. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 201-40. 213-4.

Finds (4)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Aug 24 2010 2:39PM

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