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MHG62128 - Burial cairn - Urchany (Allt na Criche)

Summary

Probable robbed burial cairn, Urchany (Allt na Criche)

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Depop., cairns, etc.
OS 6"map annotated by A L F Rivet (nd)
The field system, partly overlaid by a depopulated steading, is marked by stone clearance heaps, lynchets and walls forming fields varying in size from about 15 m by 10 m to about 50 m by 30 m.
Divorced survey at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (R L) 17 March 1970

(Name: NH 4555 4550) Settlement & Field System (NR)
OS 1/10,000map, (1975)

This unenclosed settlement comprises the remains of four oval stone-walled houses and two scarped platforms which may represent the sites of timber houses. In the vicinity there are several other platforms of unknown function and also extensive remains of stone clearance, some of which may be of relatively recent date.
RCAHMS 1979 <1>

The North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) undertook an archaeological survey of Urchany in 2015. A number of probable burial cairns/cists were recorded.

Site C64; Probable Burial Cairn. On a gentle west-facing slope, on the eastern side of a broad shallow valley leading down to the Breakachy Burn, is a large scattered area of bleached and lichenified stones, that is clearly visible when viewed from afar or on aerial photographs. On closer inspection, the scattered and moss-covered tumble of stones, roughly 9m in diameter, has at its centre a circular depression or chamber, 2m diameter, up to 1m deep. The steep sides of the chamber are lined with rough boulders, the bottom is stony, there are no set stones or orthostats. The scattered stones around this chamber are raised in a slight bank, best seen on the S & E. On the E edge of the cairn the stones form a 6m circumferential ridge, up to 0.3m high. There are two smaller peripheral holes – one to the NE of centre is steeply sided, 0.5m EW x 0.7m NS, and 0.6m deep. The other to the SW is shallower. This structure appears to be a robbed-out burial cairn. From the spread of stones, it would appear to have stood quite prominently in the landscape. <2>

NGR adjusted based on 2015 aerial photographs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 4537 4547 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH44NE
Civil Parish	KILMORACK
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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