MHG1041 - Site of Possible Cairn or Broch, Bell Mount
Summary
Site of turf covered mound that has been variously interpretted as a cairn, broch and hut circle.
Type and Period (3)
- CAIRN (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 551 BC)
- (Alternate Type) BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
- (Alternate Type) HUT CIRCLE (Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 4000 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Bell Mount. Picts House (remains of) on 1st ed OS - HAW 10/2004
A grass-covered hut circle, comprising a subcircular enclosure, 14.5 by 13 by 0.5m high, with depressions and mounds.
R J Mercer 1981.
Bell Mount is as described by previous OS field investigator and lacks any distinguishing features to enable positive classification. However, the position on a prominent eminence and absence of any visible large stones, in situ or loose, suggests a cairn rather than a broch.
Visited by OS (N K B) 19 August 1976.
The 'Bell Mount' is a small, turf-covered mound of earth and stones measuring about 20m diameter overall, with an average height of 1.2m. Its flattish top has a diameter of about 8m. Two small modern mutilations are on its N edge. It is more likely that this is the remains of a cairn and not a broch.
Revised at 1:2500. Visited by OS (W D J) 16 April 1962.
Broch, 'Bell Mount' is on top of an eminence in a grass park. The remains are now of slight elevation and over-grown with turf; it appears to be c54ft diameter though none of structure is visible.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.
Bell Mount (Brough) (NR) OS 6"map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)
In a list of brochs: 'Parish of Thurso, Scrabster, in a field above Scrabster. The "Orkneyinga Saga" mentions a borg at Skarabolstad (Scrabster) in which Bishop John was mutilated by Earl Harold's men.' (But this Saga reference could apply equally to an early version of castle noted on ND16NW 3.)
J Anderson 1973.
1 BELL MOUNT ND/0936 7035
Possible broch or cairn, in Thurso, Caithness, consisting of scanty remains on top of a knoll. No masonry is visible and it has been suggested that this is the remains of a cairn [1] or a hut circle [3].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 07 SE 2: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 119, no. 431: 3. Mercer 1981, no. 444 and fig. 41: 4. Anderson 1873, 184.
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG1281 Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1873. ''Notice of the excavation of the brochs of Yarhouse, Brounaben, Bowermadden, Old Stirkake, and Dunbeath in Caithness; with remarks on the period of the brochs, and an appendix, containing a collected list of the brochs of Scotland, and early notices of m. Archaeol Scot. 131-98. 184.
- --- SHG2511 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Mercer, R J. 1981. Archaeological field survey in northern Scotland: volume II, 1980-81. University of Edinburgh. 30/12/1981. Paper and Digital. 61, 91, 149, No. 444; map, plan.
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 119, No. 431.
- <1> SHG26111 Text/Publication/Monograph: Mackie, E.. 2007. The Roundhouses, Brochs and Wheelhouses of Atlantic Scotland c.700 BC - AD 500: Architecture and material culture Part 2 (I & II) The Northern and Southern Mainland and the Western Islands. BAR British Series. 444. Paperback. 1 BELL MOUNT.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 0936 7035 (40m by 42m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND07SE |
| Civil Parish | THURSO |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/7994 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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