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MHG11880 - Possible broch or burial cairn - Achaness House

Summary

The possible remains of a broch, although the presence of cup marks on a rock in the conceivable position of a kerbstone suggests the possibility that this may be a burial cairn.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

NMRS Notes:
NC40SE 3 4701 0253.
Broch (NR) (remains of) OS 1:10,000 map, (1971)

The remains of a broch now consisting of a grass-covered mound 2m max height. Several large stones protrude, particularly on E & S sides and the slopes are strewn with rubble. No wall-face is visible, but there are indications of walling on SE side. The diameter of top of mound is 14m and entrance may have been on NW.
Surveyed at 1:2500. RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909. <1>

No change to previous field report of 26 May 1963.
Visited by OS (J B) 9 September 1976.

Cup-marked stone reported by Alastair Macrae of Rosehall, Sutherland on 1 December 2003. He reports that the stone is on the south side of the top of the broch mound, about 3-4 feet wide and the same high. The cup markings have ben revealed by poaching from cattle and sheep and there are about 5 or 6 of them, perfectly hemispherical and 2-3" diameter. They are at the base of the flat side of the stone, facing north.
John Wood 1-12-2003

Photos of cupmarks in SMR provided by Mrs L Byron. She reports that the area to SE of the main broch structure is raised above the plain and has stone work on it - are these outworks etc ? NB both the brochs are marked as "Pictish Tower (ruins)" on 1st ed OS - HAW 12/2003

NC40 1 ACHANEAS 1
NC/4701 0253
Possible broch in Creich now consisting of a large, tree-covered mound 2m high and situated on flat ground not far from the river Cassley (visited in 1985). Several large stones protrude from it including a huge triangular stone 1.5m high which – despite its enormous weight – may conceivably be the lintel from the front end of the entrance passage (now invisible). The diameter of the top of the mound is about 14m [1].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. NC 40 SE 3: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 19, no. 50. <2>

Douglas Scott has surveyed this site and suggests that "this possible broch is actually the remains of a large kerbcairn" (burial cairn). "From the centre of the "cairn" the cupmarked stone is in line with where the southern major standstill moon will set every 19 years. The cupmarks would have faced into the cairn and this is similar to the fallen cupmarked kerbstone at the Tordarroch Clava-type ring cairn at Farr to the south of Inverness. The Tordarroch kerbstone is also in line with the setting southern mon. A smilar orientation of a cupmarked kerbstone to the rising southern major standstill moon can be seen at the kerbcairn of Mulchaich, MHG41549, on the Black Isle". A photograph of the cup marked stone was uploaded, with these comments, to the Highland HER Facebook page in June 2011. <3>

Douglas Scott also notes that there are up to 34 cupmarks showing on the north inner side of the boulder and more can be seen at ground level. <4>

(See MHG45492 for cupmarked stone)

Sources/Archives (8)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 4701 0252 (70m by 70m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC40SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	CREICH

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (0)

External Links (2)