MHG12066 - Cairn and Cist - Sarsgrum

Summary

The remains of a large cairn about 50ft diameter.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

(NC 3792 6435) Cairn (NR) OS 6"map, (1961).

The remains of a large cairn about 50ft diameter.
Most of it has been removed, exposing a cist lying N-S and consisting of a covering slab, 4ft 10ins long by 3ft 4ins broad and 8ins thick, supported on 3 upright slabs, a fourth at S end having fallen. RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909.

An overgrown cairn as described by the RCAHMS and measuring 16m diameter, 2m high. Visited by OS(WDJ) 8 June 1960.

This cairn, with cist exposed, is as described by the previous authorities.
Revised at 1:10,000. Visited by OS(JM) 8 November 1978.

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

A disturbed cairn as described in the NMRS after site visits by the RCAHMS in 1909 and OS in 1960 (WDJ) and 1978 (JM). The cairn is mostly grassed over but the cist cover is still visible. This monument has been quarried into at the NE and NW and truncated by field boundaries at the north and east. There is a quantity of modern rubbish, including breeze blocks, dumped into the removed areas of this cairn. The field in which this cairn lies is badly eroded to the north at the Kyle-edge. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2023 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NC 3791 6434 (23m by 20m) (2 map features)
Map sheet NC36SE
Geographical Area SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish DURNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)

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