MHG1775 - Chambered Round Cairn, Sordale Hill

Summary

Site of late Neolithic-Bronze Age chambered round cairn containing a cist

Type and Period (1)

  • CHAMBERED ROUND CAIRN (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)

Protected Status

Full Description

Chambered cairn, 'Cnoc na Ciste'. Diameter: 18m. grassy circular mound 2.5m high overrun by three modern fence lines. The kerb-stones survive and a chamber 2m wide lies on SE axis, 7m long with a fallen lintel stone visible.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995.

No change. Visited by OS (J M) 27 October 1981

(Cnoc na Ciste (NAT) Chambered Cairn (NR) OS 6" map, (1970)

The mutilated remains of Cnoc na Ciste are generally as described by Miss Henshall, but the cists mentioned in the ONB could not be located.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R D) 5 November 1965

Cnoc na Ciste is a chambered, round cairn c8ft high. The tops of four slabs protrude. The irregular peristalith of boulders is now visible only on E edge. The round chamber was partially excavated 1895 but yielded no relics. In 1908 a food vessel was recovered 'from a niche in the wall (of the passage) protected in front by a light slab'. It is now in the NMAS (Acc No: EE 101).
The ONB (1872) records finding of several cists on removal of earth from the summit of the cairn.
Name Book 1872; RCAHMS 1911; A S Henshall 1963, visited 1956

Cnoc na Ciste (NR) (Cairn) (NR) OS 6" map, Caithness, 2nd ed. (1907)

GIS spatial data created 2018 based OS Master Map. <1>

The food vessel is described in the NMS catalogue as measuring 4 1/2" H x 4 5/8" across mouth, 2" at base and richly decorated. It was acquired in 1908 from Sir Francis Tress Barry. Listed under Acc. No. EE 101. <2>

Sources/Archives (16)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 1572 6198 (21m by 21m) (2 map features)
Map sheet ND16SE
Civil Parish THURSO
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Finds (1)

  • VESSEL (Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 551 BC)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (0)

External Links (2)

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