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)
- --- SHG2115 Text/Publication/Volume: Davidson, JL and Henshall, A S. 1991. The chambered cairns of Caithness: an inventory of the structures and their contents. 108-9, no. 19; 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. . 121-2, No. 442.
- --- SHG3339 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 1, 16.
- --- SHG357 Text/Publication/Monograph: Henshall, A S. 1963. The chambered tombs of Scotland, Volume 1. 269, CAT 19; plan.
- --- SHG3699 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3700 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3701 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3702 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3703 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3704 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3705 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3706 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3707 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3708 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- <1> SHG23361 Image/Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Mastermap. Digital. XY
- <2> SHG28278 Dataset/Database File: National Museums Scotland. 2019. Highland Finds from the NMS Catalogue. National Museums Scotland. Digital. EE 101.
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)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM442 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8524 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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