MHG2099 - Warehouse South Chambered Cairn
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- CHAMBERED CAIRN (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)
Protected Status
Full Description
An Orkney-Cromarty type round cairn with a Camster type chamber. One of the group of five cairns known as Cairns of Warehouse, it was excavated by Rhind in 1853 and Anderson in 1865. It now comprises a mound of flat slabs, partly turf-covered 8 to 9ft high with a diameter of about 55ft, and a partially exposed chamber. Anderson found remains of two encircling wall faces, the outer of which is exp osed north and east of the entrance, and the inner on the SE side of the entrance.
A S Henshall 1963; RCAHMS 1911; J Rhind 1854; J Anderson 1886; J Sinclair 1865.
This cairn bears no resemblance to Miss Henshall's plan which is apparently of another cairn, unless based on Anderson's plan, in which case her N arrow is inverted. The cairn survives as a mound of bare stones on a hillock, and measures 17m in diameter and 1.5m max height, and is surmounted by a modern marker cairn. A hollow in the centre shows the top of a large upright slab 2.3m long facing NW-SE which appears to be the back slab of an Orkney-Cromarty type chamber. One other smaller upright slab, facing NW-SE is visible about 1m to SE. There is no other sign of the chamber nor of a kerb, nor of the entrance, which is presumably in SE. A mound of debris extending
to NE is apparently material dumped f rom the central excavation. Surveyed at 1:10,000. Visited by OS 13 March 1972.
Under and extending S of Orkney-Cromarty type round cairn is a long horned cairn. Near the round cairn it measures approx 10m in breadth; at its narrowest point some 30m S it measures some 7m in breadth; it extends some 35m from the edge of the round cairn to the centre of its S facade. S forecourt measures approx 9-10m between southernmost inner corners of horns some 2m wide and is about 5m deep. A mass of masonry on NE side of the round cairn may be a horn of a N forecourt, but excavations by Anderson in 1865 allow the possibility that this masonry is spoil. A more jumbled mass of masonry on NNW side of the round cairn is in a feasible position for a horn but is indistinguishable from spoil. All measurements are converted from paces and orientations are approx. Info from P J Ashmore to OS, 1982.
Sources/Archives (18)
- --- SHG1412 Text/Publication/Article: Rhind, A H. 1854. 'Results of excavations in sepulchral cairns in the north of Scotland', Ulster J Archaeol Vol. 3 1854, p.99-108. Ulster J Archaeol. 99-108. 101, 107.
- --- SHG1898 Text/Publication/Volume: Anderson, J. 1886. Scotland in pagan times: the bronze and stone ages: the Rhind lectures in archaeology for 1882. 254-5.
- --- SHG2053 Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 168-9, No. 97.
- --- SHG2115 Text/Publication/Volume: Davidson, JL and Henshall, A S. 1991. The chambered cairns of Caithness: an inventory of the structures and their contents. 153-6, no. 64; 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. . 175-6, No. 552.
- --- SHG3538 Text/Publication/Article: Sinclair, J. 1866. Memoirs of London Anthropological Soc 1865-6, p.232. Memoirs of London Anthropological Soc. 232. 232-3.
- --- SHG357 Text/Publication/Monograph: Henshall, A S. 1963. The chambered tombs of Scotland, Volume 1. 301, CAT 64.
- --- SHG3922 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4508 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4517 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4518 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4519 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4520 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4521 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4612 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4615 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4616 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4617 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
Map
Location
Grid reference | Centred ND 3058 4209 (60m by 60m) (2 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | ND34SW |
Civil Parish | WICK |
Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM436 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/9080 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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