MHG2362 - Mound, Sysa (Doom or Judgement)
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- MOOT HILL (Early Medieval - 561 AD to 1057 AD)
- (Alternate Type) NATURAL FEATURE (Early Medieval - 561 AD to 1057 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Sysa (NR) OS 6" map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)
This is a grass-covered mound, 200ft long, 165ft wide and with a max height of 30ft, which is said by RCAHMS (1911) to be natural, but which has a local reputation of being artificial and to be associated with the supernatural, especially with one occurrence on the day of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
The original OS surveyor (ONB 1872) describes it as similar to the Bass of Inverurie (NJ72SE 13) and suggests that the name derives from 'sise' meaning 'doom' or 'judgement'. The appearance of the mound is said to have been altered by cultivation, and a spring is said to have existed in a hollow on S face. The existence of spring would tend to confirm that the mound is natural.
Name Book 1872; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910; Information from OS revisor (W C) 5 May 1956
Sysa mound is undoubtedly natural.
Visited by OS (R D) 11 November 1965
(ND 1694 6477) Sysa (NAT) OS 25" map, (1968)
Sysa: a mound in an area of old fields and enhanced by ploughing around it; in W side is a small quarry hollow. As stated previously, it would appear to be natural.
Visited by OS (J M) 28 October 1981
Mound, 'Sysa'. Dimensions: 82 x 75m. grass-covered mound of subcircular appearance around 10m high. There is no evidence of any coursing or stonework. Slight depressions in the surface may indicate chambers. Orientation NE-SW.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995
Sources/Archives (2)
- --- 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. . 89, No. 330.
- --- SHG3394 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 7, 69-70.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1693 6477 (20m by 20m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND16SE |
| Civil Parish | THURSO |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8508 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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