Print

MHG33465 - Cairns - Eyre Point

Summary

A very disterbed area of land measuring 36m x 15m, containing possible kerb cairns, boat burials, square cairns and an unidentified mount. This area needs detailed planning and survey.

Type and Period (4)

Protected Status

Full Description

To the SW of cairn MHG4107 are a further six cairns, three of which are kerbed, and one of which shows a central capstone. <1>

Eyre point has the potential for being a significant funerary site probably spanning several millennia. The prominent remains of a chambered chairn (MHG4107) has been known for many years. In 1998 R.Miket reported a further six small cairns close by and the contributors reported a chambered cairn at Pairc nan Each (MHG35620), overlooking Eyre last year (SES 1999, 59). In Feburary and April 2000 the area was looked at in detail and at least 17 cairns are now thought to be present, mostly round and many with stone kerbs. All are quite small with diameters varying from 3.0m to 7,0m, but significantly several are rectangular, almost square in plan. A further very disturbed patch of land , closer to the sea, some 35m long by 15m wide may contain 5 small kerbed cairns, two rectangular cairns, an unidentified mound ands several possible boat burials. A preliminary list of features at Eyre includes 2 chambered cairns, 3 round cairns, 8 kerbed cairns, 4 rectangular cairns, 3 boat burials, 1 unidentified mound, together with a probable fishermans bothy and some small shallow pits. <2>

The cairns at Eyre point were intended to be surveyed by ACFA, however access to the croft land containing Eyre point was refused. Instead, a combination of previous notes and observations from the strand between the sea and the raised beach were drawn together, and the results of which were published in 2004. A very disturbed patch of land, approximately 36m long E-W by 15m wide N-S, was identified. Within the area lay serveral features. An oval mound lying northeast to southwest on its long axis measured 4.5m by 3.4m and was 1m high. There was well defined stone edging to the southwest, south and east sides and may be the Viking boat burial reported by Martin Wildgoose. The area was confused and would merit detailed planning and study; there were probaly five further kerbed cairns in this zone, two further boat burials and two more square cairns. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5802 3419 (59m by 60m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG53SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (0)