MHG39184 - Square Cairn - Eyre Point
Summary
A square cairn in an area of many other possible cairns.
Type and Period (1)
- SQUARE CAIRN (Pictish - 300 AD? to 900 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
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 (DES 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 small square cairn was identified. It had little stature but had some stone visible in the grassy cover. <3>
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SHG1372 Text/Publication/Article: Miket, R. 1988. 'Raasay, Eyre (Portree parish), cairns', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1988, p.17. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 17.
- <2> SHG27941 Text/Publication/Article: Wood, J.S. & MacDonald, J.. 2000. Eyre Point, Raasay, Discovery Excavation Scotland 2000. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 55. Paper (Copy).
- <3> SHG22303 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Wood, A. & Wood, S.. 2004. Some Archaeological Studies of Cairns and Standing Stones on Raasay. Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists (ACFA). 09/02/2005. . Feature K. XY
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NG 5795 3416 (4m by 2m) (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 (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/11486/eyre-raasay (Link to online HES Canmore record)
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