MHG4111 - Cairns - Eyre, Raasay

Summary

An area containing numerous cairns of mixed types.

Type and Period (1)

  • CAIRN CEMETERY (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)

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 burial , 1 unidentified mound, together with a probable fishermans bothy and some small shallow pits. <2>

The cairn and other structures in this area were further individually surveyed by the Association of Certified Field Archaeologists, the results of which were published in 2004. Due to this work, the cairns and other structures have been now been assigned individual monument records (see related monuments below). <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NG 5800 3418 (139m by 80m) (2 map features)
Map sheet NG53SE
Geographical Area SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (11)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)

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