MHG57171 - Blar Nam Feinne
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- FIELD SYSTEM (Bronze Age - 2400 BC? to 551 BC?)
- CLEARANCE CAIRN (Bronze Age - 2400 BC? to 551 BC?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
NH54SE 5 595 433.
(Area: NH 595433) Blar Nam Feinne {NR} (Site of Battle fought here between Malcolm King of Scotland & Thorfinn, a Norwegian Earl)
Cairns {NR} Twice
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1906)
Blar nam Feinne is traditionally the scene of an early 11th c. battle which resulted in the defeat of the Scots and the death of Malcolm (Name Book 1872); and also as the site of the defeat of Donald Balloch in the 15th c. (W Jolly 1885) The cairns are supposed to mark the burials on both occasions. Wallace (T Wallace 1886) describes them simply as several cairns measuring from 12 to 21ft in diameter and from 3 to 5ft high, situated in the young wood east of Alt-na-Ceardaich not far from the road leading to Kirkton Muir.
T Wallace 1886; W Jolly 1885; Name Book 1872.
The tradition of a battle between Malcolm and Torfinn is still known locally at Blar nam Feinne. The majority of the alleged associated mounds have been destroyed by forestry operations; only about 20 remain and these are considerably mutilated. Composed of stones, they measure on average 6.0m diameter and 0.6m in height. They would appear to be field clearance heaps forming a minorfield system, but afforestation has obliterated any trace of field walls or hut circles.
Visited by OS (N K B) 12 December 1966
No change to previous field report.
Visited by OS (R L) 13 April 1970
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SHG1192 Text/Publication/Article: Wallace, T. 1886. Notes on ancient remains in the Beauly Valley, Inverness-shire. Proc Soc Antiq Scot Volume 20. 340-55. 348.
- --- SHG1627 Text/Publication/Article: ISSFC. 1885. 'The Bunchrew district {excursion to}', Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club Vol. 1 1875-80, p.79-82. Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club. 79-82. 81.
- --- SHG2673 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of North-east Inverness, Inverness District, Highland Region. . 12, No. 51.
- --- SHG2808 Text/Publication/Volume: Skene, W F. 1837. The Highlanders of Scotland: their origin, history and antiquities with a sketch of their manners and customs .... Vol. 1, 111-12.
- --- SHG3385 Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 52, 54.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 5964 4329 (439m by 576m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH54SE |
| Civil Parish | KIRKHILL |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
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