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MHG62469 - Cairnfield - Achadh Mor (Allt an Achaid Mhoir), Loch Garve

Summary

Cairnfield at Achadh Mor

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A farmstead comprising two unroofed long buildings, one of which has an attached enclosure, and a length of field wall is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire and Cromartyshire 1881, sheet lxxv) and on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1989).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 28 February 1996

Between May and August 2012, a survey was undertaken by the North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) to identify, survey, and record the archaeological remains at Achadh Mor, Loch Garve.

A township is depicted on the Roy map of c1750 and the ruins of two large buildings with several enclosures are marked on the First Edition OS map of 1870. During the project at least 12 buildings, 4 or 5 enclosures, several platforms and pens and a corn drying kiln were identified. It is suggested that the features comprise the remains of two farmsteads, an upper/NW and a lower/SE, with the main buildings for each being close together at the centre of the whole area. The reason for this is that the remains of the two central buildings are substantial are very similar. In addition two possible headwalls (sites 27 and 45/32B) enclose what is probably the in-field for each of the farmsteads. Two groups of buildings are also seen on a plan of 1793 by George Brown. Both farmsteads would appear to have worked ground on the east side of the main burn. It is also probable that both farmstead shared the single corn drying kiln.

Site 23; Clearance cairns/Linear clearance. To the SE of the main building (site 6) at least 44 clearance cairns, large and small, circular and linear are situated within the dense forested area. All are almost certainly associated with post medieval settlement but some may be associated with roundhouse 1. The area is bounded to the NNE by the remains of two short parallel walls and the burn. The southern of the two walls is 50m long (W end NH 42146 60138, E end 42168 60115), has a height of 0.4m and a spread of 1m
Cairn 011, at NH42229 59880 - 4m diam x 0.75m
Cairn 012, at NH 42234 59894 - 6m x 5m x0.75m
Cairn 013, at NH 42252 59927 - 2m diam x 0.75m
Cairn 014, at NH 42246 59968 - 5m diam x 1.0m
Cairn 015, at NH 41893 60191 - linear bank/cairn 10m x 3m x 0.75
Cairn 016, at NH 41886 60219 - 6m x 6 x 0.75m
Cairn 017, at NH 41880 60206 - 5m x 3m x 0.75
Cairn 018, at NH 42087 59979 - 10m ESE/WNW x 5m x 1.0m
Cairn 019, at NH 41891 60136 - 4m x 3m x 0.5m
Cairn 020, at NH 42058 60073 - 3m x 2m x 0.5m
Cairn 021, at NH 42077 60074 - 6m x 4m x 1.0m
Cairn 022, at NH 42088 60077 - 6m x 3m x 1.0m
Cairn 023, centred on NH 42118 60070 - Large trapezoidal cairn 15m x 15m x 2.0m with c2m diam scooped feature set into its N side.
Cairn 024, at NH 42127 60056 - 8m x 3m x 1.0m
Cairn 025, at NH 42147 60073 - 4m diam x 0.6m
Cairn 026, at NH 42134 60104 - 7m x 4m x 1.0m
Cairn 027, at NH 42125 60101 - 10m x 5m x 1.0m
Cairn 028, at NH 42145 60122 - linear bank/cairn 10m x 2m x 0.5m
Cairn 029, at NH 42159 60105 - linear bank/cairn 25m x 2m x 0.5m
Lower Farmstead (building 6) looking E
Cairn 030, from NH 42165 60113 to NH 42158 60119 - linear bank/cairn 2m wide x 0.75
Cairn 031, from NH 42171 60120 to NH 42148 60136 - linear bank/cairn 2m wide x 0.75
Cairn 032, at NH 42150 60048 - 3m x 2m x 1.0m
Cairn 033, at NH 42125 60035 - 4m x 3m x 1.0m
Cairn 034, mid point at NH 42127 60049 - linear bank/cairn 15m x 4m x 1.5m,
Cairn 035, at NH 42139 60022 - 5m x 4m x 1.0m
Cairn 036, at NH 42179 60020 - 4m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 037, at NH 42198 60009 - 3m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 038, at NH 42234 60055 - a marker cairn, being a perched erratic boulder 2m x 1.5m x 1m tall with 4 large moss covered cobbles sitting on top. This marker cairn lies above the trackway and ford.
Cairn 039, at NH 42231 60019 - 3m diam x 1m
Cairn 040, at NH 42232 60013 - 4m x 3m x 0.75m
Cairn 041, at NH 42227 60013 - 3m diam x 0.75m
Cairn 042, at NH 42220 60006 - 3m x 2m x 0.5m
Cairn 043, at NH 42221 60005 - 2m diam x 1.0m
Cairn 044, at NH 42231 60005 - 4m x 3m x 0.75m
Cairn 045, at NH 42236 60009 - 1.5m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 046, at NH 42237 59995 - an uprooted cairn c2m diam
Cairn 047, at NH 42208 60003 - 5m diam x1m with short tail
Cairn 048, at NH 42196 60011 - 3m x 2m x 0.75
Cairn 049, at NH 42182 60014 - 3m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 050, at NH 4216 0012 - 2m diam x 0.75m
Cairn 051, at NH 42313 59855 - 3m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 052, at NH 42309 59850 - 2m diam x 0.5m
Cairn 053, at NH 42025 60051 - 11m x 9m x 0.4m, possibly part robbed for nearby wall
Cairn 054, at NH 41985 60186 - 6m diam x 0.4m
Cairn 055 at NH 42035 60051 - flat cairn of moss covered stones on sloping ground, it is oval and measures 11m x 9m. May have been robbed for nearby boundary wall
Cairn 056, at NH 42100 60151 – 4n in diameter x 0.4m height
Cairn 057, at NH 42034 60156 – 4m diameter x 0.5m height <1>

Note: Sites not visible on aerial photographs so locations approximate. (T. Blackie 17/1/22)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 4212 6009 (131m by 99m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH46SW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	CONTIN

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