MHG65653 - Cairns - Armadale Burn
Summary
A group of three heather-clad cairns.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Other hut circles, enclosures, walls and field clearance heaps occur in the vicinity of this hut circle.
As well as the field system associated with 'D', clearance heaps extend from NC 7965 6416 to NC 7972 6416, with an outlier at NC 7986 6415.
R J Mercer 1981.
Apart from the hut circle published by OS, there are two further examples (B and C noted by Mercer at NC 7976 6402 and NC 7982 6393 respectively). The area is one of rocky ridges and grassy valleys.
Hut 'B' measures 7.7m in diameter within a turf-covered wall surviving to a height of 0.3m. Intermittent wall facing stones are exposed indicating a thickness fo 2.2m. There is a single portal stone at the entrance in the SE arc. Some 3.0m outside the entrance are two upright slabs, 0.9m and 0.7m high and 0.8m apart; these may be portal stones of a forecourt to the hut circle which has largely disappeared.
Hut C is as described and planned by Mercer. 'D', is 'possibly a platform settlement' cannot be located; the only 'platforms' identified are natural terraces.
There are a number of stone clearance heaps fringing cleared ground in the vicinity of the hut circles which appear to be contemporary, but subsequent land use of the early modern period has obscured the original pattern of field plots. The enclosures, walls and some of the clearance heaps described by Mercer date from this recent period but not all the features noted can be identified individually.
Huts B and C surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (N K B) 12 August 1981.
Area surveyed by AOC (Scotland) Ltd in advance of proposed upgrading of the A 836 road.
Sponsor: Highland Regional Council.
J O'Sullivan 1994c.
A group of three heather-clad cairns was recorded in a level and moderately well-drained area. The cairns are low, rounded structures, up to 0.5 m high and ranging from 5 m to 3 m in width. <1>
Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid coordinates. (TB 8/4/26)
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG209 Text/Publication/Article: O'Sullivan, J. 1994. 'Armadale (Farr parish): survey: hut circles, dykes, cairns, tracks', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1994, p.44. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 44. 44.
- --- SHG2511 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Mercer, R J. 1981. Archaeological field survey in northern Scotland: volume II, 1980-81. University of Edinburgh. 30/12/1981. Paper and Digital. 120, 121-2, Nos. 125, 131-5, 136-50.
- --- SHG2983 Text/Publication/Article: Strachan, R. 1996. 'Armadale (Beath parish), archaeological excavations'', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1996, p.63-64. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 63-64. 63-64; 63, Fig 20.
- <1> SHG21079 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: O'Sullivan, J. & Duffy, A.. 1994. Archaeological survey on the proposed road-line of the A836 from Lednagualin to Ben Ainnie, Highland Region: survey results. AOC (Scotland) Ltd. 30/09/1994. Digital (scanned as PDF). Site 1. XY
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 7991 6401 (18m by 18m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC76SE |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | FARR |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (1)
- https://trove.scot/place/6371 (View record on the HES Trove website)
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