MHG66120 - Clearance cairns - Melness

Summary

Two separate clearance-heaps.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

On a grassy, gentle slope above a shingle-beach is a group of mostly turf-clad clearance-cairns, measuring 3-7 m in diameter and 0.5 m high. These are arranged in rough lines along the gentle break of slope and probably mark the edge of the cultivated land. They may be earlier than Post-Medieval or the Estate Improvements/clearance. The field is still boulder-strewn and not intensively improved. These cairns might be related to the hut circle NMRS 56 SE 11, but the NGRs are significantly different. There is no evidence of erosion in any form.<1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid coordinates. (TB 14/8/26)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NC 5796 6007 (108m by 108m) (2 map features)
Map sheet NC56SE
Geographical Area SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish TONGUE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (0)

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