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MHG7920 - Cemetery, Cladh nan Sasunnach

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Type and Period (1)

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NH06NW 2 0070 6595.

(NH 00706595) Cladh nan Sasunnach (NAT).
OS 6"map, 2nd ed., Ross and Cromarty, (1905)

'Cladh nan Sasunnach' is the name applied to 'some cairns, situated on the north side of Loch Maree, about half a mile north-west from the junction of Abhainn an Fhasaigh with Loch Maree. Sig:- "Burying Ground of the Englishmen".
Name Book 1875

Cladh nan Sasunnach, on the flat ground at head of Loch Maree is supposed to be where the ironworkers of Loch Maree were buried but they were probably buried on Isle Maree. The burials on the Cladh nan Sasunnach were probably much older. 'There are indications of 24 graves, all with the feet pointed towards east, and all covered more or less with large unwrought stones. There are head and foot stones more or less distinct to all the graves. A number of graves were opened but no trace of burials was found.
J H Dixon 1886

Cladh nan Sasunnach, a close group of 21 roughly rectangular mounds, av. size 2m x 1.5m x 0.5m high composed of large unhewn stones. They have the appearance of rude gravestones, and this tradition is still known locally.
Visited by OS (N K B) 31 March 1965


NH 011 654 Between August and November 1996 a programme of assessment, survey and excavation was undertaken around Loch Maree, Wester Ross, and specifically on early 17th-century ironworks at Fasagh. The work focused on the assessment of previously identified ironworking sites, topographic survey, geophysical survey, excavations, and test-pits in support of the geophysics.
Cladh na Sasunnach
NH 0070 6595 A graveyard, situated 620m NW of ironworks, was investigated to establish the relationship between iron-making centres, accompanying settlement and burial practices of area. The cemetery is positioned on a small flat step of land made up of glacial gravels adjacent to Lochan Cladh nan Sasunnach. Excavation was targeted on one of 23 graves identified and represented by angular boulder cairns. Very little of coffin survived and there was no evidence of any organic/inorganic human remains. The only remnants of coffin encountered were iron nails and a small waterlogged fragment of wood at northern end. Comparison between nails discovered with the coffin and those found at ironworks shows very few similarities especially with relation to degree of corrosion. However, this could be due to completely different pedological horizons from which they were recovered.
An interim report on this work will be lodged with NMRS.
Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Letterewe Estate.
J A Atkinson, M Donnelly, J Duncan, O Lelong and E Photos-Jones 1997
NH06NW 2 0070 6595.

(NH 00706595) Cladh nan Sasunnach (NAT).
OS 6"map, 2nd ed., Ross and Cromarty, (1905)

'Cladh nan Sasunnach' is the name applied to 'some cairns, situate on N side of Loch Maree, about half a mile NWt from junction of Abhainn an Fhasaigh with Loch Maree. Sig:- "Burying Ground of the Englishmen".
Name Book 1875

Cladh nan Sasunnach, a close group of 21 roughly rectangular mounds, av. size 2.0m x 1.5m x 0.5m high composed of large unhewn stones. They have the appearance of rude gravestones, and this tradition is still known locally.
Visited by OS (N K B) 31 March 1965

Radiocarbon dating suggests a late Medieval-Early post-Medieval date for the grave. See link below to Scottish Radiocarbon Database for radiocarbon date.

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 0069 6595 (200m by 200m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH06NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	GAIRLOCH

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