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MHG8590 - Cairnfield - Cartomie Wood
Summary
A cairnfield comprising at least 30 mounds and other features, ten of which have now been fully or partially removed by the construction of an access road. Archaeological excavation and monitoring identified a buried prehistoric land surface beneath some of the features.
Type and Period (5)
CLEARANCE CAIRN (Late Bronze Age to 19th Century - 1250 BC? to 1900 AD?)
CAIRNFIELD (Late Bronze Age to 19th Century - 1250 BC? to 1900 AD?)
BANK (EARTHWORK) (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1250 BC? to 560 AD?)
BURIED LAND SURFACE (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1250 BC? to 560 AD?)
ARD MARKS? (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1250 BC? to 560 AD?)
Protected Status
Images (42)
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General view. Site before marking out of wayleave. This runs parallel to the fence in the background, through the furthest visible mounds. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158000 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Partial removal of linear marks, 4008, to reveal underlying natural subsoil surface 4009. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158001 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. East facing section and linear marks removed to expose natural subsoil surface. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158002 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. East facing section, pale subsoil of mound core flanking dark material of decayed tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158003 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Cairn or mound after east half removed. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158004 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Cairn or mound after east half removed. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158005 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench extended W by 500mm, east facing section, central section. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158006 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158007 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158008 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158009 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Trench 0.5m by 2m after topsoil stripping, showing relationship to Cairn 4 in background. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158010 (click to view a larger version of this image)
General View. Site with wayleave marked out by red pegs. Plane table is set up on linear bank, cairn 4 is in background with tools, cairn 6 next to near right peg. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158011 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Trench 0.5m by 2m after topsoil stripping, aligned E-W. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158012 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Trench after cleaning down to cobble layer present on west side of mound. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158013 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Ranging pole marks centre line of mound, showing cobble layer to west, absent to East. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158014 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Ranging pole marks centre line of mound, showing cobble layer to west, absent to East. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158015 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158016 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From SW. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158017 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158018 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. South facing section, detail of cobble content. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158019 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Linear marks, 6005, aligned 280º, photo taken with flash. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158020 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 6. Linear marks, 6005, aligned 280º, photo taken without flash. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158021 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench 4m by 3m after removal of topsoil. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158022 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158023 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158024 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158025 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF 1. Flint, fragment of blade. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158026 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF3. Flint, fragment of blade or flake. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158027 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF5. Flint flake, possible scraper, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158028 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF5. Flint flake, possible scraper, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158029 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF 2. Pottery, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158030 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF2. Pottery, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158031 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF6. Pottery fragment, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158032 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Trench 4m by 3m after removal of topsoil. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158033 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF6. Pottery fragment, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158034 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF4. Pottery fragment, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158035 (click to view a larger version of this image)
SF4. Pottery fragment, inner face.. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158036 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. East facing section, showing pale subsoil core of mound (4004) cut by dark material, interpreted as tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158037 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. East facing section and original ground surface. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158038 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Original ground surface and north facing section. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158039 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. Linear marks, 4008, exposed after removal of core of mound. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158040 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Cairn 4. East facing section and linear marks, 4008, on original ground surface. Dark black material in section is interpreted as decayed tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg id:158041 (click to view a larger version of this image)
General view. Site before marking out of wayleave. This runs parallel to the fence in the background, through the furthest visible mounds. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Partial removal of linear marks, 4008, to reveal underlying natural subsoil surface 4009. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. East facing section and linear marks removed to expose natural subsoil surface. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. East facing section, pale subsoil of mound core flanking dark material of decayed tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Cairn or mound after east half removed. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Cairn or mound after east half removed. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench extended W by 500mm, east facing section, central section. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench extended west, new east facing section showing layer of cobbles in topsoil on south side of mound. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Trench 0.5m by 2m after topsoil stripping, showing relationship to Cairn 4 in background. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
General View. Site with wayleave marked out by red pegs. Plane table is set up on linear bank, cairn 4 is in background with tools, cairn 6 next to near right peg. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Trench 0.5m by 2m after topsoil stripping, aligned E-W. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Trench after cleaning down to cobble layer present on west side of mound. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Ranging pole marks centre line of mound, showing cobble layer to west, absent to East. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Ranging pole marks centre line of mound, showing cobble layer to west, absent to East. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From SW. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. South facing section showing cobble content to west side of mound. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. South facing section, detail of cobble content. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Linear marks, 6005, aligned 280º, photo taken with flash. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 6. Linear marks, 6005, aligned 280º, photo taken without flash. From S. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench 4m by 3m after removal of topsoil. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From NE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 10. NE facing section of cairn cut by topsoil removal. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF 1. Flint, fragment of blade. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF3. Flint, fragment of blade or flake. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF5. Flint flake, possible scraper, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF5. Flint flake, possible scraper, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF 2. Pottery, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF2. Pottery, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF6. Pottery fragment, inner face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Trench 4m by 3m after removal of topsoil. From SE. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF6. Pottery fragment, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF4. Pottery fragment, outer face. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
SF4. Pottery fragment, inner face.. . by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. East facing section, showing pale subsoil core of mound (4004) cut by dark material, interpreted as tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. East facing section and original ground surface. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Original ground surface and north facing section. From N. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. Linear marks, 4008, exposed after removal of core of mound. From W. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Cairn 4. East facing section and linear marks, 4008, on original ground surface. Dark black material in section is interpreted as decayed tree root. From E. by Catherine Dagg © Catherine Dagg
Documents (2)
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Full Description
NH78NW 22 710 853 Cairnfield, Cartomie Wood: A group of about thirty small cairns, which measure up to 3.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height, is visible 300m E of Balblair distillery and immediately N of the railway. RCAHMS 1979, visited 1977. <1> Field clearance heaps of an uncertain age in a pasture field. Visited by OS (J B) 23 February 1981. Partial excavation of two of the cairns in January 2010 revealed a buried land surface lying beneath the features. Fragments of possibly worked flint, including a blade fragment and a possible scraper, were recovered from beneath one of the cairns at the interface between this land surface and the natural subsoil. Coarse pottery of probable Iron Age date was recovered from within the cairn material and from the land surface beneath. Several shallow linear marks were observed cut into the subsoil. These were interpreted by the excavator as marks from 20th-century subsoil ploughing but given the evidence it is more likely that these are marks from prehistoric cultivation. Similar marks and a buried land surface were also noted beneath a third cairn that was mechanically excavated under archaeological supervision. The cairns/mounds themselves were not primarily stony in their composition, but largely consisted of redeposited subsoil. Eight further cairns were examined in the course of a watching brief during topsoil stripping. All were low, fairly indistinct features which were only partially disturbed by the works. All of the features proved to be low, amorphous mounds overlying the natural orange-brown subsoil. The same buried land surface was noted beneath some of the mounds but no finds were recovered. Two linear features were also noted during the topsoil stripping, one of which was overlain by two of the mounds. The features comprised low banks composed of stones within an earth-subsoil matrix. The works appear to have established that these features were not burial cairns, and while a probable prehistoric land surface was identified beneath many of the mounds, the date of the mounds themselves remains inconclusive. <2><3>
Sources/Archives (3)
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Location
Grid reference
Centred NH 71043 85334 (171m by 154m) (Centred)
Map sheet
NH78NW
Geographical Area
ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish
EDDERTON
Finds (3)
SHERD (Iron Age - 550 BC? to 560 AD?)
SCRAPER (TOOL)? (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2400 BC? to 560 AD?)
BLADE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2400 BC? to 560 AD?)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (1)
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