MHG1809 - Camster Long Chambered Cairn
Summary
An Orkney-Cromarty type long chambered cairn. One of the group of three cairns known as 'The Grey Cairns of Camster.'
Type and Period (1)
- CHAMBERED LONG CAIRN (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)
Protected Status
Full Description
An Orkney-Cromarty type, long, horned cairn, 195' NE-SW with two lateral, tripartite, chambers, which give name to their type. One of the group of three cairns known as 'The Grey Cairns of Camster.' (See also ND24SE 16 & 17)
Excavation by Anderson and Shearer in 1886 established that the cairn was bounded by a 6' high double-faced wall, while further excavation by Corcoran in 1971 and Masters in 1978-80 proved that is chambers belonged to two chambered round cairns, each encircled by a wall, which had been incorporated in the long cairn. (cf Mid Gleniorn 1: NX16SE 14). Cairn was restored after excavation.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
A S Henshall 1963; Name Book 1872; Current Archaeology 1971; J Anderson 1886; RCAHMS 1911; L J Masters 1978 and 1980. <1> <2> <3> <4> <5> <6> <7>
The cairn was Scheduled in 1934 together with the chambered round cairn to the southeast (see MHG1816).
East Caithness Local Plan, May 1987: P31/2.52. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites.
POLICY - In considering development proposals, the Council will safeguard Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Important Archaeological Sites insofar as this is compatible with their aim of achieving a sound employment base for the local population.
J Aitken : 22/05/01.
Both cairns have been reconstructed to allow public access, duck boards to sites from road. Grazing regime immediately around the two allows them to predominate in the landscape. <8>
The Scheduling was amended by Historic Environment Scotland in 2017 to better reflect the monuments and to add a second cairn further to the south (see MHG1817). <9>
Neolithic excavation assemblage comprising pottery sherdss, flaked stone implements and coarse stone tools is listed under TT No. TT 20/07. This assemblage was allocated to the NMS, and is listed under accession number 2014.386. <10 > <11>
Human remains from the site are within NMS collections. <12>
Sources/Archives (26)
- --- SHG1325 Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1869. 'On the horned cairns of Caithness', Mem Anthrop Soc London Vol. 3 1867-9, p.266-73. Mem Anthrop Soc London. 266-73. 221-25.
- --- SHG1326 Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1866-68. 'On the horned cairns of Caithness, their structural arrangement, contents of chambers, &c.', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 7 1866-8, p.480-512. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 480-512. 294, 485-7, 498.
- --- SHG2053 Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 164-5, No. 93.
- --- SHG2115 Text/Publication/Volume: Davidson, JL and Henshall, A S. 1991. The chambered cairns of Caithness: an inventory of the structures and their contents. 96-102, no. 12; plan.
- --- SHG2187 Text/Publication/Volume: Feachem, R W. 1963. A Guide to Prehistoric Scotland. 1st. 43.
- --- SHG28591 Text/Publication: Ashmore, P J. 2004. A date list (to October 2002) for early foragers in Scotland, in Saville, 2004, Mesolithic Scotland and its Neighbours. The early Holocene prehistory of Scotland, its British and Irish context, and some Northern European perspectives pp. 95-158.
- --- SHG3914 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3915 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG394 Text/Publication/Article: Cruden, S. 1967. 'Camster Long Cairn, Caithness', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1967, p.56. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 56. 56.
- --- SHG4014 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4015 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4357 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4358 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4359 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- <1> SHG357 Text/Publication/Monograph: Henshall, A S. 1963. The chambered tombs of Scotland, Volume 1. 262-3, 265, CAT 12; plan, fig. 39.
- <2> SHG3343 Text/Publication/Monograph: Ordnance Survey. Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. 13. Book No. 13, 234.
- <3> SHG1454 Text/Publication/Article: Current Archaeology. 1971-2. Round up: excavations 1971. 132. 132.
- <4> SHG1898 Text/Publication/Volume: Anderson, J. 1886. Scotland in pagan times: the bronze and stone ages: the Rhind lectures in archaeology for 1882. Vol. 1, 130.
- <5> SHG2657 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Second report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Sutherland. . 184, No. 565.
- <6> SHG396 Text/Publication/Article: Masters, L J. 1978. Camster, Caithness District, Highland Region. ND 260 442, Long chamber cairn. 453-4, 459. 453-4, 459.
- <7> SHG393 Text/Publication/Article: Masters, L J. 1980. Camster (Wick p) Long chamber cairn. 17. 17.
- <8> SHG23635 Verbal Communication: White, H. Comment by Hilary White, HC Archaeologist. 09/2002.
- <9> SHG27816 Text/Designation Notification/Scheduled Monument: Historic Environment Scotland. 2017. Amended entry in the Schedule of Monuments: SM90056 Grey Cairns of Camster. Historic Environment Scotland. Digital.
- <10> SHG28208 Dataset/Database File: Treasure Trove. 2019. Highland Finds from Treasure Trove Annual Reports 2004-18. Treasure Trove. Digital. TT 20/07.
- <11> SHG28278 Dataset/Database File: National Museums Scotland. 2019. Highland Finds from the NMS Catalogue. National Museums Scotland. Digital. 2014.386.
- <12> SHG28455 Dataset/Database File: 2020. Database of Human Remains in Museum Collections from Highland Area. NMS, IMAG & Marishal College. Digital.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 2601 4420 (84m by 99m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND24SE |
| Civil Parish | WICK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (1)
- HUMAN REMAINS (Neolithic - 4000 BC? to 2401 BC?)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90056 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8686 (View HES Canmore entry for this site)
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