Cairn Of Arthurhouse
Cairn (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric), Brooch (Silver)(Medieval), Coin Hoard (Medieval)
Site Name Cairn Of Arthurhouse
Classification Cairn (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric), Brooch (Silver)(Medieval), Coin Hoard (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Thornylea
Canmore ID 36485
Site Number NO77SE 1
NGR NO 76131 74752
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/36485
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Garvock
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Kincardine And Deeside
- Former County Kincardineshire
NO77SE 1 7613 7475.
(NO 7613 7475) Cairn of Arthurhouse (NR)
(cist, coins and silver brooch found) (NAT)
OS 1:10,000 Map, (1973)
There is a large cairn on Arthurhouse farm; some years ago, about three-quarters of it was removed and used for road metalling. It was then found that it was surrounded by a kerb of large stones set together on edge, from 2 to 3ft high; these had previously been covered by the stones of the cairn falling down and over them so that the cairn extended about 4ft beyond the kerb. 'On one side, there was found a stone coffin formed of freestone slabs within the ring, but quite close to it on the surface, containing nothing but a kind of fine impalpable earth. At one place, on the outside of the ring, were found among the stones upwards of twenty coins, seemingly silver, but many of them so worn or corroded, that the workmen broke several of them between their fingers, There was one pretty well preserved of Alexander I dated 1107, and another of Robert I, about 1320. They were all given to Dr Badenach, the proprietor. There was likewise found a silver brooch of ancient workmanship in the cairn. The part of the cairn which Dr Badenach caused to be reserved is about 20ft in diameter, and his tenant, Mr Milne, gave upwards of half an acre around it, which has been enclosed and planted.'
New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845
The Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB 1863) quotes the NSA (1845) and local informants from the neighbouring farms of Waterlair, Woodside of Water- lair, and Haddo, stating that this cairn is in a good state of preservation, covers a large area around the base and is about 10ft high.
Name Book 1863.
The Cairn of Arthurhouse is a mutilated, turf-covered cairn, composed mainly of rubble stones, situated on a false crest at the NE end of a spur, about 115m OD. The description given in the NSA is incorrect, the diameter of the cairn being 20.0m and the height 3.1m with only the centre and NE quarried away, but not to ground level. There is no trace of a kerb. The present whereabouts of the coins and brooch are unknown. Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 5 December 1967.
Scheduled as Cairn of Arthurhouse... Thornylea.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 9 October 2001.
Field Visit (March 1982)
Cairn of Arthurhouse, Thornylea NO 761 747 NO77SE 1
An oval cairn, measuring 21 m by 18.7m and 3.3m in height, is situated on the crest of the ridge 600m N of Arthurhouse cottage. The author of the New Statistical Account appears to have confused this cairn with another, whose position is unknown. Most of the latter had been quarried away, revealing a kerb of close-set boulders within which there was a cist; a silver brooch was found in the cairn and, outside the kerb, a hoard of medieval coins.
RCAHMS 1982, visited March 1982
(NSA, xi, Kincardine, 38; Name Book, Kincardine, No. 11, p. 7)
