RCAHMS County Inventory: Caithness | Canmore

Date 23 May 1910 - 22 September 1910

Event ID 1086861

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1086861

RCAHMS Inventory Programme

People and Organisations

Related Event(s)

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Event	Type	Subtype	Notes	Date
1168367	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	On the W end of a slight ridge about ½ mile E of Upper Dounreay are the remains of a horned round cairn. The heads of three large slabs protrude from the centre, indicating the position of the chamber, otherwise the whole cairn is overgrown with grass. The diameter of the body of the cairn has been about 42ft (12.8m). the main axis of the chamber has been WNE and ESE, but there is no sin of the direction of the entrance passage. The horns have been some 22ft in length and 17ft in breadth at the base, while the distance between their extremities towards the WNW has been 40ft. At 13ft from the outer end of the S horn, laid at right angles to its direction, has been a cist. One end and one side, consisting of single slabs, remains, showing a length of 3ft 9in and a width of 1ft 8in. The upper edge of the slabs is level with the present surface, and they are exposed for a height of some 8ft. [...]	16 August 1910
1168416	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	About 100 yards N of the E end of the long cairn (RCAHMS 1911, No. 369) is another cairn (RCAHMS 1911, p. XXXV) of similar type, stretching along the crest of the hill as it begins to slope towards the NNE. It lies NNE and SSW and rises in height and increases in breadth towards the latter direction. The horns at that extremity are not apparent on the surface, but at the NNE end they are both visible, where that on the E side has been exposed to some extent by the removal of the turf. The total length, irrespective of the horns at the SSW end, is some 240ft [73.1m]. The cairn begins to expand at about 60ft [18.2m] from the SSW end, and attains to a width of 53ft [16.1m] and an elevation of 8ft [2.4m]. Immediately in rear of the expanded head, which rises almost like a separate cairn, is a slight depression or trench across the body, which, however, is probably secondary. The breadth of the body of the cairn is about 35' and its elevation 4ft. All along its length are small pits from which stones have been quarried. The width of the terminal portion towards the NNE is 37ft and its elevation about 4ft, but it has originally been higher, as three large slabs set on end protrude for about 1ft 6in through the turf indicating the existence of a chamber. The length of the horns is about 20ft; the distance between their outer extremities 46ft; and thence to the centre of the concavity at that end of the cairn 29ft. The SSW end shows no signs of excavation, and the whole cairn is overgrown with turf. [...]	16 August 1910
1168429	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	On the top of Cnoc Freiceadain, the summit to the N of the Hill of Sheuster, is a horned long cairn, one of the finest examples of this class of cairn in the county, and apparently unexcavated. Being overgrown with turf, the exact configuration and measurements of the horns are not obtainable, but their existence is quite evident. The cairn lies with its longest axis WNW and ESE and has an extreme length from tip to tip of the horns of 255ft [77.7m]. The main body measures from 37' to 40' [11.2m to 12.1m] in breadth and 4' to 5' [1.2m to 1.5m] in elevation. It expands rises towards both ends, but to the greatest extent towards the E[S]E. In that direction it commences to expand some 70' [21.3m] from the end and attains to a breadth of 60' [18.3m] and a height of 10' [3m]. The horns at this end appear to be about 28' [8.5m] in length, and to terminate obtusely. The distance between their outer extremities is some 73' [22.2m], and from the centre of the concave outline of the cairn 38' or 39' [11.6m to 11.9m]. Towards the WNW the expansion and increase of elevation begin about 40' [12.2m] from the end, and attain to 56' [17.1m] in breadth and 7' [2.1m] in height. The general appearance at this end is that of a second circular cairn set on the low extremity of a long one. In rear of it is a slight trench across the body of the cairn. The horns seem to be shorter than at the opposite end, and to measure about 15' [4.6m] in length. The distance between their outer extremities is about 60' [18.3m], and thence to the centre of the concavity of the cairn 33' [10.1m]. The facing wall is visible on the S side towards the ESE end. A certain amount of quarrying has been done at both ends, and at no distant date, but there is no evidence of the excavation of the chamber or chambers. [...]	15 August 1910

Digital Images

Related Collection Item(s)

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Journal of A O Curle (RCAHMS). Titled 'Caithness I'.

Journal of A O Curle (RCAHMS). Titled 'Caithness II'.

Journal and clean copy of field notes by A O Curle (RCAHMS). Titled 'Caithness III'.

References