Archaeology Notes

Event ID 645227

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/645227

HY42NW 10 4246 2742.

A mound, situated on Trumland Home Farm, about 10 yds E of the wall which separates that property from the adjoining holding of Nears, was excavated by Mr W G Grant, the proprietor in 1933. Before excavation it was a grassy earthen mound, 4 ft 6 ins high, with here and there slabs of stone showing through the turf. Excavation disclosed a symmetrical wall of well-built slabs, laid on bed in three to six courses and varying in height from 8 to 12 ins enclosing a circular space, 20ft 8 ins N-S by 20 ft 10ins E-W within which, and not far from the centre, were three cists, the primary cist being at a lower level than the others. The primary cist was 12ins square by 9ins deep, the few slabs and cover being less than 1in thick. It contained cremated human bones and a small fragment of pottery. The other two cists were slightly larger, one contained only soil, the other cremated human bones, burnt matter and fragments of a steatite urn, other parts of which were found outside the cist at its SE corner. Beyond the E side of the mound's perimeter lay a fourth cist, 2ft by 1 ft 6ins by 8 ins deep. It was completely filled with burnt material, possibly a fire-box rather than a burial cist.

RCAHMS 1946; J H Craw 1934

Situated at NY 4246 2742 and now visible as a turf-covered mound 7.0m in diameter and 0.6m high. There is no sign of the cists. According to Mr J Yorstan, of Trumland Cottages, Rousay, who dug the mound for Grant, the central cist was two-tiered.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS(ISS) 8 October 1972.