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Archaeology Notes

Event ID 654122

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/654122

ND24SE 1 2601 4420.

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, and further excavation by Corcoran in 1971-73 and Masters in 1976-80 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). The 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.

A discrepancy exists between the actual position of the features beneath the cairn (postholes, stakeholes and burnt patches) and the position indicated in Masters' (1997) PSAS report Illustration V. The northings are labelled incorrectly creating a discrepancy of 5 m. In effect the point marked 10N should read 15N, and the point marked 20N should read 25N. The eastings are labelled correctly.

S Winlow 2001.

Archive from Camster Long Cairn has been catalogued. It consists of prints from Ritchie's (1967-1968) investigation, photographic archive, drawings and daybooks from Corcoran's (1971-1973) excavation, and photographic archive, drawings and manuscripts from Masters' (1976-1981) excavation, consolidation and restoration. Manuscripts produced by Masters include draft copies of 'The Excavation and Restoration of the Camster Long Chambered Cairn, Caithness District, Highland Region 1967-1980', plus specialist reports.

Historic Scotland Archive Project (SW) 2001.

People and Organisations

References