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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 666842
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/666842
NJ40SE 21 4908 0059
(NJ 4908 0059) Blue Cairn (NR)
OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 2nd ed., (1963).
For surrounding field-system and small cairns, see NJ40SE 20.
(Location cited as NJ 500 000 and name as Balnagowan). This long cairn in Balnagowan Wood now consists of a series of piles of stones which stretch altogether over a distance of 230 ft (70.1m), and include among them at least one earthfast quadrangular boulder. The shape is such as to have inspired its original recorder to observe that 'the plan shows a general resemblance to the outlines of the Milky Way at the section occupied by the constellations of Cassiopeia and Cygnus'.
R W Feachem 1963.
Blue Cairn is a long horned cairn, aligned ESE - WNW, composed of large boulders and generally undisturbed, with no structural features exposed. It measures 175ft in length (the horns project another 10ft at the east end) and is 60ft wide across the horns. It varies in height from 6ft at the east end to 2ft at the west end.
About 40ft back from the facade a distinct, regular hollow about 3ft deep, probably an original feature, crosses the cairn.
A S Henshall 1963.
Blue Cairn is a described and planned by Henshall.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (R L) 23 October 1968.
Blue Cairn [NR]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1972.
