Archaeology Notes

Event ID 679295

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/679295

NN86SE 2 8987 6497.

(NN 8987 6497) Sithean (NAT)

OS 6" map, Perthshire, 2nd ed., (1900)

This grass-covered cairn is c. 125' in diameter and 14' - 18' high. It appears to be constructed of smallish rounded stones. A number of large blocks, suggestive of a peristalith, appear through the turf in addition to exposures of natural rock. The summit is flattish and almost in the centre two side slabs of a ruined cist project above the turf. The axis of the cist was approximately E-W.

A manuscript of 1787 notes that the side slabs were engraved with some heiroglyphics, so much defaced that they were not readable unless the stones were turned over and narrowly examined. It also records that a ring for hair, of Iron Age date (Wilson 1863) was found in this cairn, called Sithain-na-Cluana. The ring was lost by 1863, though a drawing was preserved.

D Wilson 1863, information from Ms of Soc Antiq Scot, 1787; V G Childe and A Graham 1943.

This cairn, standing out boldly on the hill-crest overlooking the River Garry, is as described. It is locally known only as 'Fairy Knoll'.

Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (W D J) 25 March 1968.

This cairn is similar to Shion Hillock (NH94NW 1). The surrounding large blocks are the remnants of what has undoubtedly been a contiguous boulder kerb. The probably secondary cist on the summit has been almost square, measuring 1.2m E-W by 1.15m N-S.

Mitchell calls the cairn 'An Sithean'.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (J M) 7 November 1974.

H Mitchell 1923.

This turf-covered cairn is as described.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (J M) 7 November 1974.