Cairn Irenan

Cairn lrenan ( ROS 13) NH 566 522 NH55SE 10

A Clava passage-grave, measuring about 12m in diameter over a kerb of graded boulders, is situated immediately S of Carnurnan farmhouse. It is surrounded by a circle of standing stones, of which four remain upright, four have fallen and a ninth is missing. The oval chamber, which measures 4.3m by 3.4m, is entered from the SW through a passage 4m long and 1 m wide.

RCAHMS 1979, visited June 1979

Woodham 1956, 66-8, no. 1; Henshall 1963-72, i, 343

NH 5665 5231 A programme of archaeological work including scheduled monument protection, photographic recording and evaluation by trial trenching was carried out in advance of the development of a new house and associated works. The work took place 16-24 September 2019.

Fourteen of the 19 evaluation trenches were archaeologically sterile and a further two revealed features of 20th-century date. Trenches 7 and 11, both located on the N side of the scheduled area, revealed a series of isolated and shallow-cut soil features that produced charcoal fragments but no dating evidence. Trench 13, located adjacent and to the SE of the scheduled area, revealed the remains of a substantial masonry structure of uncertain function, possibly an animal shed or store, which is indicated on the 1st Edition OS map. The trench also revealed a series of shallow linear and localised cut soil features, one of which produced modern finds. It was noted that the other, undated, soil features recorded in the trench could conceivably be associated with prehistoric activity relating to the scheduled monument, although the majority of the soil features were deemed more likely to be associated with post medieval settlement and related activity.

Report: Highland HER and NRHE

Funder: Private individual

Andrew Young - Highland Archaeology Services Limited

(Source: DES Vol 20)

OASIS ID: highland4-387650

NH 56650 52310 A watching brief was undertaken during the ground work stages of development at Cairnurenan for a new house and associated services. The site is located at the SW end of the Black Isle to the NE of Muir of Ord and incorporates the remains of a large prehistoric passage-grave ring-cairn, Cairn Irenan (Canmore ID: 12824), of probable Bronze Age date, which is a Scheduled Monument (SM3122). This final stage of archaeological fieldwork for the development included monitoring during topsoil stripping, the excavation of a service trench for the new build and the demolition of an existing croft house. It followed on from earlier stages of archaeological work including documentary research and a programme of standing building recording and intrusive trial trenching, the results of the latter being essentially negative.

Archive: NRHE and Highland HER

Funder: Private individual

Andrew Young – Highland Archaeology Services

(Source: DES Vol 22)