Lagmore West
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name Lagmore West
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Alternative Name(s) Upper Lagmore
Canmore ID 16016
Site Number NJ13NE 9
NGR NJ 1765 3583
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/16016
- Council Moray
- Parish Inveravon
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Banffshire
The remains of an Early Bronze Age Clava Passage Cairn lie about 400m south-west of the River Avon. The cairn comprised a circular mound with a central chamber entered through a passage on the south. Surrounding the cairn there was a circle of stones, four of which are still standing and a fifth has fallen.
Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project
NJ13NE 9 1765 3583.
(NJ 1765 3583) Stone Circle (NR). (Remains of).
OS 6" map, Banffshire, 2nd ed., (1905)
The remains of a Clava chambered cairn. Four of the encircling standing stones remain in position, the stump of a fifth stone can be seen on the SW and a Fallen stone lies to the SSE. Within the circle the cairn material remains to a height of 4ft surrounded by a Fairly complete kerb. The passage entrance faces south and leads to a chamber about 11ft in diameter.
F R Coles 1907; A S Henshall 1963.
A Clava-type chambered cairn as described and illustrated.
Re-surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (N K B) 12 July 1967.
Publication Account (1986)
Dramatically sited at 195 m OD, high above the confluence of the Spey and the Avon, this is the only passage grave of the Clava tradition to have been identified definitely in Grampian. Of the surrounding stone circle, four stones still remain erect, the tallest being on the west (2.3 m). The cairn itself is 12 m in diameter and 1.2 m high; it is retained by a heavy kerb of rectangular blocks, the largest nearest the entrance passage on the south. The entrance is formed by two stones which project from the kerb. The passage, which is still partially lintelled, can be seen within the cairn material to have a slight bend. The now collapsed chamber is 3.3 m in diameter; the north-eastern side is the best preserved.
300 m to the east and c 35 m below this site, is another similar but heavily damaged feature, adjacent to the main road, at NJ 179359. One of the fallen stones to its north-east bears many cup-marks.
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Grampian’, (1986).
Publication Account (1996)
Dramatically sited at 195m OD, high above the confluence of the Spey and the Avon, this is the only passage grave of the Clava tradition to have been identified definitely in North-east Scotland. Of the surrounding stone circle, four stones still remain erect, the tallest being on the west (2.3m).
The cairn itself is 12m in diameter and 1.2m high; it is retained by a heavy kerb of rectangular blocks, the largest nearest the entrance passage on the south. The entrance is formed by two stones which project from the kerb. The passage, which is still partially lintelled, can be seen within the cairn material to have a slight bend. The now collapsed chamber is 3.3m in diameter; the north- eastern side is the best preserved.
300m to the east and c 35m below this site, is another similar bur heavily damaged feature, adjacent to the main road, at NJ 179359. One of the fallen stones to its north-east bears many cupmarks.
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Aberdeen and North-East Scotland’, (1996).
Watching Brief (6 June 2014 - 11 July 2014)
NJ 1768 3580 A watching brief was carried out, 6 June – 11 July 2014, during the laying of an electric cable for a new distillery at Ballindalloch. The work was considered sensitive due to the trenches proximity to a Clava type cairn at Langmore West. The only features recorded were two field drains.
Archive: HAS. Report: Highland HER
Funder: Ballindalloch Distillery LLP
Lachlan McKeggie – Highland Archaeology Services
(Source: DES)
