Little Conval

Late nineteenth and early twentieth century sources describe a number of small cairns that lay on the western slopes of Little Conval. It was noted that the cairns appeared to be arranged in parallel rows, and probably formed part of a prehistoric field-system.

In 1902, six cairns were excavated. Each cairn was found to be wholly composed of stones, with no evidence of any burial remains. The only finds were small quantities of charcoal in two of the cairns.

The site was visited by the Ordnance Survey in 1967, who reported that they could only identify four cairns, visible as low mounds, three of which were in line. On the eastern side of each mound there was a depression, which suggests they may have been re-used as grouse butts.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NJ23NE 2 287 391.

(NJ 287 391 ) Cairns (NR).

OS 6"map, Banffshire, 2nd ed., (1891)

A number of irregular heaps of stone, supposed to mark a battlefield, (Name Book 1869) a remarkable group of small cairns; (J Anderson 1891) a considerable number of small cairns distributed with great regularity in parallel rows, forming a, probably late, prehistoric cemetery (J Abercromby 1903).

Six of them were excavated by Abercromby in 1902. Five averaged 14'-16' in diameter and 1 1/2'-2 1/2' in height, the sixth, "more a stone setting", was 39' long, 4'9" wide and only a few inches high, with 3 large stones (1 standing and 2 recumbent) at its south end. The only find was a little charcoal in two of them: no traces of burials.

Name Book 1890; J Anderson 1891; J Abercromby 1903.

No trace of cairns in this area, the fairly steep rock strewn slopes of Little Conval. There are, however, 4 low mounds, three of which are in line. Each has a depression on the upper E side and are probably the remains of grouse butts or the result of tree uprooting.

Visited by OS (R L) 20 January 1967.