Cuning Hill
Cairn (Period Unassigned), Beaker (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Cuning Hill
Classification Cairn (Period Unassigned), Beaker (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Conyng Hillock
Canmore ID 18891
Site Number NJ72SE 20
NGR NJ 7739 2096
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/18891
![Beaker from cairn.
Original print captioned 'Urn found on the Cuning Hill, Inverurie (in fragments) by Mr James S Robertson and his son Alexander, in the Autumn of 1902. The urn is 7 inches in height (outside measures) 5 1/4 inches wide at top, 5 inches at narrowest portion near top,) expanding to 5 1/2 inches and then narrowing to 3 1/2 inches diameter at base. It is about [ ] inches thick. It is ornamental with a string pattern. (See Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland' (vol 37, 1902-3, page 230).'](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC00681856.jpg)
![Beaker from cairn.
Original print captioned 'Urn found on the Cuning Hill, Inverurie (in fragments) by Mr James S Robertson and his son Alexander, in the Autumn of 1902. The urn is 7 inches in height (outside measures) 5 1/4 inches wide at top, 5 inches at narrowest portion near top,) expanding to 5 1/2 inches and then narrowing to 3 1/2 inches diameter at base. It is about [ ] inches thick. It is ornamental with a string pattern. (See Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries of Scotland' (vol 37, 1902-3, page 230).'](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC00681856.jpg)
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Inverurie
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ72SE 20 7739 2096.
(NJ 7739 2096) Conyng Hillock (NAT) Tumulus (NR)
OS 6" map, Aberdeenshire, 2nd ed., (1928)
'Cuning Hill is a small mound, about 80 yards in circumference at the base and about 20 feet high.' In 1902 or 1903 fragments of an urn were found at the centre of its top. Charred wood was also found. The only evidence for a cist was a fragment of stone lying at the foot of the hillock, which may have been a cist stone. If restored, the urn would measure about 5 1/2 inches high, 4 5/8 inches across the mouth, and 3 1/2 inches at the base.
The fragments were sent to Mr Coles at the NMAS, but were in the possession of J S Robertson in January 1903.
F R Coles 1903; Information contained in letter from J S Robertson 5 February 1903 and 17 February 1903.
The present location of this possibly type B beaker is not known. Cuning Hill is a natural mound.
M E C Mitchell 1934.
Conying Hillock is possibly a natural feature similar to the Bass (NJ72SE 13) but its present sharp outline suggests that it has been scarped in fairly recent times. It is 5.4m high, and 25.0m x 20.0m. No
recent finds have been made.
The urn found c.1902 is in Inverurie Museum, Accession no. EQ 7.
Revised at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 11 March 1964; Information from Dr A A Woodham, Clava, Cuninghill Rd, Inverurie.
A watching brief was maintained during the erection of a dwelling house and garage near the base of Conyng Hillock.
I Shepherd 1988.
(Name cited as Conyng Hillock). This tree-covered hillock takes the form of a rounded cone and is situated on a crest of slightly rising ground at an altitude of about 65m OD. A trial trench was dug by M K Greig on 9 November 1994.
NMRS, MS/712/72, visited 4 September 1980 and 14 March 1985.
This cairn is situated within a residential area on the S side of Inverurie and forms a grass- and tree-grown mound measuring up to 25m in diameter by about 5m in height. The fragments of beaker, which were found in the cairn in 1902, are in Inverurie Museum (PEHMS: I 6989).
Visited by RCAHMS, 31 July 2001.
