Cairngall

NK04NW 3 c. 04 47.

Two oak coffins were discovered in August 1813 when peat diggers removed a tumulus on the estate of Cairngall. They were lying close together, oriented E-W, and only one was entire. They contained only a small quantity of soft earthy matter (Accession Register, Arbuthnot Museum, Peterhead). Both had been hollowed out of solid trees, and each measured 7ft by 2ft with parallel sides, rounded ends and 2 projecting knobs for carrying (NSA 1845). Their tops were flat boards (Accession Register, Arbuthnot Museum, Peterhead). Part of one, about 5" long was in Arbuthnot Museum in 1888 (Anderson and Black 1888). On English analogies, they should belong to the Food Vessel Culture (Childe 1946). New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; J Anderson and G F Black 1888; V G Childe 1946.

The New Statistical Account notes the discovery of 'two oak coffins or chests' when a 'tumulus of moss' (presumably a barrow) was removed on the 'estate of Cairngall'. Cairngall House is at NK 042 473.

One of the coffins was 'entire' but the other was incomplete; at least part of one of them was transferred to the Arbuthnott Museum, Peterhead, but had probably been lost by 1968. Each had been hollowed from a 'solid tree' and measured 'seven feet' (2.1m) 'by two feet' (0.6m). Their sides were parallel and their ends rounded, and each had two 'projecting knobs to facilitate their carriage'; the well-preserved bark was still to be seen. No bone or organic contents survived, but they lay E-W and were covered by 'slabs of wood'.

The discovery is noted by Wilson who attributes it to his 'iron period'. Childe, however, places it within his 'Food-vessel complex' on the basis of English comparanda, and the evidence of the coffin from Cartington, Northumberland appears to support this assertion.

New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; D Wilson 1851; J Anderson and G F Black 1888; J Abercromby 1905; V G Childe 1946; R J C Mowat 1996.