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Islay, Sanaigmore
Cist (Bronze Age)
Site Name Islay, Sanaigmore
Classification Cist (Bronze Age)
Canmore ID 37510
Site Number NR27SW 10
NGR NR 2408 7084
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/37510
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Kilchoman
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR27SW 10 2408 7084.
NR 2409 7082 A short cist was found 200yds from the shoreline at Sanaigmore in December 1959 and was excavated by F Celoria and E R Cregeen in June 1960. The crouched skeleton was unaccompanied by grave goods but the cist proved to be of unusual construction. It lay north-south and measured 4ft 6ins by 2ft 6ins and was composed of 12 slabs 5 of which formed a cover. The other 7 formed the sides and ends of the cist, the 2 at the north end meeting at right angles to form a point. Unworked flints were collected from the sand around the cist. The skeleton was to be restored to its grave after inspection.
F Celoria 1960; E R Cregeen 1960; Information from RCAHMS to OS.
The slabs of the short cist, located on the floor of an eroded bunker at NR 2408 7084, have been displaced and almost completely covered by blown sand. According to the farmer at Sanaigmore the the skeleton has been reinterred within it.
Surveyed at 1:10000.
Visited by OS (N K B) 26 June 1978.
Note (1984)
(1) NR 240 708. In December 1959 a cist containing a crouched inhumation was discovered in the sand-hills about 300m NE of Sanaigmore Farm; the site was subsequently excavated by members of the Islay Natural History and Antiquarian Society and the Thames Archaeological Survey Group, and this account is based on details recorded in the Islay Society's Minute Book, now preserved in the Museum of Islay Life. The cist was aligned approximately N and S and measured l-4m by 0-75 m over all, with seven slabs forming the upright sides and five overlapping cover slabs. The N end of the cist, at which the head was situated, narrowed to a point, but the s end was formed by a single slab set at right angles to the main axis.
The skeleton, which was probably that of a female aged between thirty and forty years, lay on its left side facing E; there were, however, no accompanying grave-goods to suggest a date for the burial.
RCAHMS 1984
