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Cnocan Uamhach
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name Cnocan Uamhach
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Canmore ID 38984
Site Number NR76SE 7
NGR NR 7992 6468
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/38984
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish South Knapdale
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR76SE 7 7992 6468.
In Forestry Commission land on ground sloping down gently NE below Cnocan Uamhach an exposed megalithic chamber lying approx NE to SW composed of 2 slabs on edge 2.3 and 2m long, maximum height 89cm above outer ground level, 51cm a part at centre-base. Each has a smaller slab lying parallel to its outer face; that on the SE is mainly buried, that on NW is 1.3m long. Two smaller upright stones on the SW extend the probable length of chamber to 3m. An earthfast transverse slab 40cm by 20cm almost blocks the probable entrance, NE. In front of the entrance lies a probable displaced capstone, 1.4 by 1.85m maximum, on the surface of which a ring 65cm radius has been scribed round a small central dot, a failed attempt to carve a small millstone - the edge of the stone has shattered. 17m to the SW of NE edge of the capstone a slab 1.93m long lies on edge exposed by ditch. Cairn material is traceable around and behind the chamber to a probable maximum of 7.3m SW from the capstone and the greatest lateral spread is c 5.5m across the centre of the chamber.
At 1.75 to 2m from the entrance end of the NW sideslab is a cross wall of small stones, inserted to form a lambing pen; at its base a line of earthfast stones can be seen.
M Campbell and C Fergusson 1979; M Campbell 1980.
Field Visit (May 1983)
Situated a little to the E of the rocky bluff known as Cnocan Uamhach, within recently planted trees in Achaglachgach Forest and some 850m N of Craig farm, there are the remains of a small chambered cairn (M Campbell 1980). The simple chamber stands on the NE side of a low irregular cairn measuring about 6m by 6m and comprises two massive side-slabs, each of which is more than 2m long and up to 0.9m high. These stones are flanked by two other large earthfast slabs, and there is a flat slab, probably a capstone, lying dislodged to the NE; an attempt has been made to form this into a millstone, with the central hole and circumference partly scribed. The SW end of the chamber is obscured in part by a recent drystone lambing-pen, but an earthfast slab is visible, aligned with the NW side-slab, and there is a displaced slab on the SE.
Visited May 1983
RCAHMS 1988
Measured Survey (9 May 1983)
RCAHMS surveyed Cnocan Uamhach chambered cairn on 09 May 1983 with plane-table and alidade producing a plan at a scale of 1:100. The plan of the cairn was redrawn in ink and published at a scale of 1:250 (RCAHMS 1988a, 44).
Laser Scanning (5 March 2015 - 6 March 2015)
NR 7992 6468 (NR76SE 7) A laser scan survey of the chambered cairn of Cnocan Uamhach was undertaken, 5–6 March 2015, for conservation management purposes. The survey was undertaken using a Trimble FX laser scanner controlled using spherical targets, located using a Trimble S6 total referenced to OS grid using a Trimble R6 GPS. Interpreted detail was surveyed in the field using the Trimble S6 total station, on the same grid as the control survey, allowing interpretation to be overlain on the laser scan data. At a distance of 15m to the E of the rock outcrop Cnocan Uamhach are the remains of a chambered cairn, surviving only as the orthostatic chamber. The chamber is roughly aligned NNE/SSW and comprises two large edge-set slabs: the SE slab is 2m in length, 1.7m high and 0.4m thick, the NW slab 1.7m long, 1m high and 0.25m thick. Parallel to the NW slab is a smaller supporting orthostat, 1.2m in length and 0.6m high. The chamber measures 0.5m across internally at the NE end, 0.9m at the SW end and is c3m in length. A short dry stone wall has been inserted at the SW end of the main side slabs, probably to create a small twinning pen as RCAHMS suggest.
A single large capstone is present to the NE of the chamber, and although heavily overgrown with moss, the roughout line for what was probably intended to be a quern stone can be seen in the upper surface.
The slab set on edge located 17m to the SW of the chamber does not appear to represent the remains of a second chamber, but may indicate the original extent of the cairn body.
Archive: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) intended
Funder: Forestry Commission Scotland
Graeme Cavers – AOC Archaeology Group
(Source: DES, Volume 16)
