Arran, Clachaig, ' Ossian's Mound'

NR92SE 1 9502 2143

(NR 9503 2144) Ossian's Mound (NR)

Cist, Urn and Flint Flake found AD 1900 (NAT)

OS 6" map, (1924)

Ossian's Mound, composed almost entirely of earth, with relatively few stones, measures 35 by 29ft, oriented N-S. The top is flat, 29 x 16ft the E edge being bevelled away. Many years ago, the mound was opened by the Rev Dr Waddell and Mr Spiers. They found an empty cist (Bryce 1902). However, the ONB (1864) records that when Mr Spiers dug into this tumulus in order to erect the flagstaff, a large cist containing human bones was found.

The mound was re-excavated by Bryce, who found a broken and empty cist, 2ft 7ins x 1ft 7ins, near its edge. In the centre he found a cist, internal dimensions 3ft 9ins x 2ft 1in x 2ft deep with a capstone 5ft 4ins x 3ft 2ins x 7ins. (No doubt this was the one opened by Spiers) The stones were set in the clay of the natural mound. The cist contained dark coloured mould, a flint flake and fragments of an urn of reddish pottery with a pattern of chevrons and lines made of rows of fine points placed very close together. It was not possible to reconstruct the vessel.

Sources: Name Book 1864; T Bryce 1902.

NR 9502 2143 "Ossian's Mound"; name verified. A turf-covered tumulus, with several large protruding stones occupies the top of a conspicuous overgrown hillock. The spread mound has merged with the hillock but an oval shape 13.5m NW-SE by 10.5m NE-SW and 1.5m high on the S side is suggested. No trace of a cist exists on the surface.

Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (J R L) 28 November 1977.