Sefster
Burnt Mound (Prehistoric)
Site Name Sefster
Classification Burnt Mound (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 397
Site Number HU25SE 19
NGR HU 29978 50458
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/397
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Sandsting
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
HU25SE 19 2997 5046.
(HU 2997 5046) Tumulus (OE)
O.S.6"map, Shetland, 2nd ed., (1903).
HU 299 505 (C S T Calder 1965). A mound of burnt stones lies on marshy ground about 1/4 mile east of the north end of Loch of Gruting. It consists of typical burnt stony matter and measures about 80' in diameter by 9' in height. Close to the base on the NW there is a well. Excavation of the 'tumulus' in 1865 revealed a very curious structure which we came to about 19' from the NNW side. Here we came on a structure described by the workmen as "like two chimneys". The outside entrance was 2' 7" wide, and the wall continued on each side for 7' 6", gradually narrowing to about 13 or 14". ... Several pieces of rude pottery were thrown out with the broken stones. (Mem Anthrop Soc Lond 1866)
RCAHMS 1946. Visited 1931.
A large, crescentic burnt mound with its centre quarried into; generally as described. The well is probably modern. No trace of the excavated structure.
Visited by OS(RL) 13th June 1968.
Field Visit (7 July 1931)
Sefster.
This mound (Fig. 25) is situated on marshy ground about a quarter of a mile to the E of the N end of the small Loch of Gruting. It consists of typical burnt, stony matter and measures about 80 ft . in diameter by 9 ft. in height. Close to the base on the NW is a well.
Excavation in 1865 revealed "a very curious structure which we came to about nineteen feet from the outer edge of the north-north-west side. Here we came on a structure described by the workmen as 'like two chimneys’. The outside entrance was two feet seven inches wide, and the wall continued on each side for seven feet six inches, gradually narrowing to about thirteen or fourteen inches….Before we commenced digging at this tumulus it was seen that the one side of the tumulus was flattened and depressed. Dr. Mitchell says that nearly all the tumuli in Zetland have this appearance….Several pieces of rude pottery were thrown out with the broken stones" (1).
RCAHMS 1946, visited 7 July 1931.
(1) Mem. Anthrop. Soc. Lond., ii (1865-6), pp. 305 ff
Field Visit (13 June 1968)
A large, crescentic burnt mound with its centre quarried into; generally as described. The well is probably modern. No trace of the excavated structure.
Visited by OS(RL) 13th June 1968.
