Arran, Sannox

NS04SW 1 0172 4481

(NS 0172 4481) Cairn (NR).

OS 6" map, (1924)

Clyde group, oval chambered cairn, Sannox : This cairn is a low mound covered with grass and bracken. It measures about 61ft WNW-ESE by 46ft transversely, within fairly well defined edges. The cairn material reaches the tops of the side stones of the chamber and so must be about 4ft high in the centre. The chamber is entered from the WNW, but Bryce (1909) who excavated it in 1909 saw no sign of portal stones or facade. It has been left open since the excavation and is 12ft 10ins long, divided into 3 compartments, 3ft 8ins, 3ft 9ins and 4ft 1ins long; it varies from 4ft to 2ft 4ins wide.

There is a small cist 12ft 9ins behind the chamber, 2ft 8ins square and exposed to a depth of 2ft 3ins. 8ft 6ins NE of the end of the chamber is an upright stone 2ft wide, the tip of which must have just protruded formerly, but howking round it has exposed it to a height of 2ft 9ins. A smaller recently displaced slab lies on the cairn near it, but there are no other signs of a structure.

At the time of excavation, the outer compartment had no filling; the two inner compartments were filled with earth and large stones, but were thought to have been explored previously. A considerable deposit of burnt human bones were found in the middle compartment.

Sources: A S Henshall 1972, visited 1962; T H Bryce 1909

A chambered cairn as described by Miss Henshall.

Surveyed at 1:10000.

Visited by OS (B S) 9 November 1977.