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Little Cumbrae Island, Sheanawally Point
Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Little Cumbrae Island, Sheanawally Point
Classification Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 40650
Site Number NS15SE 13
NGR NS 155 529
NGR Description NS 1552 5293, NS 1554 5292 and NS 1555 5292
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40650
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Cumbrae
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Buteshire
NS15SE 13 c155 529.
(NS 1551 5291: NS 1553 5288) Cairns (NR) (Urns etc found)
OS 6" map (1897)
When the largest of the Magga-clagh Cairns was opened in 1813, the Earl of Eglinton's men came first upon a sword of great length and weight, with a guard for the hand; next, a hauberk of scale armour with iron breast-piece, and iron guards for the wrist and back of the neck. An iron helmet was found along with these, also a second sword.
Lower down in the cairn were found a short cist in which was an urn containing brown dust and four or six fine white teeth. "Sheanawally is the name most frequently applied to the cairns".
W Lytteil 1886
NS 1552 5293, 1554 5292 and 1555 5292. The two large cairns are c.10.0m diameter and 1.4m high. The East of these is a smaller, grass-covered cairn c.6.0m diameter and 0.3m high. All three cairns have been greatly mutilated, probably by the excavations. The stones have been removed from the centre and thrown outwards leaving the cairns as mounds of loose stones hollowed in the centre. The name given to the cairns could not be confirmed.
Revised at 25".
Visited by OS (JTT) 4 November 1964
Site recorded during a general survey of the island to report on the condition of known sites and to identify and record any new sites. The survey was carried out by members of ACFA and the Cowal Archaeology & Historical Society in March 1996. A copy of the full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
NS 1551 5291- NS 1553 5288 Sheanawally cairns (three sites).
E B Rennie and J Macdonald 1996.
