Little Cumbrae Island, 'waterloo Cave'
Cave (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Little Cumbrae Island, 'waterloo Cave'
Classification Cave (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Waterloo-bight; Ryssel-cave; Russell Cave; Waterloo Bay
Canmore ID 40684
Site Number NS15SW 2
NGR NS 1420 5075
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40684
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Cumbrae
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Buteshire
NS15SW 2 1420 5075
(NS 142 506) Waterloo Cave (NAT)
OS 6" map (1897)
Waterloo, or Russell, Cave is a dry cave, about 8ft wide, 16ft deep, and up to 5ft high. Excavation revealed layers of shells, bones (none human) and black earth, similar to those from the Obanian cave at Freeland (NS15SE 10). No artifacts nor other datable material was found.
D N Marshall 1938; A D Lacaille 1954
There is a large cave at Waterloo-bight called Ryssel-cave.
W Lytteil 1886
NS c.1420 5075. The cave is generally as described above, the entrance being at the base of the cliff about 80 metres from the shore. The cave is known locally by both of the names given by Marshall, but 'Waterloo' is the more popular. No confirmation could be obtained for either spelling of 'Russell'.
Visited by OS (JTT) 5 November 1964
The exercise was 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 1420 5075 Waterloo Cave.
E B Rennie and J Macdonald 1996.
