Murkle, Serpent Hillock
Natural Feature (Period Unknown)
Site Name Murkle, Serpent Hillock
Classification Natural Feature (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 8389
Site Number ND16NE 17
NGR ND 1600 6825
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8389
- Council Highland
- Parish Olrig
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
ND16NE 17 1600 6825.
The county road runs through a so-called 'Pict's house' at Murkle. Thurso Town Council 1934.
The 'Pict's house' noted above may be Serpent Hillock, an elongated mound published by OS at ND 1600 6825, and cut by the public road. There is no evidence of a man-made structure. The mound, 140m long, about 20m average width, and 2.5m high, appears wholly natural and no finds are known to have been made on or near it. Some loose stones lying on the surface on the part S of the road have probably been dumped. There is no trace of stonework in the roadside ditch apart from that which is clearly modern.
Visited by OS (N K B) 10 March 1982.
An earthwork comprising a subcircular, grass-covered bank 70 by 60m and 3m high.
R J Mercer 1981
Earthwork, "Serpent Hillock". Dimensions: 70 x 60m. Subcircular grass-covered bank 3m high.
Visited 1986. R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995
