Loch Of Flatpunds

HU25SW 4 245 524.

HU 247 524. The ruinous mass of a structure which may have been a cairn lies beside a plantie-crub on the north shore of the Loch of Flatpunds. "It is unusual, however, in having a long gallery still distinctly traceable for a length of 25'9" with a width of 2'9" and the walling seems to measure fully 8' in thickness. The gallery lies along the line of the major axis from the ENE to WSW and sweeps in a shallow curve having a rise of 1'10" on its present length. The entrance is at the WSW end and appears to open in the middle of a slightly concave facade but its true nature is so uncertain that its classification as a cairn is thought inadvisable."

C S T Calder 1966.

Not a cairn but an unusual type of early dwelling, generally as described by Calder, situated on a level platform at HU 2451 5243 amidst recent plantie crubs. The centre is obscured by a mass of tumble indicating a structure of considerable size or three or four sub-circular, contiguous structures. Protruding through the debris are vague traces of an inner wall face of similar construction to a Neolithic/Bronze Age homestead but the overall shape of the interior seems to be shaped rather like a clover leaf, suggesting the existence of three or four sub-circular, contiguous structures.

There is a large field system in the vicinity comprising low field walls and clearance heaps overlaid by later cultivation including lazy beds.

A chambered cairn (HU25SW 1) lies 120.0m to the W, and another cairn is 320.0m to the SW.

(HU25SW 24). This dwelling cannot be positively classified, but it has certain affinities with Neolithic/Bronze Age homesteads. Several oval hollows in the area are apparently surface quarrying.

Visited by OS (NKB) 20 June 1968

HU 2453 5249 Adjacent and to the N of a modern sheep pen is a massive heap of boulders which has a strong semblance to a chambered cairn measuring 15.2 x 9m, aligned N-S. An elongate pile of boulders, 16.7 x 4.8m, aligned N-S, lies immediately to the W.

K J Edwards and G Whittington 1997

HU 245 524 Rough sandstone tool. Found at fringe of extensive Neolithic site at Trolligarts, near the Loch of Flatpunds. ARC 1997.120.

Shetland Museum 1997

Scheduled with HU25SW 1 and HU25SW 30 as Trolligarts, chambered cairn, homestead and field system.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 22 January 1993.