Stemster
Broch (Iron Age)(Possible), Cairn (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name Stemster
Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible), Cairn (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Hill Of Stemster
Canmore ID 9255
Site Number ND35SW 5
NGR ND 3384 5029
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9255
- Council Highland
- Parish Wick
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
ND35SW 5 3384 5029.
(ND 3384 5029) Cairn (NR) (site of)
OS 6" map, (1968)
A cairn is said to have stood in rough ground near the angle of a field SE of Stemster farm. It must have been of considerable extent as the foundation still remains and is overgrown by the heath so that the portion shown on trace cannot be ploughed.
Name Book 1872.
Broch, Hill of Stemeter: A mound, much spread with a diameter about 110ft and from 3 to 4ft high, is located 300 yds SSE of Stemster farmhouse. A number of flat stones on the surface suggest that the mound covers the ruin of a broch.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.
The site of the broch or cairn is on the summit of a low hillock. Old plough lines running E-W are evident over the hillock and there are now no surveyable remains of a broch or cairn. A scatter of small stones lie around the area.
Visited by OS (E G C) 21 April 1962.
As described by the previous field investigator. There is nothing specific to identify the character of the site, but a broch is the more likely classification.
Visited by OS (N K B) 3 September 1982.
Publication Account (2007)
ND35 2 HILL OF STEMSTER ('Stemster 4') ND/3384 5029
Possible broch or cairn in Wick, Caithness, consisting of a spread-out mound with a diameter of about 33.6m (110ft) and from 90-120cm (3-4ft) high. It was originally diagnosed a cairn [2] but a number of flat stones lying about on its surface suggested a wrecked broch [1].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 35 SW 5: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 146, no. 505.
E W MacKie 2007
