Tom Na Heron
Field System (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle(S) (Prehistoric)
Site Name Tom Na Heron
Classification Field System (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle(S) (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 16328
Site Number NJ23SW 1
NGR NJ 2084 3101
NGR Description NJ 2084 3101 to NJ 2083 3130
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/16328
- Council Moray
- Parish Inveravon
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Banffshire
According to a nineteenth-century source, a number of small mounds were observed on the southern slopes of Cairnacay in an area known as Tom na Heron.
These cairns are probably part of the field-system identified by the Ordnance Survey in 1966, when about 250 field clearance cairns were recorded, along with numerous small fields. On average, the fields measured about 35m by 25m and were defined by field banks and lynchets.
Amongst the cultivation remains, the Ordnance Survey identified one hut-circle and what may be the levelled platform for another. Both of these were set into the slope, and the hut-circle had an internal area of about 11.5m in diameter, within turf-covered walls, which were up to 4.0m wide and 0.8m high. The platform was described as being roughly circular, and measured about 12m in diameter.
Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project
NJ23SW 1 2084 3101 to 2083 3130
(Centred NJ 208 313) Tumuli (NR).
OS 6" map, Banffshire, 2nd ed., (1905)
A number of small mounds of earth and stones.
Name Book 1869.
On the gentle southern slopes of Cairnacay around the area known as Tom na Heron, between 1,000 and 1,200ft OD, there is a field system comprising the remains of a hut circle, a probable hut platform, about 250 stone clearance heaps and many small fields.
The hut circle, at NJ 2084 3101, is set into the slope and measures 11.5m internal diameter over turf-covered walls up to 4.0m wide and 0.8m high. The entrance, 1.0m wide is in the E side.
The possible hut platform set into the hillside at NJ 2083 3130 is roughly circular measuring 12.0m in diameter.
The height of the scarp at the rear of the platform is 0.7m, and to the front 0.6m.
The turf-covered stone clearance heaps, generally irregular in plan, vary in size from 2.0m to 9.0m in diameter and in height from 0.3m to 0.8m.
The small fields average 35.0m x 25.0m and are delimited by well-defined field banks, and lynchets.
Hut circle and hut platform surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB), 25 August 1966.
