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Grey Cairn, Balnabroich
Burial Cairn (Prehistoric), Saddle Quern (Prehistoric)
Site Name Grey Cairn, Balnabroich
Classification Burial Cairn (Prehistoric), Saddle Quern (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Cairn A' Bhaoigh; Stylemouth
Canmore ID 29049
Site Number NO15NW 1
NGR NO 10058 57007
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/29049
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Kirkmichael (Perth And Kinross)
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO15NW 1 1006 5700.
See also NO15NW 14, NO15NW 44, NO15NW 45.
(NO 1006 5700) Cairn a' Bhaoigh (NR)
OS 6" map, Perthshire, 2nd ed. (1900)
The large cairn known as the Grey Cairn, measuring 90 yds in circumference and 25' high, (OSA 1790) was excavated some years before 1865, by a Dr Wise and Principal Campbell of Aberdeen. A passage formed of slabs on or slightly above the surface of the ground - large enough for a person to creep into it - led towards the centre of the cairn, but there was no chamber. The bottom of the cairn was paved with large boulders, below which traces of charred wood were found, particularly near the centre. A circular stone disc with a hole in the centre, and a small boulder with a "cup" on its flat face, were also found.
The cairns to the E and S were of varied plan, but none of them were conical. One on the SE of the large cairn, measuring 9 yds in diameter, is defined by large slabs. In the centre, charred wood, fragments of charred bone, quartz pebbles, and traces of black matter were found. Another to the E, measuring c. 30' in diameter, is defined by large boulders and is slightly raised in the centre. A trench from the W through the centre revealed a central cist, lying SE-NW, measuring 3'8" in length. The cover stone had been removed and it was filled with rubbish.
To the N, almost abutting one of a pair of hut circles, a round cairn,
c.20' in diameter, was excavated. A pit in the centre contained calcined bones and charred wood.
J Stuart 1868
Cairn 'A', formerly Cairn a' Bhaoigh, now known locally as "Grey Cairn", is a thoroughly disturbed mound of bare stones c. 29.0m in diameter and 1.2m high. There is no trace of the alleged passage. A dished boulder, probably a saddle quern, lies immediately outside the S arc.
Cairn 'B', 50m to the SSE at NO 1007 5695, measures 12.0m in diameter and 1.0m high; it is mutilated by excavation trenches. There is no trace of the alleged kerb of large slabs.
Cairn 'C', 430m to the E at NO 1049 5708 is 13.0m in diameter and 0.4m high, and is greatly disturbed. A kerb of contiguous stones is visible intermittently, and just NE of centre is a cist measuring 1.1m NW-SE by 0.7m by 0.7m deep.
Cairn 'D', 180m NE, at NO 1021 5712 is that described by Stuart as almost abutting on one of a pair of hut circles (NO15NW 14). It measures 6.5m in diameter and 0.4m high, with a central disturbance. There is nothing to distinguish it from the surrounding clearance heaps. (see report on hut 6.)
Cairn 'B' surveyed at 1:2500; cairns A,C, and D surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (AA) 15 November 1973
Field Visit (May 1987)
This impressive heap of stones measures 27m in diameter by a maximum of 1.7m in height. Formerly the cairn was over 7m high (Statistical Account [OSA] 1790) but it was dug into on two occasions in the 19th century (J Stuart 1868) which probably accounts for its present dilapidated condition. On the first occasion a passage leading towards the centre was discovered, but there was no trace of a chamber. In 1865 the whole cairn was turned over, revealing an area of burning at the centre beneath a basal layer of large boulders; the only finds were a perforated stone disc and a small boulder bearing a cup-mark. A saddle quern is visible on the SE side of the cairn.
Visited by RCAHMS (SH) May 1987.
RCAHMS 1990
Measured Survey (1987)
RCAHMS surveyed the hut circles, field system and Pitcarmick-type buildings at Balnabroich in 1987 at a scale of 1:2500. The resultant plan was redrawn in ink and published at a scale of 1:5000 (RCAHMS 1990, Fig. 108A).
