Description

The monument comprises the caves to the S of King's Cave, in which stone settings and a carving, probably of Norse date, have recently been discovered.

The first major cave to the S of King's Cave has a central stone pillar, to the N of which is a large stone setting. Almost circular on plan, it measures about 13m internally within a low stone wall (about 1m wide) reveted on its inner and outer faces by substantial boulders. The smaller cave, further to the S, also contains a (smaller) sub-circular stone setting (about 5m across) which has been built into the S end of the cave. There is a local tradition that a glass-worker lived in one of the caves, and that these stone settings are associated, but they may be of considerably greater antiquity, if not prehistoric. On the N side of the southernmost cave, at the junction of the cave wall and floor, an interlace carving of late

first millennium date has recently been discovered. It is similar to carvings found in King's Cave.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures up to 90m from N to S by 30m transversely, to include the caves and an area outside them in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because the caves have been used for a variety of activities over several thousand years. The stone settings, carvings and probable undisturbed floor deposits have the potential to provide information about this activity and its relationship to the activity in nearby King's Cave, which contains extensive Early Christian and medieval carvings, and is likely to have been, at one time, an anchorite's cell.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR83SE 10.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland