Description

The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric cairn which probably dates from the Neolithic period. It would have been built and in use between around 4000BC and 2500BC. It is visible as a grass covered, stony mound measuring around 7m in diameter and up to around 2m in height. The monument is located on the on a southwest facing hillside, around 180m above sea level.                                                                                 

The cairn appears to be largely undisturbed and the mound may conceal a burial chamber and connected entrance passage. The siting of the cairn on the southwest facing hillside hillock enhances the visibility of the monument.

The scheduled area is circular, centred on the cairn, with a diameter of 22m. It includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

The cultural significance of the monument has been assessed as follows:

Intrinsic Characteristics

The monument is a cairn which survives as a stone-built mound. There is no record of previous excavations and the overall profile of the monument probably stands close to its original scale and appearance. The cairn may be chambered although there are no surface indications of internal structures and at 7m in diameter and 2m high, the cairn is small compared to other examples. However, chambered cairns of this scale have been identified such as Cnoc Bad na Cleithe, chambered cairn, 1,140m N of Ledbeg (SM13701). The cairn appears largely undisturbed and it is highly likely that features survive within the body of the cairn such as burials.

As a probable chambered cairn, it is likely to be of a Neolithic date. Scientific dating from other examples demonstrates that such cairns were constructed and in use between around 4000BC and 2500 BC. Cairns without a chamber are usually later, dating from the Bronze Age, between 2500 BC and 800BC.

There is good potential for the survival of archaeological remains, including human burials, artefacts and environmental remains such as pollen and charcoal, within, beneath and around the upstanding structure of the cairn. The archaeological deposits have the potential to provide information about the date of the monument, ritual and funerary practices, and the structure of prehistoric society. Any artefacts and environmental material would enhance understanding of contemporary economy, land-use and environment. Chambered cairns were used for communal burial and ritual, and excavations often reveal evidence of complex development sequences. Therefore the cairn may have been in use for a long period of time. Scientific study of the cairn's form and construction techniques compared with other chambered cairns would enhance our understanding of the development sequence of this site and of cairns in general.

Contextual Characteristics

Chambered cairns are found throughout Scotland, with a concentration in the north and west. This cairn is in close vicinity to a group of Neolithic chambered cairns in Glen Oykel located around Cnoc Chaornaidh, including Cnoc Chaornaidh, chambered cairn, cairn and long mound E of (SM4564; Canmore ID 4741), Cnoc Chaornaidh, chambered cairn 570m SW of (SM4022; Canmore ID 4739), Cnoc Chaornaidh, chambered cairn 560m WSW of (SM4023; Canmore ID 4738), Cnoc Chaornaidh, chambered cairn, cairn and long mound E of (SM4564; Canmore ID 4742) and Cnoc Chaornaidh, chambered cairn 180m NNE of, Stratheskie (SM4045; Canmore ID 4606). The close proximity of this cairn to these confirmed examples of chambered cairns supports the interpretation of this example as a chambered cairn. While these chambered cairns are typically of greater diameter and height than this example at Aultivullin, there are other examples of a similar scale in the general vicinity such as Cnoc Bad na Cleithe, chambered cairn, 1,140m N of Ledbeg (SM13701). 

Chambered cairns are found in a variety of locations. Some are placed in conspicuous locations within the landscape, such as on the summits of hills or on the shoulders of hills, perhaps to be seen on a skyline or otherwise in profile. Others are found in less conspicuous locations, for example on valley floors. Relationships to routeways and/or other ritual sites, locations near to good upland pasture and views over specific areas of land may also have had significance. In contrast, the Bronze Age cairns in this area are often located with higher ground on two or more sides. This means that the cairn is hidden from certain directions and often have more restricted views. The cairn at Aultivullin is positioned on a hillside and would have been a highly prominent feature in the landscape. It occupies an open position and would have had extensive views of the landscape to the west and south. The location of this cairn again supports the interpretation that it is a Neolithic chamber cairn.

The proximity of these burial monuments can give important insights into the prehistoric landscape and add to our understanding of social organisation, land division and land-use. The monument has the potential to enhance our understanding of the nature and development of Neolithic monumentality and burial, the nature of belief systems, ceremonial and burial practices.

Associative Characteristics

There are no known associative characteristics that contribute to this site's national importance.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it makes a significant addition to our understanding of the design and construction of burial monuments, the nature of burial and ritual practices and their significance in Neolithic society. The cairn retains its field characteristics and appears relatively undisturbed. It is comparable in scale to other regional examples and the existence of several chambered cairns in close proximity in a comparable topographic setting, supports the view that this is a Neolithic chambered cairn. As such it can significantly enhance our understanding of prehistoric society and economy, as well as the nature of belief systems, burial and ceremonial practices. It would have been an important component of the wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual and would have been a prominent part of the prehistoric landscape. Chambered cairns are one of our main sources of information for the Neolithic in Scotland and so are an important element in our understanding of the nature of Scotland's prehistoric society and landscape. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the meaning and importance of death and burial, and the placing of cairns within the landscape in the Neolithic period in northern Scotland and further afield.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 4607 (accessed on 19/09/2018).

Highland Historic Environment Record Reference: MHG7382 (accessed on 19/09/2018).

Mercer, R J. (1980). Archaeological field survey in northern Scotland, 1976-1979, University of Edinburgh, Department of Archaeology, Occasional Paper No. 4. Edinburgh. p. 154.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/4607/

HER/SMR Reference

https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG7382

Source: Historic Environment Scotland