Description

This monument consists of an extremely substantial long cairn in a low-lying position with higher ground on all sides.

The long cairn survives as a long stony mound, aligned NNW-SSE, and is 322m in length. The cairn tapers from 15m in width at the SSE end to 11m at the NNW. Stone-robbing and field clearance have obscured the outline of the cairn. To the NNW the cairn is no more than 0.5m in height, but the SSE end reaches a maximum height of 1.6m. A number of earthfast slabs in the wider SSE end of the cairn appear to represent a deep concave forecourt. At about 118m from the SSE end of the cairn are the disturbed remains of a lateral chamber opening from the W side of the mound. On the NNW the original mound appears to have been extended by about 20m, on a slightly different alignment and at three points the mound has been breached by later trackways.

The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 380m NNW-SSE by 55m E-W, to include the long cairn and an area around in which traces of activities associated with its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the attached plan.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential contribution to an understanding of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. This is by far the longest long cairn so far known in Scotland and is long even by the standards of the longest long barrows of northern Europe.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NN60NW 4.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland