Description

The monument consists of two burial cairns of the late neolithic or Bronze Age, situated 60m apart on a terrace to the E of the New Luce to Barrhill road. The NW cairn has been robbed for stone and in its central area a cist containing a Bronze Age Food Vessel was found. Although the cairn has obviously been disturbed, a large part of the outer area, where more burials may be found, survives intact. It measures 12m in diameter and 0.5m high.

The SE cairn also measures 12m in diameter, and is 0.6m high. Damage to the matrix of the cairn is slight and has not affected the more important areas. The area to be scheduled includes the cairns and an area around them within which traces of activity associated with their use may be found. It is a rectangle measuring 120m NW-SE by 40m transversely, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as two burial cairns of the late Neolithic or Bronze Age which have the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. It is of particular importance because of the survival of a number of other burial cairns in the vicinity; the study of this group has the potential to increase greatly our knowledge of the development and organisation of the prehistoric landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NX 16 NE 5.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland