Description

The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric chambered tomb, which survives today as a tree- and grass-covered mound. The monument was first scheduled in 1968, but the area included was inadequate to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this.

The chambered tomb is sited in an arable field at about 215m OD, immediately SW of Middleton of Derculich. The site, traditionally known as 'The Giant's Grave', lies on an elongated knoll which may be partly artificial. The cairn has been largely removed in antiquity, except for a mound of stones standing up to 1.5m high, enclosed within a circular wall some 7m across. The main feature, within the wall, is a group of three upright contiguous slabs, evidently forming the back of a substantial burial chamber; one or two other large slabs lie nearby.

Cairns of this type are funerary monuments dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, and may be expected to contain material relating to their mode of construction and use.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is circular in shape with a diameter of 18m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

Source: Historic Environment Scotland