Description

The monument is a cairn of prehistoric date, visible as a stony mound, lying in gently sloping pasture near the foot of Hare Law.

The main body of the cairn is 8m in diameter, although it has a 'tail' 3m in length. The cist was excavated in the 20th century and there is evidence of earlier disturbance, but the greater part of the cairn is undisturbed. The cairn survives to a maximum of 1m in height. The central cist is c. 1m long and 0.5m wide; no human remains were found during the excavation. Cairns of this type date to the Early Bronze Age, and were used for burial. The cist at the centre of the cairn is a slab-lined grave. Experience on other sites leads us to expect that other burials may lie undisturbed with the cairn material.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is 35m in diameter, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NT04NW24.

Photographs:

RCAHMS, 1996, NT04NW24, Wester Yardhouses - Hare Law Cairn, C55619.

RCAHMS, 1990, NT04NW24, Wester Yardhouses-Hare Law Cairn, B46596.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland