Description

The monument comprises a well-preserved long burial cairn of the Neolithic period, which survives as an upstanding monument within the farmed landscape. The monument was first scheduled in 1935, but is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The cairn is situated on a slight ridge on the SW slope of Cloghill. It lies in the SW corner of a field, with modern field walls along its W and S sides, although the cairn itself is situated within an uncultivated area of ground. The cairn is approximately 56m long (WNW-ESE) and tapers in width from E to W, measuring some 20m wide at the E end and 11m wide at the W end. On the N and E sides there appears to be a stony bank at the base of the cairn.

The cairn appears to comprise a round cairn at the W end and a cairn with horns at the E end, at which point the cairn is at its highest, at about 2m. A pile of stones at the extreme E end may represent field gatherings; and along the N and E sides there appears to be a stony bank at the base of the cairn. It is possible that the appearance of two parts is a result of past interference.

A stone lined cist is reported to have been found within the cairn, with the slabs removed to make a roadside water trough at Wester Hatton.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 81m WNW-ESE by 32m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The upstanding elements of the modern field walls along the S and W sides of the cairn are excluded from the scheduling to allow for routine maintenance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. It is particularly important because of the probable two-phase construction.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NJ80NE 13.

References:

Callander J G 1925a, 'LONG CAIRNS AND OTHER PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS IN ABERDEENSHIRE AND BANFFSHIRE, AND A SHORT CIST AT BRUCETYON, ALYTH, PERTHSHIRE', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 59, 1924-5: 21-2.

Cruickshank J 1934, NEWHILLS: THE ANNALS OF THE PARISH, s.l: 43.

Feachem R W 1963b, A GUIDE TO PREHISTORIC SCOTLAND, London, 38, 1st.

Henshall A S 1963a, THE CHAMBERED TOMBS OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 1: 396.

Henshall A S 1972a, THE CHAMBERED TOMBS OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 2: 544.

OSA 1791-9, THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND, DRAWN UP FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MINISTERS OF THE DIFFERENT PARISHES, Sinclair J (Sir), Edinburgh, Vol. 6: 34.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland