Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Stemster Hill, chambered cairn 1180m ENE of

A Scheduled Monument in Thurso and Northwest Caithness, Highland

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 58.5486 / 58°32'55"N

Longitude: -3.4264 / 3°25'35"W

OS Eastings: 317080

OS Northings: 963166

OS Grid: ND170631

Mapcode National: GBR K6X4.74R

Mapcode Global: WH6CX.BDMD

Entry Name: Stemster Hill, chambered cairn 1180m ENE of

Scheduled Date: 9 February 1934

Last Amended: 22 March 2005

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM486

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric ritual and funerary: long cairn

Location: Bower

County: Highland

Electoral Ward: Thurso and Northwest Caithness

Traditional County: Caithness

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a chambered long cairn of the Neolithic period, situated at 95m OD in moorland. The monument was originally scheduled in 1934, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The monument measures c. 60m N-S along the main axis. The rounded S end measures c.13m across and stands 1.2m high. The remainder of the cairn tails away to 0.4m high and 10m across in the W. There are two depressions on the W side, one of which contains a slab set on edge.

The Ordnance Survey Name book records that a stone cist containing human remains was found around 1840.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions 82m N-S by 36m E-W, to include the cairn and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may be found, as indicated in red on the accompanying map.

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. Its importance is enhanced by the presence nearby of contemporary monuments.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as ND16SE11.

References:

Davidson J L and Henshall A S 1991, THE CHAMBERED CAIRNS OF CAITHNESS: AN INVENTORY OF THE STRUCTURES AND THEIR CONTENTS, Edinburgh, 156, no. 68.

ORDNANCE SURVEY (NAME BOOK) 1872, Original Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 1, 5.

RCAHMS 1911, THIRD REPORT AND INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTY OF CAITHNESS, Edinburgh, HMSO, 6, No. 20.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.