Description

The monument comprises the remains of a round cairn, a prehistoric burial mound likely dating to the Bronze Age (2500-800BC). It is sub-circular on plan, measuring about 26m in diameter. Some of the cairn material has been removed and the cairn survives as a two irregular stone mounds with a surrounding low grass-covered spread of stones. There are three large kerb stones surviving and a large stone cist with a capstone. It is located 120m northwest of Stroanfreggan bridge, at about 190m above sea level.

The interior of the cairn has been robbed, leaving two crescent shaped mounds of cairn material standing to a maximum height of about 2m. Three large boulders on the northern, eastern and western perimeter of the cairn likely represent the remains of a substantial kerb. The cist lies in the northeast part of the cairn. It is aligned north-south and measures about 1.1 by 0.6m internally, and about 0.7m deep. It is covered by a large capstone measuring about 1.5m long and 1.2m wide, with a maximum height of 0.6m. 

The scheduled area is circular, measuring 64m in diameter. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past as a round cairn of probable Bronze Age date. It retains structural and other physical attributes, in particular the overall plan of the cairn, the surviving burial cist within the body of the cairn and the surrounding kerb stones. It adds to our understanding of the design and construction of burial monuments, the nature of burial and ritual practices and their significance in Bronze Age society. It also has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding of ritual and funerary practices in southwest Scotland during prehistory. It can enhance our understanding of Bronze Age society and economy, as well as the nature of belief systems, burial and ceremonial practices.

Although some of the overlying cairn material has been robbed, the surviving remains indicate that it was of a significant scale. It would therefore have been a prominent and important component of the wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual and would have been a prominent part of the prehistoric landscape.  It can be studied in relation to the remains of other round cairns in the surrounding area such as Wood Cairn, cairn, Eldrig Fell (SM1953, NRHE ID 62297), Cairn Kinna (SM1880, NRHE ID 68801) and Mid Gleniron, chambered cairns (SM1944; NRHE ID 61597) to better understand their chronology, form, distribution and development at a local and national level.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/64370/

HER/SMR Reference

MDG3960

Source: Historic Environment Scotland