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North Ward,chambered cairn,Noonsbrough

A Scheduled Monument in Shetland West, Shetland Islands

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Coordinates

Latitude: 60.3045 / 60°18'16"N

Longitude: -1.4751 / 1°28'30"W

OS Eastings: 429106

OS Northings: 1157937

OS Grid: HU291579

Mapcode National: GBR Q1QH.LSQ

Mapcode Global: XHD2H.58Y7

Entry Name: North Ward,chambered cairn,Noonsbrough

Scheduled Date: 8 February 1993

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM5560

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn

Location: Sandsting

County: Shetland Islands

Electoral Ward: Shetland West

Traditional County: Shetland

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a prehistoric chambered burial cairn, set on the summit of North Ward of Noonsbrough.

The cairn survives as a substantial mound, 0.7m high, below the remains of a more recent watch-tower. The cairn is of the "heel-shaped" variety, 8m SE-NW by 10m NE-SW, with a concave facade along the SE side. Large boulders define an inner and outer kerb, as well as the facade and an entrance passage leading from the centre of the facade towards an inner chamber, which is concealed by the remains of the watch-house.

The area to be scheduled is circular, 40m in diameter, to include the cairn, the later watch house, and an area around in which evidence for the cairn's construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as an example of a Shetland heel-shaped cairn which shows unusual structural features (the double kerb) and which may preserve undisturbed chamber deposits. As such it has the potential to provide valuable information about prehistoric funerary practices and tomb construction.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU25NE 2.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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