Description

The monument consists of a prehistoric chambered burial cairn.

The cairn stands on a gentle S-facing hillside, overlooking the prehistoric settlement at Muckla Water and less than 200m from a second chambered cairn (both separately scheduled). It is much reduced in height, and with most of the small cairn material gone now stands to only 0.4m. It is almost square on plan, about 4m across, and is defined by a kerb of modest-sized boulders.

Within the kerb, what may be the original base of the cairn appears to have been slabbed. A small polygonal central chamber is present, but there is no trace of an entrance passage. The area to be scheduled is a square, of side 25m, aligned N-S, to include the cairn and an area around it in which evidence relating to its 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 a very small chambered cairn of unusual plan. It is part of a pair of chambered cairns, with nearby settlement remains of broadly similar date. As a group these have the potential to provide information about Neolithic settlement, economy and ritual practices.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU 27 NW 4.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland