Description

The monument is a burial cairn thought to date from the Late Neolithic to Bronze Age (the fourth and third millennia BC). The monument is located on the summit of a spur on the west side of a valley above Berriedale Water, at around 110m above sea level.

The monument is located at the south of a ridge on moorland with open views, mainly across the Berriedale Water and is in close proximity to other prehistoric remains. The cairn survives as an almost circular mound of earth and stone measuring approximately 18.5m in diameter overall and standing up to 2.5m high. The summit of the cairn is quite level and has a slight depression, possibly indicating the collapse of a chamber. On the south west edge of the cairn three large stones protrude and indicate the remains of an outer kerb.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, measuring 40m in diameter, centred on the monument. The scheduling includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The monument was first scheduled in 1939, but the documentation did not meet current standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to knowledge and understanding of the past, particularly the design and construction of burial monuments, and the nature of belief systems and burial practices during the Bronze Age in Caithness. Ritual and funerary monuments are important for enhancing our understanding of Bronze Age society, its organisation, economy, religion and demography. The monument is in the vicinity of other prehistoric remains along Berriedale. The cairn survives to a significant degree, including detail such as the remains of an outer kerb, allowing us to interpret its form, function and position in the landscape. It retains high potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains, including burials, artefacts and palaeoenvironmental evidence. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand funerary practice, death and burial in prehistoric times, and the placing of such monuments within the landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore.html CANMORE ID 8045.

Highland Council HER Reference: MHG 1078.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/8045/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland