Description

The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric cairn dating from the Neolithic (4,100 BC – 2,500 BC) to Bronze Age (2,500 BC – 800 BC). It is located in an area of pasture at approximately 60m above sea level. 

The monument survives as a large roughly circular spread of stones, 18m in diameter and up to 2m high. There is a depression in the centre 0.6m deep which may be the location of a cist or chamber. The cairn is overlain with modern field clearance. 

The scheduled area is circular with a diameter of 30m. 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 prehistoric burial cairn dating from the Neolithic (4,100 BC – 2,500 BC) to Bronze Age (2,500 BC – 800 BC). It retains structural and other physical attributes, in particular it survives as a large roughly circular spread of stones, 18m in diameter and up to 2m high. There is a depression in the centre 0.6m deep which may be the location of a cist or chamber. Excavation of similar monuments have shown that buried structures, such as cists, are likely to survive along with archaeological deposits containing artefacts, environmental and human remains. The monument is a good example of a prehistoric cairn and is therefore an important representative example of this monument type. It also has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding of ritual and funerary practices in southwest Scotland during prehistory. It can tell us about the role of such monuments in prehistoric society as well as their placement within the landscape. As a prominent feature in the area, it would have been an important component of the wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual. It has the potential to be studied in relation to the remains of other broadly contemporary monuments in the immediate area such as a group of cairns at Culroy approximately 1.5km to the northeast (NHRE IDs 62260; 62271; 62282) 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/62245/

HER/SMR Reference

MDG2113

Source: Historic Environment Scotland