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MHG12109 - Kerb Cairn - Achmore Farm

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Full Description

NC22SW 9 2411 2499.

(NC 242 252) Cairn with setting of large stones round edge, now very ruined; diameter about 22'.
Info contained in letter from A J Boyd, Inverkirkaig to A S Henshall (NMAS) 30 June 1954.

Two possible sites for this cairn were found.
First, at NC 2408 2490, consists of four stones in an arc with a fifth some distance away. The diameter of a circle passing through these stones would be about 7m. The arrangement of stones may be fortuitous and quite natural, and feature cannot even be tentatively identified as a cairn.
The second site, at NC 2417 2507, consists of a few stones in an arc with diameter of circle c4m. This small size, and lack of other indications make this feature, also, most uncertain as a cairn.
Visited by OS (E G) 20 May 1962.

The structure almost certainly seen by Boyd is at NC 2411 2499. Here on edge of a shelf, four large stones in an arc lie on S edge of an amorphouse turf covered stony mound about 7.3m in diameter. It could be the poor remnants of a cairn, but it is situated in an area of depop. cultivation with curving banks and lynchets and it could well be due to these later activities. A foundation 4m square lies 10m to NW. OS field surveyor (EG) first description seems to fit this site but his second 4.0m circle is natural outcrop.
Visited by OS (J M) 15 August 1974.

No change to the previous field report.
Visited by OS (J B) 13 August 1980.

A survey was undertaken at Achmore by members of Historic Assynt in 2014.

Kerbed Cairn: An arc of four large stones around a turf covered stony mound with a 4m square foundation behind it have been recorded before with the arc being described as a kerbed cairn or remnant of curvilinear dyke. The mound and arc are on a markedly higher outcrop than the surrounding land and it is difficult to see how the arc relates to anything of the remnant dykes on the lower ground and the stones in the arc are all quartzite rather than local limestone, thus the identification as a Kerbed Cairn remains is plausible. The Kerbed Cairn's appearance, site, size and use of quartzite are comparable to those recorded elsewhere in Assynt. <1>

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 2411 2499 (80m by 80m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC22SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	ASSYNT

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