MHG254 - Kerb cairn - Acharn
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- KERB CAIRN (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)
Protected Status
Full Description
Acharn was visited by Donald Gregory (then Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland) in the Summer of 1831 during a tour of part of the Hebrides, beginning in 'Argyleshire'. "At Acharn, upwards of a mile farther inland than Dalnagairn, and in a level plain of considerable extent, there is an immense collection of cairns, none of them very high, evidently pointing out the site of some great battle. I saw the remains of a very large stone coffin, in which an urn with ashes was found. This coffin was discovered in taking away the stones from one of the cairns. Many more have been found in the same way, of which no traces are left; and there is no doubt that where the cairns have not been disturbed, there must be many still remaining. Near this remarkable spot is a pretty large circle of stones of no great height. Among those with whom I conversed I could find no tradition relative to the collection of cairns at Acharn." <1>
It is not clear, however, in which of the cairns the "very large stone coffin" and cremation urn referred to above had been found [IS-L 05/03/2025].
(NM 7022 5048) Visited 1974 by RCAHMS. A cairn is situated 210m NE of Acharn, on the highest part of the promontory that lies in the angle formed by the junction of the Black Water and the Abhainn a' Ghlinne Gail. It has been heavily robbed, and now appears as a low, roughly circular mound, 9.9m by 9.4m in diameter, which stands to a height of about 0.25m; several kerb-stones are visible in the NW half as shown on the plan. <2> <3> <4>
The cairn is as described in 1974 (RCAHMS, 1980, 48-9) apart from the SE sector, where erosion of the quarry sides has undercut the cairn. Trees are growing around the perimeter but the kerb-stones are still visible.
Field Verification Project (West Lochaber) - J Robertson, 03/2004
See Associated Record NM75 SW0036
DEH 09/06/05
https://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/psas/article/view/8911
PSAS Vol.106
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SHG1231 Text/Publication/Article: Gregory, D.. 1857. Notes regarding various remains of antiquity, both of the earlier and middle ages, observed during a recent visit to the Hebrides (Archaeol Scot Vol. 4 1857, p.362-5). Archaeology Scotica Vol. 4. 362-5.
- <2> SHG1510 Text/Publication/Article: Ritchie, J.N.G. & and Thornber, I.. 1977. Small cairns in Argyll: some recent work (i) Cairns in the Aline valley, Morvern, Argyll', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 106 1974-5, p.15-30. Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 106. 15-30. 17-18, 26.
- <3> SHG596 Text/Publication/Article: PSAS. 1977. 'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and Library', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 106 1974-5, p.229-33. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 229-33. 229.
- <4> SHG2660 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1980. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 3: Mull, Tiree, Coll and Northern Argyll (excluding the early medieval and later monuments of Iona). . 48, No. 7(1); plan fig. 14.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NM 7021 5048 (80m by 80m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NM75SW |
| Civil Parish | MORVERN |
| Geographical Area | LOCHABER |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (4)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM7794 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/22682 (View HES Canmore entry for this site)
- https://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/arch-scot/article/view/305 (View published article in Archaeologia Scotica Vol. 4 online)
- https://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/psas/article/view/8911 (View published PSAS Vol. 106 article online)
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