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MHG29574 - Chambered cairn - Tarradale, Muir of Ord

Summary

Remains of a chambered cairn at Tarradale, Muir of Ord.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Remains of a chambered cairn at Tarradale first recorded by James Logan in 1832 as 'Clachan more na Taradin'. A letter he wrote to the Earl of Aberdeen (at that time President of the Society of Antiquaries of London) about this and other sites, dated 31/05/1832 was published in Archaeologia 25 by the Society in 1834, accompanied by a plan of the stones on the site (north to bottom):

"The singular collection of stones, (Plate LXX. fig. 2,) was long concealed from general observation by a surrounding wood. The stones have been arranged so as to form a number of cells or apartments, some of which, as shewn [sic] by the plan, are nearly entire. I could find no tradition concerning those remains, which have no more appropriate name than Clachan more, ' the great stones.' The little eminence on which they stand may have been a place of residence, but I could not satisfy myself that there had been any surrounding wall or ditch." <1>

The site was 'rediscovered' by Dr Anne Robb c 17/05/1999 who submitted photographs.

The site was visited by A.S. Henshall and JNG Ritchie on two occasions in 1999 following notification of its 'rediscovery' by Dr. A. Robb. The cairn is situated a little above the flat uncultivated land bordering the Beauly Firth, on an undulating hillside, at 40m OD. The cairn is on a knoll in a conifer wood. The cairn is composed of cobbles, has been reduced to its lowest level, presumably to build a nearby field wall. Near the centre of the cairn there project the orthostats of two chambers, and many displaced slabs and large blocks lie about on the NE half of the cairn (which is furthest from the field wall). The orthostats appear to be undamaged (except for three mentioned below), as are most of the large displaced stones. The cairn is covered with forest litter and coarse grass, and a number of trees are growing on it and even within the chambers. The surface of the ciarn is uneven, and the edge can be traced only approximately. Four kerb-stones, two of them slightly displaced, survive close together on the E side, roughly on the projected axis of the S chamber. The diameter of the cairn is about 25m. It is unliley that the depth of the cairn material is anywhere more than 1m, though it appears to be more whe viewed from the edge because of the rising ground beneath it. The chambers are only 2m apart. Both were entered from the ESE, but for ease of description the axes are treated as lying E to W. <2> [See publication for full description]

NB GR corrected to the wood and site on the basis of information from an SMR visitor/ Reports that very large stones, some have tipped due to tree action (v large cherry tree and an oak tree in area). Some timber has been felled & left lying over the site. Site located to W of fence stretcher - HAW 7/2003

Metal detecting in Woodland near Hilton farm NW of Taradin Mains to the N side of A832 by Mr Charles Coston has located 2 Corroded fragments of Bronze upcast in a Rabbit Burrow. These are now with National Museum and are believed to be parts of two bronze knife or dagger blades from the Early Bronze Age (c.2000). Trevor Cowie conducted trial trenching (1x1m Test pit) on Findspot 13/04/05 results to come (see MHG49770).
DEH 31/05/05

Photos of the cairn were taken by J Guest in 2011 and subsequently submitted to the HER in 2014. <3>

The site was Scheduled by Historic Environment Scotland in 2016. <4>

NOTE: NGR previously NH 5518 4974 [IS-L 20/05/2025].

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5499 4973 (30m by 30m)
Map sheet	NH54NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	KILLEARNAN

Finds (0)

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