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MHG496 - Platform cairn - Acharn

Summary

A late Neolithic-Bronze age burial cairn at Acharn with a possibly later Iron Age burial inserted.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A late Neolithic-Bronze age burial cairn at Acharn with a possibly later Iron Age burial inserted. Originally recorded by RCHAMS as Cairn 'A'. See MHG13226 for Cairn 'B', MHG13227 for Cairn 'C' and MHG63988 for possible Cairn 'D'.

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].

Cairns, Acharn (visitedby RCAHMS 1974: Cairn 'A' is situated 200m SSE of the cairn described on NM65SE 4 (see MHG495) and 300m NW of Acharn. It is a well-preserved platform-cairn measuring 13.5m in diameter and 0.6m in height. Almost all the kerb-stones, consiting of granite erratic boulders survive in situ.

Two more cairns (B and C) are situated respectively 30m S (see MHG13226) and 4.6m N (see MHG13227) of A. Both appear simply as small sub-circular mounds, the former measuring 7m across and 0.4m high, and the latter 6.5m across and 0.2m high.

A fourth cairn (D) is noted (Thornber 1974) 57.91m S of A. It measures 3.66m in diameter and 0.61m in height. It is not recorded by the RCAHMS who therefore do not consider it to be an antiquity. <2> <3> <4> <5>

A central cist was discovered and excavated in 1977; it contained cremated bone, charcoal, a flint scraper and fragments of pottery. Radiocarbon determination on charcoal from the cist gave a date of 125 +/- 80 ad (GU-2070), so late Iron Age. <6>

The cairn was Scheduled by Historic Scotland in 2001.

Cairn A is as described in 1974 (RCAHMS, 1980, 49-50). It is situated on a very imposing site with commanding views over two valleys: southwards down the R. Aline and northwestwards along Loch Arienas. The peristalith is still almost intact. A large capstone, 1.30m by 0.90m almost covers the central cist, which presently reaches a depth of 0.80m deep.
Cairns B and C are as described in 1974. (RCAHMS, 1980, 49-50)
Field Verification Project (West Lochaber) - J Robertson, 03/2004

Sources/Archives (6)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NM 6978 5056 (27m by 27m)
Map sheet	NM65SE
Civil Parish	MORVERN
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

Finds (2)

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