Building record MAB28934 - MEMSIE CAIRN
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Summary
Cairn, surviving as an impressive large sub-circular structure of bare stones, measuring 24 m in diameter and 4.4 m high.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 90216
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9766 6205 (54m by 61m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ96SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Rathen |
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Cairn, surviving as an impressive large sub-circular structure of bare stones, measuring 24 m in diameter and 4.4 m high. The cairn is the sole survivor of a cemetery of three large cairns clustered on the long low ridge of Cairn Muir and extant in the 18th century. In the 1740s the cairns were reported to be about 90m apart and originally circa 90 m in circumference and about 12m high. The other two cairns, and other smaller cairns in the vicinity, have long been destroyed (See NJ96SE0027). Antiquarian excavations recovered a beaker and a broken leaf-shaped bronze sword (although it is unclear whether antiquarian reports of excavations at Memsie refer to the surviving or one of the destroyed cairns). Also found were bones, a flint 'dart-head' and a 'little block of flint'. The cairn's plain, unardorned profile and absence of vegetation are typical of the larger Bronze Age cairns of the region. It is a rare survival in an intensively farmed area where much of the archaeology has been destroyed or ploughed flat.
CORDINER, C, 1780, ANTIQU & SCENERY, N SCOTLAND, 47 (Bibliographic reference). SAB238.
WILSON, D, 1851, THE ARCH & PREHIST ANN OF SCOT, 120, 177 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2007.
Author unknown, 1892, CAT OF NMAS., 178 (Bibliographic reference). SAB265.
MITCHELL, A, 1908, MACFARLANES GEOG COLL 1906-8, 1, 1748 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1155.
KIRK, W, 1956, THREE BRONZE AGE CIST BURIALS IN NE SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 88(1954-6) 10-2, 10-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB996.
DOE, 1967, A M's SCOT, 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB363.
Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/CT66-8, AAS/00/04/CT66-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12640.
Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G13/12-3, AAS/00/04/G13/12-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12639.
Jan 1 1930 , SC 1174622 - 1174626, SC 1174622 - 1174626 (Ground Photograph). SAB13388.
Jan 1 1976 , AAS/GR/76/CT15, AAS/GR/76/CT15 (Ground Photograph). SAB32667.
Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT38, AAS/GR/77/CT38 (Ground Photograph). SAB32481.
Jan 1 1979 , AAS/GR/79/CT55,61, AAS/GR/79/CT55,61 (Ground Photograph). SAB32552.
Jul 8 1985 , ER 33-40, ER 33-40 (Ground Photograph). SAB14889.
Jul 8 1985 , ES 13-5, ES 13-5 (Ground Photograph). SAB14890.
Mar 2 2004 , AAS-GR-04-03-001 - 003, AAS-GR-04-03-001 - 003 (Ground Photograph). SAB35696.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, (1843) 293-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- Guardianship Monument (National): 728;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 90216;
- NMR Card Number: NJ96SE1;
- NRHE Numlink: 20804;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ96SE0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM90216 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20804 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (16)
- --- SAB1155 Bibliographic reference: MITCHELL, A. 1908. MACFARLANES GEOG COLL 1906-8. Y. 1, 1748.
- --- SAB12639 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 15 2000 . AAS/00/04/G13/12-3. Black & White. AAS/00/04/G13/12-3.
- --- SAB12640 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 15 2000 . AAS/00/04/CT66-8. Colour Transparency. AAS/00/04/CT66-8.
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. (1843) 293-4.
- --- SAB13388 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1930 . SC 1174622 - 1174626. Black & White. SC 1174622 - 1174626.
- --- SAB14889 Ground Photograph: Jul 8 1985 . ER 33-40. Black & White. ER 33-40.
- --- SAB14890 Ground Photograph: Jul 8 1985 . ES 13-5. Black & White. ES 13-5.
- --- SAB2007 Bibliographic reference: WILSON, D. 1851. THE ARCH & PREHIST ANN OF SCOT. 120, 177.
- --- SAB238 Bibliographic reference: CORDINER, C. 1780. ANTIQU & SCENERY, N SCOTLAND. 47.
- --- SAB265 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1892. CAT OF NMAS.. 178.
- --- SAB32481 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT38. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT38.
- --- SAB32552 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1979 . AAS/GR/79/CT55,61. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/79/CT55,61.
- --- SAB32667 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1976 . AAS/GR/76/CT15. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/76/CT15.
- --- SAB35696 Ground Photograph: Mar 2 2004 . AAS-GR-04-03-001 - 003. Digital. AAS-GR-04-03-001 - 003.
- --- SAB363 Bibliographic reference: DOE. 1967. A M's SCOT. 7.
- --- SAB996 Bibliographic reference: KIRK, W. 1956. THREE BRONZE AGE CIST BURIALS IN NE SCOTLAND. IN PSAS 88(1954-6) 10-2. Y. 10-2.
Finds (3)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Dec 29 2023 8:43AM
