Document record MAB61174 - MAINS OF MELGUND

Site of probable large scale cist cemetery, or a number of small cemeteries.

Site of probable large scale cist cemetery, or a number of small cemeteries. Both Jervise and Stuart, writing circa 1850, record the discovery of cists in the area between Mains of Melgund and the village of Aberlemno. Stuart wrote 'the farmer at Melgund admits that, in levelling down a great many hillocks on his farm he buried the bones in the places where he found it convenient, and used the coffin slabs for covers for his drains'. Jervise recorded that 'in the hollow between Flemington and the Den of Melgund, cists were so numerous till within the last few years, that on opening the smallest hillock, specimens could be procured at convenience' and that 'almost all of them are found to contain bones in a comparatively entire state, and in some instances, whole skeletons have been got'. The cists are described as being about 1.37 m long. There is no record as to whether the hillocks were natural or artificial. It is unknown to what extent this cemetery area survives today. See also NO55NW0021, NO55NW0022, NO55NW0062 and NO55NW0073 for cists discovered in this area.

JERVISE, A, 1856, NOTICES DESCRIPTIVE OF THE LOCALITIES OF CERTAIN SCULPTURED STONE MONUMENTS IN FORFARSHIRE -PART 1. , p192 (Bibliographic reference). SAB926.

STUART, J, 1856, SCULPTURED STONES OF SCOTLAND, p25 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1800.

Record last edited

Mar 4 2020 3:02PM