caithness-1911/05_188

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. [Page] 107

PARISH OF REAY.

395. Enclosure, "Garadh an Ratha," Broubster. - On the W. side
of the road, about 1/2 m. N. of the Bridge of Broubster, is a pear-shaped
enclosure. All around are the ruins of old crofts, and the character
of the construction in uncertain.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. ( "Cairn"). Visited, 8th September 1910.

396. Mound, "Torr an t-Sniomha." - in the Leans of Achreregan,
on the E. side of the road to Shurrery, and about 3/4 m. N. of Broubster
Bridge is a grassy cairn-like mound known as "Torr an t-Sniomha."
It has a diameter of about 50' and an elevation of about 6' . It has
been much dug into from the S. There are no slabs visible to indi-
cate its character, but possibly it has been a kiln.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. Visited, 8th September 1910.

397. Stone Rows, Upper Dounreay. - In a hollow at the N. end of
Cnoc Freiceadain, about 3/4 m. E. of Upper Dounreay, is a setting of
stone rows (fig. 21). The rows, of which there appear to have been
thirteen, lie in a general direction WNW. and ESE., radiating from the
former direction, the expansion being principally directed towards the
S. side of the monument. The stones are of the usual character - thin
slabs protruding to about 1 1/2' above ground, set with their faces across
the rows. A number of the stones lie displaced and many are sunk
beneath the surface. They stand some 4' to 5' apart, and the rows
are 6' to 8' distant from each other near the contracted end and from
6' to 11' at their other termination. The number of stones remaining
in situ appears to be about 115. The width across the rows at the
narrow end of the monument has been some 44' , and at the broad
end about 115', while the length of the rows is about 100'. The
largest stones are at the outer terminations of the rows. Four stones,
from 1' to 1' 2" in length and the same in height above ground,
placed so that they form a somewhat irregular square of 4' at the
WNW., probably marks the original point from which the rows have
radiated at the edge of the hollow. The stones are firmly wedged
into the ground in the same manner as the other stones of the
monument. Within the square there is no sign of a cist, nor
does the soil appear to have been disturbed. Some two-thirds of
the distance towards its broader extremity, the monument has been
cut through by a road, and possibly a similar cause has destroyed
the rows between the small square setting and their present
commencement.*
On the top of a bank to the W. of the stone rows there are

* The following passage seems to be descriptive of a similar setting of stone
rows at Borlum. It came under notice after the inspection of the monuments
in the county had been completed, and inquiries made locally have failed to lead
to the identification of the monument:-
"On a ridge of the Borlum Hills, and within sight of Achinabest, is a
quantity of upright stones about 6' apart and in straight rows as if of an
ancient burying-ground. The peculiarity is that there are two groups at a dis-
tance of 100 yards from each other, the largest of which would represent,
from the number of stones in it, the burial of ninety persons at least, the lesser
group lower down the ridge counting about fifty. Above both groups, against a
long wall-like rock, there is a large enclosure with apparently a fortified gate,
which has the character of an entrenchment or place of safety." ( The Gunns,
p. 55.)