dumfries-1920/04-108

Transcription

CANONBIE.] -- INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. -- [CANONBIE.

ments is situated just within the fence that
forms the boundary between Dumfriesshire
and Roxburghshire, about 2 miles east-south-
east of Peterburn farm and the same distance
north-east of Bruntshielbog. At 999 feet above
sea-level the position commands a wide pros-
pect extending from Criffel at the mouth of
the Nith on the west to Carter Fell in the
Cheviots on the east.
LONG CAIRNS. - The main constituent of
the group is a regular but much disturbed line
of heaped stones of fair size, which stretches,
over all, for 248 feet from east to west and does
not anywhere exceed 5 feet in height. First,
from the west, comes a long cairn measuring
115 feet with a breadth varying from 25 to

[Plan Inserted]
FIG. 29. - Long Cairns, etc., Windy Edge (No. 47).

30 feet, which is rounded at the west end and
at the east passes into a circular foundation
about 4 feet 6 inches wide where sufficiently
preserved. A passage inwards is indicated
at the western extremity by slabs set on end,
between which it measures 2 feet 8 inches.
A surveyors' cairn has been raised above this
and blocks further examination. On the north
side, however, are the inner halves of two
round built chambers, and the same portion of
another is obvious, opposite one of these,
about half-way along the south side. the
latter measures 6 feet 6 inches across the mouth
and 5 feet 8 inches from front to back, while
the built interior is 4 feet high; it would
appear to have been roofed beehive fashion,
as there is no sign of large roofing slabs.
These chambers were not entered from the
inner passage, but apparently directly from

the outside of the structure, and may thus
be of secondary origin. Some at least must
have projected beyond the outer edge of the
cairn. (Cf. "Cairn na Gath," Balmurrie
Fell, No. 281, in Inventory of Monuments,
Wigtown). The circular expansion shows no
stones larger than the average of those in the
cairn proper, but much of the material has
been removed. The circle is 45 to 47 feet in
diameter, and the interior is marshy.
About 5 feet of clear space intervenes
between this structure and that to the east,
which seems to consist of two circular heaps,
some 30 feet in diameter, connected by a belt
of building, on the north of which one chamber
is clearly distinguished, while on the south
there is a deep bend inwards. This may
indicate the position of another chamber
enlarged by destruction. An entrance from
the east end is suggested by the position of
certain upright flat stones.
SMALL ROUND CAIRNS. - Rather less than
50 feet south of either extremity is the site
of a round cairn, marked by a smooth grassy
sward, a slight rise above the level, and some
scattered stones. That on the east measures
about 20 feet in diameter, and that on the west
about 13 feet.
STANDING-STONES. - Some 90 feet to the
east of the long cairns is a large flat stone
lying over at an angle of about 30 degrees
and 4 feet 2 inches out of the ground on its
southern face, which is 3 feet 6 inches wide at
most, with a few smaller stones scattered on
a slight grassy rise 30 feet in diameter.

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