caithness-1911/05_184

Transcription

[Page] 104 -- HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

PARISH OF REAY.

378. Cairn, Borrowston Mains. - Some 100 yards to the SW. of
the broch at Borrowston Mains (No. 348), near the edge of the cliff
which fringes the shore, is a cairn with a diameter of some 80' and
an elevation of 10' to 11'. It is grass-covered, except towards the
W. where exposure to the elements has prevented the growth of
vegetation. On the summit at the W. side, 1' below the surface, a
short cist is exposed lying with its longer axis ESE. and WNW. It
is covered by a slab measuring 2' 7" in length, 1' 8" in breadth, and
1" in thickness. The cist itself is 2' 1" long by 1' broad and 1' 3"
deep, and is paved with four small flags. When cleared out there
were found near the centre of the floor about a dozen whelk shells,
but no remains of any interment nor any fragments of pottery. This
cairn and the adjacent broch are noted on the O.S. map as ("Green
Tullochs (Broughs)").
O.S.M., CAITH., iv. Visited, 16th September 1910.

379. Cairn, West Shebster. - About 1/4 m. SW. of the cairn-like
mound (No. 387) is a heap of small stones rising from the centre of
the foundation of a larger construction which has possibly been a
cairn. The original diameter has been about 54'.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. ("Cairn"). Visited, 8th September 1910.

380. "Grey Cairn," West Shebster. - Some 300 yards to the E.
of the last are the scanty remains of a cairn which has been almost
entirely demolished.
O.S.M., CAITH., x. Visited, 8th September 1910.

381. Stone Circle (remains of), Shurrery. - About 120 yards S. of
the church at Shurrery are two pointed stones set on end, the east-
most measuring 3' 6" in breadth at base, 2' 2" in height and 1' in
thickness, and the other 3' 2" in breadth, 2' in height and also 1' in
thickness. They stand 11' 4" apart at slightly divergent angles, and
appear to have formed part of a stone circle. The ground in front, where
the rest of the circle would have stood, has been dug for peats. Both
stones stand with their faces in line of the presumed circumference.
O.S.M., CAITH., xvi. (unnoted). Visited, 11th August 1910.

382. Stone Cists, Shurrery. - On the NE. side of the road from
Shurrery to Brawlbin, about 1/2 m. SE. of Shurrery church, at the W.
end of a low natural ridge, are the remains of three small cist-like
compartments formed of flags set on end. The best preserved is near
the centre of the ridge. The flags of which it is formed stand 1' 2"
above the ground level on the outside, but in the interior are exposed
to a height of 2' 9". One side slab and the two end slabs remain.
The length of the side slab is 3' 8" and the breadth of the end slabs
2' and 2' 8" respectively. The main axis lies NNW. and SSE. Some
10' to the NW. and the same distance to the SE. are the remains of
similar cist-like constructions. There is no sign of the existence of
a cairn or mound.
O.S.M., CAITH., xvi. and xvii. Visited, 11th August 1910.

MISCELLANEOUS CONSTRUCTIONS.

383. Mound, Reay. - On the top of the hillock which rises to the
S. of the Drill Hall at Reay are the remains of a circular construction