caithness-1911/05_205

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. [Page] 121

PARISH OF THURSO.

cairn rises and expands towards the latter direction. The extreme
length is some 240', the breadth at the NNW. 42', and the elevation
about 5'. At the SSE. the breadth is 82' and the elevation about
10'. The main part of the cairn measures some 44' in breadth and
7' to 8' at its greatest elevation. The expanded portion at the end is
about 90' in length. The one horn which is apparent appears to
be about 25' long. There has been a considerable amount of
dilapidation in rear of the expanded end and towards the NNW.
extremity, which appears to have risen slightly in elevation.
O.S.M., CAITH., xi. Visited, 7th September 1910.

440. Chambered Cairn, Sordale Hill. - Some 25 yards to the S.
of the last are the remains of a round chambered cairn. Its
diameter at the present time is some 34' and its elevation about
3' ; but as the field in which it is situated has long been under cultiva-
tion, its dimensions have probably been considerably reduced. The
entrance to the chamber has been from the WSW. At 21' inwards
from the present edge a slab protrudes, which has evidently formed
the back of the chamber. It is exposed for a height of 2' 8" above
ground and measures 4' 5" in breadth and 1' 2" in thickness. Some
3' 7" in front of it the heads of two slabs in line and 2' 6" apart are
visible, dividing the chamber. Though the chamber is ruined, there
is no evidence of its having been excavated.
O.S.M., CAITH., xi. ("Mound"). Visited, 7th September 1910.

441. Chambered Cairn (horned, long), Sordale HIll. - On the W.
side of Sordale Hill, some 400 yards N. of the long cairn (No. 439),
is another. It lies N. and S. and expands and rises slightly towards
the latter direction. It has an extreme length of 135'. At the N. end
it measures some 34' in breadth and 3' in elevation, and at the S. 53'
in breadth and 7' in elevation. Near the centre of its length it is
some 40' broad and 4' 6" high. At the S. end both horns are apparent
for a distance of some 20' from the cairn, but have been reduced by
ploughing. At the N. end the horn on the E. side only is visible,
and it extends for a distance of 18' from the cairn. Some 43' along
the cairn, from the centre of the N. end, a slab 3' 6" broad, set on
end in the direction of the main axis of the cairn, protrudes for a
few inches and possibly marks the position of a chamber. The
cairn is entirely overgrown with grass, and, though it has been
considerably dilapidated, there is no indication of its having been
excavated.
O.S.M., CAITH., xi. ("Mound"). Visited, 7th September 1910.

442. Chambered Cairn, "Cnoc na Ciste," Sordale Hill. - On the
top of Sordale Hill, and on the line of the boundary between the
parishes of Bower and Thurso, is a chambered cairn. In diameter
it measures 63' from N. to S. by 56' from E. to W., and in elevation
about 8'. The chamber was partially excavated about fifteen years
ago without any record being published, and is now in a ruined state.
It entered by a passage from the SSE., is said to have been circular,
and to have yielded no relics. A large erect slab, evidently forming
the back of the chamber, is visible 20' inwards from the edge. Some
three years previous to the excavation there was discovered, beneath

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