stirling-1963-vol-1/05_099

Transcription

No. 28 --CAIRNS, CISTS, ETC. -- No. 35
28. Cist, Manuelhaughs (Site). The O.S. 6-inch map ¹
records the discovery in 1840 of a cist at the W. end of
the Avon Viaduct (No. 472). a quarter of a mile NE. of
Manuelhaughs farmhouse.

979770 -- NS 97 NE (unnoted)

29. Cist, Brakes (Site). The New Statistical Account
records the discovery of a cist at Brakes, ² in Muiravon-
side parish. This place-name has disappeared and the
site cannot now be identified.

30. Cairn Law (Site). Gordon ³ reports the existence
of a cairn at some point between the probable Roman
temporary camp at Tower (No. 121) and the cairn at
West Carlestoun (No. 10). No trace of it now remains,
although a recollection of it may be preserved in the
name "Law". An "urn containing human bones" was
found hereabouts ⁴ and may have come from the cairn in
question.

c. 618743 -- NS 67 SW (unnoted) -- 19 June 1954

31. Cist, Glenorchard House (Site). It is recorded ⁵
that in 1874 a cist containing a Food Vessel was unearthed
during the digging of gravel at a point about 300 yds.
NNE. of Glenorchard House, one mile and a quarter W.
of Torrance.

598744 -- NS 57 SE (unnoted)

32. Chambered Cairns, Craigmaddie Muir (Sites).
Two structures which, from published descriptions,
seem to have been chambered cairns were reported in
1793 ⁶ to have existed not far from the Auld Wives Lift
(No. 576), but out of sight of that feature. The larger
cairn was said to have measured 60 yds. in length by
10 yds. in breadth, and to have contained "through the
whole length of it -- two rows of broad stones, set on
edge on the ground, at the distance of about 4 feet from
each other. Between these rows the dead were buried,
having flag stones laid over them. The heap raised above
them was mostly of pretty large stones, quarried from
the adjoining rock." This structure was then (1793)
"almost entirely carried away." Another account ⁷ adds
that the passage formed by the parallel walls of flags and
lintels was "divided by partitions into cells of 6 or 7 feet
long." A similar arrangement is recorded at Cuff Hill,
Ayrshire, though at that site there were two rows of cists,
one on either side of a passage. ⁸
Remains which may be those of this cairn are situated
about 90 yds. NW. of the cottage, now demolished,
named Craigmaddie Muir on the 1923 edition of the
O.S. 6-inch map (Fig. 5, no. 7). They consist of a row of
earthfast boulders forming a slight arc about 27 ft. in
length, surrounded and partly covered by rubble. At the
middle point of the arc there is a gap, from one side of
which two earthfast boulders run out radially from the
convex side of the arc. These might have formed part of
one side of the chamber. At a distance of about 54 ft. to
the SE. there is a pile of rubble which may represent part
of the debris of the demolished cairn.
The second cairn was opened in 1792, ⁹ and was
reported to be similar in construction to the first but
not so large. Bones and urns were discovered within it.
One of the sherds is said to have been ornamented, near
the mouth, with two shallow grooves, and to have
belonged to a vessel at least 20 in. in diameter. An
urn of such proportions must have been either a
Neolithic vessel or a Cinerary Urn. In view of the method
of construction of the chamber it may be assumed that
both cairns were related to the Arran or Clyde-
Carlingford types.

c. 5876 -- NS 57 NE (unnoted) -- 19 June 1954

33. Cairn, Ballagan (Site). It is recorded ¹⁰ that when a
cairn on the estate of Ballagan was opened, a cist con-
taining ashes and a piece of a bronze sword was found
within it. The exact site of the cairn is not known, but
the sword fragment was presented to the National
Museum of Antiquities in 1788. ¹¹

c. 5779 -- NS 57 NE (unnoted)

34. Cist, Broadgate (Site). In 1953 a trial excavation
was carried out upon a mound 220 yds. S. of Broadgate
farmhouse, which it was thought might prove to be a
chambered cairn. The excavation did not succeed in
determining whether the mound was an artificial or a
natural feature, but a short cist of Bronze Age type was
found near the N. end about 2 ft. below the surface.
Owing to lack of time the cist was covered up again
without having been opened. ¹²

567792 -- NS 57 NE (unnoted)

35. Chambered Cairn, Strathblane (Site). Nothing
now remains of the cairn that once existed between
Broadgate farm and Strathblane parish church. ¹³ It is

1 Edition of 1865, sheet xxxi.
2 Vol. viii (Stirlingshire), 210.
3 Itin. Septent., 21.
4 O.S. 6-inch map, ed. 1864, sheet xxxii.
5 P.S.A.S., lxxxv (1950-1), 184.
6 Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride
(1793), 87.
7 Stat. Acct., xv (1795), 279.
8 P.S.A.S., ix (1870-2), 231. Cf. also Nos. 12 and 35.
9 Ure, Loc. cit.
10 Arch. Scot., iii (1831), App. ii, 67.
11 P.S.A.S., xiii (1878-9), 329; Museum number DL 29.
12 Scottish Regional Group, Council for British Archaeology,
Eighth Report (1953), 16.
13 Ure, D., op. cit. 222.

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