| Cairnholy
Chambered Cairns I and II
Chambered Cairn, Galloway, Scotland. Theme - Archaeology Other themes: Scotland Cairnholy 2 AR20, AR72 |
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This is a group of two chambered cairns about 150 m apart at NX 517538 on a hillside overlooking Wigtown Bay in Galloway. They have been dated to the late neolitihic or early bronze age, and were probably in use at the same time.
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Cairnholy
1 (AR17, AR18,
AR19,
AR73,
AR74)
is the more impressive of the two structures, with an imposing facade (reminiscent
of that of West Kennet
Long Barrow). Excavation found evidence of fires (oak and hazel) having
been lit in six places in front of the facade, suggesting ceremonial use.The
sealed inner tomb chamber in the long cairn (about 50 m long) has lost
its capstone, bits of which may now be part of the dry stone wall in the
distance.
Cairnholy II (AR20, AR72), while smaller and less impressive, retains its capstone, and, from the photography point of view, makes a rather good silhouette (see AR72) against the sky! Finds at the Cairnholy site have included a stone with a finely carved cup-and-ring mark, late neolithic pottery and a flint knife. Part of a ceremonial jadeite axe (jadeite probably imported from the Alps!) was also found, possibly indicating that Cairnholy was a place of some considerable importance. |
