Cairnholy: Difference between revisions
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'''Cairnholy''' (or '''Cairn Holy''') is the site of two [[Neolithic British Isles|Neolithic]] chambered tombs. It is located 4 kilometres east of the village of [[Carsluith]] in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], [[Scotland]] ({{gbmapping|NX518540}}). The tombs are in the care of [[Historic Scotland]]. The name Cairnholy represents Gaelic ''*Càrn na h-ulaidhe'' ‘cairn of the stone tomb’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gatehouse-folk.org.uk/userfiles/files/Place%20Names/Fleet%20Valley%20P-Ns%20C.pdf|title=Place-names in and around the Fleet Valley: C|last=James|first=Alan G.|date=16 October 2018|website=Gatehouse Folk|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> |
'''Cairnholy''' (or '''Cairn Holy''') is the site of two [[Neolithic British Isles|Neolithic]] chambered tombs. It is located 4 kilometres east of the village of [[Carsluith]] in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], [[Scotland]] ({{gbmapping|NX518540}}). The tombs are in the care of [[Historic Scotland]]. The name Cairnholy represents [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] ''*Càrn na h-ulaidhe'' ‘cairn of the stone tomb’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gatehouse-folk.org.uk/userfiles/files/Place%20Names/Fleet%20Valley%20P-Ns%20C.pdf|title=Place-names in and around the Fleet Valley: C|last=James|first=Alan G.|date=16 October 2018|website=Gatehouse Folk|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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Revision as of 18:44, 20 April 2019
54°51′33″N 4°18′34″W / 54.859239°N 4.309579°W
 Cairnholy I | |
  Shown within Dumfries and Galloway | |
| Location | Dumfries and Galloway |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°51′33″N 4°18′34″W / 54.859239°N 4.309579°W |
| Type | Chambered tomb |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
Cairnholy (or Cairn Holy) is the site of two Neolithic chambered tombs. It is located 4 kilometres east of the village of Carsluith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (grid reference NX518540). The tombs are in the care of Historic Scotland. The name Cairnholy represents Gaelic *Càrn na h-ulaidhe ‘cairn of the stone tomb’.[1]
Description
The Cairnholy tombs are situated on a hillside overlooking Wigtown Bay. They are situated next to Cairnholy Farm. The site can be accessed at the end of a minor road about 1 kilometre from the A75 road. The two tombs lie within 150 metres of each other.[2]
Both tombs lie open to the sky as most of their original covering stones have been taken in the past to build field walls.[2] Both tombs were partially excavated in 1949 by Stuart Piggott and Terence Powell.[2] Finds from the excavations are in the National Museum of Scotland.[3][4]
Cairnholy I
Cairnholy I (grid reference NX51765389) is the more elaborate of the two tombs. It measures 50 by 15 metres and has a monumental curving façade, that formed the backdrop to a forecourt in front of the tomb.[3] Excavation showed that several fires had been lit in the forecourt.[2]
The tomb itself has two chambers. The outer chamber, which was entered through the façade, contained a fragment of a jadeite ceremonial axe, together with sherds of Neolithic pottery and a leaf-shaped arrowhead.[3] Late grave-goods comprised Peterborough-ware and Beaker-ware pottery sherds and a flint knife.[3] The inner chamber was built as a closed box, and was inaccessible from the outer one.[2] It was probably originally roofed by a great stone slab resting on the two taller end-slabs.[2] The inner chamber contained a secondary cist, with food vessel sherds and a cup-and-ring carved stone.[3]
Cairnholy II
Cairnholy II (grid reference NX51825404) is located to the north of Cairnholy I. Local tradition maintains that it was the tomb of Galdus, a mythical Scottish king.[2] It is from this tomb that the nearby farm takes its name.[3] It measures 20 by 12 metres, and is less than 60 centimetres high.[4] It has been robbed of stones but there are still two portal stones in front of the chambered tomb.[2] There is a very shallow v-shaped forecourt at the front of the tomb.[4] The tomb contained two chambers.[4] The rear chamber had been previously robbed, and the other disturbed, but an arrowhead and a flint knife were found within the filling, along with secondary sherds of Beaker pottery.[4]
Other prehistoric monuments
Around 160 metres to the east of Cairnholy farm is the remains of circular cairn less than 15 centimetres high (grid reference NX51975413).[5] When stones were being removed from it some time before 1849, it was found to contain human bones.[5]
The area is surrounded with rocks bearing cup and ring marks.[6][7][8][9]
Kirkdale Church
Around 700 metres to the west are the ruins of Kirkdale Church. The church was dedicated to St Michael. Kirkdale, which belonged to Whithorn Priory, was originally a separate parish, which united with Kirkmabreck in 1618.[10] The church is enclosed by an overgrown burial ground.[10]
References
- ^ James, Alan G. (16 October 2018). "Place-names in and around the Fleet Valley: C" (PDF). Gatehouse Folk. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h Cairn Holy Chambered Cairns, Historic Scotland, accessed 6 February 2014
- ^ a b c d e f Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy I (63716)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy II (63705)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy 6 (63757)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy 4 (63726)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy 5 (63728)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy 8 (77510)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cairnholy 9 (77506)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Kirkdale Church And Burial-Ground (63727)". Canmore. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
External links
