Re: Calling Citizen Cairn'd | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

thelonious wrote:

Hi Gladman and everyone else.

I was on Ward hill, Hoy a few days back. The summit has many modern day walker's cairns but just north of the trigpoint a cairn caught my eye that looked different to the rest. Ignoring the walker's cairn on top of it, the rest looks quite wide and low down. Quite like an old one. There's no record that I could find of an ancient cairn on Ward hill but I do like the look of this one. Someone else must have as well as it's been dug into in the middle.

I would be interested in what people think, probably just wishful thinking on my part.

I've uploaded some photos here

http://500px.com/spaceways

I must admit it does look as if there is quite a substantial footprint which, judging by the pics does appear to have been in situ donkey's years, bonded to the earth, so to speak... and, checking the map, the positionning relative to numerous watercourses - not to mention the coast itself - is consistent with much of the stuff I've seen over the years in Wales where cist remains prove an ancient origin beyond all doubt. Speaking of which there appears to be such a feature here, too, although clearly badly damaged. And you say the cairn does not sit at the actual summit, which is also a pretty common feature which generally you would not expect of a walker's effort. All in all I reckon there appears to be a pretty good case. Maybe the Eds would allow this on as a 'possible' to assist others going and doing some field work. It must have a magnificent view!

I've found that the recording of Scottish cairns upon OS maps has become more conservative over time, early versions (e.g of those upon the Red Cuillin of Skye) depicting particular examples in antiquarian typeface, whereas later editions do not. Canmore is also very reluctant to suggest an ancient origin without excavation. Obviously where the interior has been ravaged to build a shelter this can never be forthcoming, so I would advocate taking all factors into account... footprint, bonding to original surface, positionning so as to show a distinct profile from certain directions (e.g. from a settlement below), evidence of internal robbing not used to build a shelter (indicating a possible attempt to find grave goods in times past suggested by local folk memory), an assessment of what other possible reason could the cairn be there for? ... and making a judgment based upon probability.