Dr John Wells uploaded a kite aerial photo from the archives of the West Lothian Archaeological Trust (first published on our website: web.archive.org/web/20160306103724/armadale.org.uk/cairnpapple.htm) to commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kite_Aerial_Photo_of_Cairnpapple_Hill,_Cairn_and_Henge,_Scotland.jpg under the license creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
Dr John Wells uploaded a work by Jim Knowles from the archive of the West Lothian Archaeological Trust with the authors permission – commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cairn_and_Henge_on_Cairnpapple_Hill_in_West_Lothian,_Scotland.jpg – licensed by creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
Taken from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scalpsie_Cairn_on_the_Isle_of_Bute_in_Scotland.jpg where it is licensed creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
The Prehistory Guys have done two recent podcasts about this tomb on their patreon and maybe they will get released on their youtube later, not sure. Anyway it’s very interesting stuff – this is the free to read academic paper the Guys and El Pais are discussing -science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/sciadv.adp1295
I found this on a bleak foggy day. Buy it was well worth the effort to see this gem of a stone. It was just over a round trip of 7km from the parking up the hill from Fowlis Wester.
It’s a nice little walk from the car park to Stony Littleton.
Visited May 2013
The sign has probably seen better days. 😉
Visited May 2013
A view of Silbury Hill as seen on my way to West Kenneth Long Barrow.
Visited May 2013
Stoines 101-106 from the inner circle of the south-east quadrant.
Visited May 2013
Is this ‘tumulus’ the real deal? Of gorse it is...
I have just read Steve Marshall’s book “Exploring Avebury – The Essential Guide” and am absolutely thrilled by the wealth of detail, the fantastic photos and the underlying ideas about Avebury and it’s landscape.
Highly recommended!
Not to be confused with another “Gorse Stack/Beacon” (according to AI, ahem) at the summit of Mynydd Hiraethog (the Denbigh Moors), some way to the northwest, this 1,542ft hill – not that far from Cerrig-y-Drudion (yeah, that one) – is the site of what the Ordnance Survey people have seen fit to label a ‘tumulus’.
So, just the sort of thing to entice The Citizen Cairn to lace up the boots, go and have a shufti and enjoy the vibe. Particularly since a quick perusal of the internet (homework? what new sorcery is this?) uncovers minimal information. Looking at my map, the outing does not seem particularly taxing. However, ‘gorse’. Hmmm.
Approaching from the northwest, I fail to find a suitable parking spot... although, having visited the excellent Caer Caradog some years back, there must be one somewhere ... so I improvise a ‘Plan B’, accessing the obvious bridleway from the minor road near Bryn Deiol, to the northeast (near a distinctive, linear copse of trees). This gets one to a point whereby a final, trackless ascent to the summit can be attempted.. no easy skate, to be fair, the seemingly bemused bovines no doubt wondering what this human muppet is up to?
However, it is worth the effort, the hilltop proving a magnificent viewpoint, particularly towards Northern Snowdonia... and, what’s more, is crowned by (to these eyes) the clear remains of a Bronze Age cairn. As I sit, I observe a farmer gathering sheep below as the sun does its cosmic thing. Yeah, I’m in no hurry to leave...
Coflein reckons:
“Noted as pile of stones, or platform, believed to have been the base of a tumulus. (J.Wiles 24.01.02)”
Stones from the north-west quadrant of Avebury.
Visited May 2013
Stone 1 and 98 and the entrance to Avebury in the south-east quadrant.
Visited May 2013
‘Swindon Stone’ in the north-west quadrant
Visited May 2013
