Canmore (A S Henshall 1972) cites this as a ‘possible long cairn..... measuring 105’ along the ENE-WNW axis, and about 5’ high. Across the E end it is about 30’ wide, across the centre it is about 38’, and about the same across the W end’. Now I’m all for pragmatism – realism, even – and fully understand that, in the absence of dateable finds obtained through excavation, we’ll never be certain of the prehistoric ancestry of any monument.... but – bearing in mind the dimensions quoted – perhaps having the mother of all clearance cairns located in this fine spot above the River Lyon is rather more unlikely than the ‘real thing’? Perhaps.
The more-or-less dry morning at Na Carraigean becomes a volatile (very) late Spring afternoon of sunshine and violent showers. For some reason this long cairn has never really fired my imagination enough to spare the time for a visit before, although in retrospect this was perhaps due to the remnants of dyke somewhat obscuring form when viewing from the road. Not that this is a viable excuse, since it’s possible to park nearby and gates at either end of the field are (currently) both unlocked. Easy, then. What’s more this small effort will reveal a quite upstanding, substantial long cairn, looking for all the world like a long barrow in its ‘grassed-over’ state. OK, as Greywether notes, there is no hint of a chamber, but the setting, within a fertile valley surrounded by hills, is about as good as you could wish for. The course of the River Lyon is mostly obscured by trees from the long cairn.... however to my mind the pieces of the jigsaw are all in place.
Let’s just say you would have to be a first class muppet to (allegedly) wash your hands of this gorgeous landscape for the sake of a bit of power in Palestine. Mentioning no names....
The legend that PP was born in the "roman praetorium" at Fortingall persists to this day - despite the site being clearly identified as a medieval moated enclosure. OGS Crawford wrote over 60 years ago "There is nothing Roman here and every indication of medieval work". Excavation showed him to be correct, there to be no evidence of any roman fort or camp - yet the site is still referred to locally as a roman camp or fort.
The nearest "roman praetorium" is probably Fendoch in the Sma' Glen or Bochastle at the Pass of Leny.
Must admit I believe very little about the whole Jesus Christ myth myself... however something so bizarre as Pilate coming from here begs the question 'who made it up and what prompted something so outlandish in the first place?' More often than not legends this arguably far fetched have a kernel of truth somewhere.