Cemeteries of platform cairns and long cists around Sinclair's Bay, Caithness

Anna Ritchie (Author)


Keywords:
Cemetery, Circular Cairn, Burials, Rectangular Cairns, Long Cist, Burial, Cairns, Circular Cairns, Platform Cairns
Period(s):
Medieval, Iron Age, 1st Millennium Bc

Abstract


The cemetery at Ackergill in Caithness has become the type site for Pictish platform cairns. A re-appraisal based on Society of Antiquaries of Scotland manuscripts, together with published sources, shows that, rather than comprising only the eight cairns and two long cists excavated by Edwards in the 1920s, the cemetery was more extensive. Close to Edward's site, Barry had already excavated two other circular cairns, three rectangular cairns and a long cist, and possibly another circular cairn was found between the two campaigns of excavation. Two of the cairns were re-used for subsequent burials and two cairns were unique in having corbelled chambers built at ground level. Other burial sites along the shore of Sinclair's Bay are also examined.

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Published
30-11-2012
How to Cite
Ritchie, A. (2012). Cemeteries of platform cairns and long cists around Sinclair’s Bay, Caithness. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 141, 125–143. https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.141.125.143
Section
Articles