Mid-Argyll -
21
Glebe Cairn
|
Site/Artefact
Glebe Cairn
Type
Round cairn
Site
Number
21
National Grid
Reference
1833 East
6989 North
Map (
1:25000)
Ordnance Survey Landranger
55
List of Sites
and Artefacts
Click
Here
Interactive
Map
Click
Here
|
|
Excavation Details
Excavated in 1864 by Greenwell.
On excavation two concentric circles of boulders
with a slab-built cist in the centre were
discovered within the cairn, and another, probably
later, boulder-built cist was found in the centre
of the cairn.
Description
This is the northernmost of the five
cairns of Kilmartin's linear cemetery. On
excavation in 1864 two concentric circles of
boulders were discovered with a central cist and
another cist in the cairn's centre. One cist
contained a Food Vessel and a jet necklace. The
other contained a Food Vessel only.
The Glebe cairn, built on the valley floor,
would have probably sited close to the East bank of
the meandering Kilmartin burn, which can now be
seen running its straight canalised form behind.
The glacial terraces in shadow behind describe the
higher levels of former seas before the land
isostatically rebound shortly after deglaciation.
Both Food Vessels are on display at Kilmartin House
museum, as is a cut-away scale model of the
cairn.
Access/Ownership
The site is owned by Historic Scotland and is open
to the public. The site has parking.
References
- Campbell & Sandeman, 16, no.105
- RCAHMS Argyll vol 6 no. 62
- PSAS 6 (1864-6) p339-41
- PSAS 95 (1961-2) p16 no. 105
Other Mid-Argyll Sites
and Artefacts
|