Achnacreebeag

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Cairn of Achnacree

Achnacreebeag (also called Achnacree or Greadal Fhinn ) in Ormsaigmore near Tobermory north of Kilchoan Bay in Argyll and Bute in Scotland , is a two-phase cairn with two different chambers excavated between 1968 and 1970 . Originally the Rundcairn covered the only central, polygonal chamber. Later, a small passage tomb with a polygonal floor plan was added on the south-eastern edge of the hill and the cairn was expanded to its current oval shape. Both chambers are unusual for the region in every way.

Central chamber

The original chamber on the edge of the hill measures 0.9 m × 1.25 m with a height of about one meter. The chamber is made up of five supporting stones. A gap between two of the stones forms the original entrance, into a kind of antechamber or a short corridor, which, however, was no longer functional as soon as the cairn was erected, especially since there are no signs of a corridor through the cairn material. The barrow was stripped of many of its stones. A tiny “secondary chamber” lies in the center of the hill. Surviving curbs of the hill show in two places that the cairn was about 18 m in diameter.

Lateral chamber

The later chamber was reached through a 1.4 m long corridor, of which all three bearing stones have been preserved. It has a polygonal shape, with an area of ​​only 1.4 m × 1.1 m and 0.9 m high. The chamber is enclosed by seven completely preserved large supporting stones with dry masonry . Two of the three capstones survived, one in situ . To cover the passage grave, the original cairn was enlarged on one side to 20.7 m.

The finds consist of Neolithic sherds, a flint knife and some pearls .

The larger passage Tomb in the Cairn of Achnacree is 700 m to the west.

literature

  • Donald A. Davidson, Stephen P. Carter: Soils and their evolution. In: Kevin J. Edwards, Ian BM Ralston (Eds.): Scotland after the Ice Age. Environment, archeology and history, 8000 BC - AD 1000. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh 2003, ISBN 0-7486-1736-1 , pp. 54-55.
  • Frances Lynch: Megalithic Tombs and Long Barrows in Britain . Shire, Princes Risborough 1997, ISBN 0-7478-0341-2 pp. 44-46 ( Shire archeology 73).

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 28 '26.5 "  N , 5 ° 21' 47.1"  W.