Description

The monument comprises two burial mounds or barrows of the

prehistoric period, probably of the Bronze Age. They are situated about 280m apart in the northern part of the Woods of Cairnie. The burial mounds are apparently complete and both form prominent mounds. They are round in plan, although the NW one has a slightly irregular perimeter.

The NW burial mound measures about 10m in diameter and about 1.5m high. It is composed of earth with no apparent stone content and is sited at the edge of a ridge with the ground falling away to the N and W. The other burial mound lies about 280m to the ESE on the crown of a low ridge and measures about 12m in diameter and about 1.7m high.

The area to be scheduled is in two parts each 50m in diameter centred on each burial mound to include the burial mounds and an area around each in which further remains associated with their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as burial mounds or barrows of the prehistoric period, probably of the Bronze Age, some 3500 years ago. The burial mounds appear to be complete, which makes them of particular importance because they may contain undisturbed burials and other sealed archaeological deposits; this is unusual as many burial mounds and cairns have been robbed in the past. The burial mounds are also of interest because they are probably associated with other broadly contemporary remains which survive in the vicinity and which together have the potential to increase our knowledge of the prehistoric occupation of Northern Scotland, particularly during the Bronze Age.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NJ 80 NW 28 and 29.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland