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<< Text Pages >> Cists near Armadale Pier - Burial Chamber or Dolmen in Scotland in Isle of Skye

Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 28 December 2009  Page Views: 9576

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Cists near Armadale Pier
Country: Scotland County: Isle of Skye Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 Nearest Village: Armadale
Map Ref: NG640038
Latitude: 57.064588N  Longitude: 5.894396W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
no data Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3
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Cists in Isle of Skye. A prehistoric burial ground has been discovered on Skye. Six slab-lined graves and six cremation pits have been unearthed on the excavation site close to Armadale pier on the Sleat peninsula. Experts say it is one of the most significant archaeological finds yet made in the Highlands.

Flint tools and urns were found inside the graves, although skeletal remains had been damaged due to the tide.

The contents of the burial site are being removed by a team of archaeologists from Inverness and Skye. They could be reconstructed and relocated to a new site at Armadale.

Archaeologist Mary Peteranna said she had no inkling that the raised shingle beach overlooking the Sound of Sleat would contain a treasure trove of remains when work started in September.

Two “cist graves” – meaning they were short and slab-lined – were uncovered during an initial dig. Further excavations revealed a monument with an arc of three standing stones enclosing another cist, which was covered by a two-tonne capstone.

Mrs Peteranna said: “The first two cists, containing two fully-intact and beautifully-decorated urns, were dated to the Bronze Age.

“The cist at the centre was different. This was a substantial monument, with a cist set on a totally different alignment to the first two cists, suggesting an earlier date, probably Neolithic.”

She added: “This is an exciting discovery for Skye and the north-west Highlands, where this type of archaeological site has not been excavated on this level.”

Mrs Peteranna said there was no evidence the land was once a settlement and it appeared to be exclusively used as a burial site.

She said its prominent location was chosen as it would be observed by sea travellers in the Sound of Sleat, while the cist at the centre would have contained a person of importance.

Mrs Peteranna said the discoveries had captured the imagination of islanders, with heritage and history groups being taken on tours.

She is now keen to excavate sections of the hills around Armadale to search for further ancient remains.

“I didn’t think we would find anything here, but it has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she added.

Read more, with a photo of the site at the Press and Journal


Note: Seventh, even older grave discovered at Skye Bronze Age dig site, see comments on this page
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Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
NG6403 : Armadale Pier by Sandy Gemmill
by Sandy Gemmill
©2007(licence)
NG6403 : Armadale Pier - Passenger Footbridge by Sandy Gemmill
by Sandy Gemmill
©2007(licence)
NG6403 : MV Coruisk by Andrew Abbott
by Andrew Abbott
©2014(licence)
NG6403 : Armadale Pier Skye by Clive Perrin
by Clive Perrin
©2014(licence)
NG6303 : Approach to the pier, Armadale by John Lord
by John Lord
©2019(licence)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 334m WNW 284° Armadale Bay Cairn Cairn (NG63680390)
 1.1km SW 222° Dun Acardinon* Stone Fort or Dun (NG63250305)
 2.0km NNE 15° Dun Ela* Stone Fort or Dun (NG64640569)
 3.2km SW 220° Dun Chlo (Tormore)* Stone Fort or Dun (NG618015)
 3.8km NNE 29° Dun Faich Stone Fort or Dun (NG66020697)
 4.5km SW 226° Dun A'Chleirich* Stone Fort or Dun (NG60590091)
 5.2km SW 226° Dun Ban (Sleat)* Stone Fort or Dun (NG60030042)
 6.1km E 88° Dun Ban (Doune)* Stone Fort or Dun (NG70110362)
 6.2km NE 40° Dun Choinnich* Broch or Nuraghe (NG68290834)
 7.1km NNE 30° Dun Knock (Toravaig)* Stone Fort or Dun (NG679098)
 7.3km W 275° Dun Geilbt Stone Fort or Dun (NG56750480)
 8.2km NW 320° Cnoc an Temple* Burial Chamber or Dolmen (NG591104)
 8.4km N 349° Meal-da-Bheinn* Stone Circle (NG629121)
 9.2km NE 38° Dun Ban (Camascross) Stone Fort or Dun (NG70121065)
 9.4km NNW 336° Inver Aulavaig 2* Cairn (NG6059112629)
 9.5km NNW 335° Inver Aulavaig 1* Cairn (NG60441259)
 9.6km NNW 344° Teampuill Chaon* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (NG61831321)
 9.9km NNW 343° Tobar Chaon* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NG61711340)
 12.6km NNW 345° Dun Boreraig Fort* Hillfort (NG615162)
 12.7km NNW 347° Dun Boreraig Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NG61951638)
 13.4km NW 306° Dun Grugaig (Skye)* Stone Fort or Dun (NG53541229)
 14.1km N 1° Heaste Stone Standing Stone (Menhir) (NG6505117847)
 14.2km NW 314° Dun Liath (Elgol)* Broch or Nuraghe (NG54331427)
 14.4km NNW 339° Dun Kearstack* Hillfort (NG596175)
 14.4km NW 312° Allt Na Cille Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (NG539141)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Cists near Armadale Pier" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Seventh grave discovered at Skye Bronze Age dig site by Andy B on Monday, 28 December 2009
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Latest find is thought to be even older than six burials previously found

A seventh grave has been discovered at a prehistoric burial ground being excavated on Skye.

The discovery was made by a team of archeologists working close to Armadale pier on the Sleat peninsula.

Six slab-lined graves and numerous cremation pits were previously unearthed on the house-building plot in October. Excavations began on a second area of the site this month after the removal of overhead power lines.

The latest discovery is believed to be older than pevious graves and could date from the early Bronze Age, more than 4,000 years ago.

The grave contained well-preserved flint arrow heads and knives, which were most likely buried with a person of high status in the community. Archaeologist Mary Peteranna said: “One of the exciting things about this burial was that it turned up below a layer of gravel which appeared to have been naturally shifted at some point in prehistory.

“It suggested to us that this grave could be earlier than other burials on the site.

“Even more amazing, the cist contained a single burial with five flint artefacts in perfect condition.

“Three flint arrowheads and two flint knives were placed with the body at the time of burial. Flint tools of such high quality are a rare occurrence on Skye and these suggest that this was a person of very high status.”

Mrs Peteranna said the burial ground was a “significant” discovery for Skye and the north-west Highlands, “but we don't know enough as yet to call it a site of major national importance”.

Much of the burial site is on a raised shingle beach overlooking the Sound of Sleat, meaning it would have been observed by sea travellers.

The Bronze Age and possibly Neolithic discoveries made in October are being stored at museums in Armadale and Inverness.

The discoveries have not disrupted building work on the site, where UBC Group is erecting homes on behalf of Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association.

Read more in the Press and Journal http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1536528

[ Reply to This ]

Ancient burial site to be moved by Andy B on Saturday, 05 December 2009
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Remains of a burial site on Skye thought to date back to Neolithic times and uncovered during house building work look set to be relocated.

Flint tools and urns along with damaged skeletal remains were found at Armadale on the Sleat peninsula.

The artefacts along with stone slabs used in creating the graves have been removed.

The stonework has been numbered so the site can be moved and recreated at a new location.

Rubha Phoil Permaculture Centre, also in Sleat, has been identified as a possible location.

According to locals, relocating to the centre would keep the remains within ley lines - ancient "spiritual paths".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8368932.stm
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cists near Armadale Pier by Anonymous on Friday, 13 November 2009
Actually there are only 3 cists, but it is very exciting
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