Torrylin Cairn

Summary

55°26′27″N 5°14′02″W / 55.440828°N 5.233936°W / 55.440828; -5.233936

Torrylin Cairn
Torrylin Cairn
Torrylin Cairn is located in North Ayrshire
Torrylin Cairn
Shown within the Isle of Arran, Scotland
LocationIsle of Arran
Coordinates55°26′27″N 5°14′02″W / 55.440828°N 5.233936°W / 55.440828; -5.233936
TypeChambered burial tomb
History
PeriodsNeolithic
Site notes
OwnershipHistoric Scotland
Public accessYes

Torrylin Cairn is the remains of a Neolithic chambered tomb. It is located near Kilmory on the Isle of Arran in Scotland (grid reference NR95532108).

Description edit

Torrylin Cairn is situated beside Kilmory Water just south of the hamlet of Lagg.[1]

The cairn has been interfered with by stone robbing and later dumping of field stones and its original shape and size are uncertain.[2] The chamber is 6.7 metres (22 feet 0 inches) long by about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wide with each compartment about 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long.[2] Torrylin Cairn is of a type found across south-west Scotland known as a Clyde cairn, of which a better preserved example can be found at Carn Ban, about three miles (five kilometres) to the northeast.[1] The tomb would probably have had a crescent-shaped forecourt, framed by a façade of slender upright stones.[1]

Antiquarian excavations in the 19th century uncovered an elongated burial chamber, divided into four compartments.[1] Only the innermost compartment was intact. It contained the remains of six adults, a child and an infant.[1] Beside them lay a flint tool and a fragment of pottery.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Torrylin Cairn, Historic Scotland, accessed 2 May 2014
  2. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Arran, Torrylin (39655)". Canmore. Retrieved 2 May 2014.

External links edit

  Media related to Torrylin Cairn at Wikimedia Commons