Giants' Graves, Arran
55°28′35″N 5°05′50″W / 55.476416°N 5.09732°W
 Giant's Grave North | |
  Shown within the Isle of Arran, Scotland | |
| Location | Isle of Arran |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°28′35″N 5°05′50″W / 55.476416°N 5.09732°W |
| Type | Chambered burial tomb |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
The Giants' Graves are the remains of two Neolithic chambered tombs on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. They are situated within 40 metres of each other, and stand on a ridge 120 metres above the sea in a clearing in a forest, overlooking Whiting Bay to the south.[1]
Giant's Grave North
This cairn (grid reference NS04302467) has been much robbed, but the edges are still well-defined.[2] The main axis of the cairn is north-south, the north end being wider with a concave facade.[2] The chamber is 6 metres long, and around 1 metre wide.[2] It was excavated in 1902, and among the artifacts recovered were pottery shards, flint knives, and leaf-shaped arrowheads.[2]
Giant's Grave South
This cairn (grid reference NS04312463) is at right angles to the larger northern cairn.[3] The main axis is east-west, and the entrance was at the west end.[3] The chamber is about 4 metres long, and over 1 metre wide.[3] Excavations in 1902 only revealed soil and stones, however in 1961-2 further exploration produced nine sherds of a round-based vessel, and fragments of burnt bone.[3]
References
- ^ Paddy Dillon (2012), Walking on the Isle of Arran, page 80 Cicerone Press
- ^ a b c d Historic Environment Scotland. "Giants' Graves North (40122)". Canmore. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d Historic Environment Scotland. "Giants' Graves South (40127)". Canmore. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
External links
Media related to Giants' Graves, Isle of Arran at Wikimedia Commons