Giants' Graves, Arran

Coordinates: 55°28′35″N 5°05′50″W / 55.476416°N 5.09732°W / 55.476416; -5.09732

Giants' Graves

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 / 55.476416; -5.09732
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

  1. ↑ Paddy Dillon (2012), Walking on the Isle of Arran, page 80 Cicerone Press
  2. 1 2 3 4 RCAHMS. "Giants' Graves North (40122)". Canmore. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 RCAHMS. "Giants' Graves South (40127)". Canmore. Retrieved 7 May 2014.

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