Nether Largie South Cairn by munki-boy

Nether Largie South Cairn

The Nether Largie South Cairn is one of the earliest ancient monuments that were scattered across Kilmartin Glen by our ancestors.

It now forms part of what is known as a linear cemetery, a line of cairns stretching around three miles, roughly south across the landscape from the village of Kilmartin.

The first structure on the site was a chambered tomb, which was built between 5,500 and 5,600 years ago.

The original cairn would have been more oblong than circular and had a passage at its centre, which was used as the final resting place for members of the local farmers. Over a thousand years after the cairn was originally built, it was reused as a place of burial.

In the Early Bronze Age the Cairn was remodelled into a circular cairn. At the same time it was used to house two more burials, in stone cists. Today only one of the two cists is visible, to the south of the main cairn.

The cairn was excavated over a three day period in 1864 by Canon William Greenwell, the librarian of Durham Cathedral and produced many finds. Pottery, knives, arrow heads, flints of various sizes and uses, cremated and uncremated human bones, quartz pebbles, and animal remains, were some of the many finds. You can see some of these finds on display in Kilmartin Museum.

Created: 27  August  2016  Edited: 29  November  2023

Nether Largie South Cairn

Nether Largie South Cairn LiDAR Map

A LiDAR Map showing the area around Nether Largie South Cairn

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Local History around Nether Largie South Cairn

There are some historic monuments around including:

Crinan Moss,cist,Barsloisnoch Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM195Dunamuck, chambered cairn 350m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM11053Ballymeanoch,kerb cairn 430m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3749Ballygowan,prehistoric rock carvings 100m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90025Ri Cruin,cairn 210m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90247Nether Largie,standing stones 400m S of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM218Stroneskar,cupmarked rock and cairns W of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5710Nether Largie South, chambered cairn 120m S of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM13299Poltalloch,cup & ring marked rock SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM223Dunamuck, cairn and two standing stones 460m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM198Ballymeanoch, standing stones 450m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM4301Carn Ban, cairn, Cairnbaan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10333Barr a Chuirn,fort 430m ENE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM3360Baroile,chambered cairn 180m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM179Rhudil Mill,cairn 225m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM226Achnabreck,standing stone 275m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM168Auchinellan,cupmarked rocks and enclosure Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive); Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5669Dunchragaig,cairn 280m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90111Poltalloch, three cists 320m S of Cnoc-an-teallaidh Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM225Nether Largie,cup marked rock 440m N of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM217Crinan Canal,Loch a' Bharain canal feeder Industrial: inland water SM6502Dunadd, standing stone 190m ESE of Dunadd Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM197Duntroon, fort 140m N of Duntroon Lodge Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM240Torbhlaran,standing stone Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM230Ford,cairn 60m E of Forestry Houses Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM5442Cairnbaan, prehistoric rock art 230m N & 215m NNE of Cairnbaan Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM13211Creagantairbh Beag,standing stone at S end of Loch Ederline Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM194Stroneskar,cupmarkings 1750m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5624Dunamuck,two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM200Barsloisnach, two cists 230m ESE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM181Ormaig,cupmarked rocks 320m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5488Ardifuir,dun 2400m W of Poltalloch Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM234Carnasserie,two standing stones 500m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM187Ederline,crannog 600m W of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: crannog SM5443Poltalloch,cup & ring marked rock 225m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM222Old Glennan, standing stone 60m N of, and cairns 50m & 125m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM5514Crinan Canal,Cairnbaan - Ardrishaig Industrial: inland water SM6501St Bride's Chapel Ecclesiastical: chapel SM2640Carnasserie Castle,castle,garden,enclosure and cup-marked stone Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art; Secular: castle SM90061Poltalloch, cist 55m WNW of North Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM221Dun mac Samhainn, cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM201Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings Crosses and carved stones sculptured stone; Prehistoric domestic and defensive hill and promontory fort; Prehistoric ritual and funerary cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks SM90108Clach an t'Sagairt,chambered cairn,Ardfern Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM3376Barnluasgan, enclosure 530m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM3861Ballymeanoch, henge, 390m WNW of Ballmeanoch Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: henge SM176Dunamuck,one fallen & two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM199Dun, enclosure and cairn, 200m W of Barnluasgan Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10337Rowanfield Cottage,cist 275m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM228Ford,cist 35m ENE of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM5439Achnabreck, prehistoric rock carvings 485m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM12957Gartnagreanoch, chambered cairn, Knapdale Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM10342Crinan Canal,Crinan to Cairnbaan Industrial: inland water SM6500Rhudil Mill, cairn 410m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM227Ford,stone setting 270m SW of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM202Achnabreck,prehistoric rock carvings 370m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90006Carnasserie Castle, cairn 550m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM186Barnluasgan, enclosure 950m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM7265Barnluasgan, enclosures 1200m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM3860Kintraw,artificial hillside platform Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM3690Lady's Seat,cairn 420m WNW of Ballygowan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM211Loch Coille-Bharr, enclosure 220m NW of, Knapdale Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM10336Carnasserie Farm,cup-marked rock 360m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM3349Kilmartin Churchyard, crosses, tombstones, & Neil Campbell Tomb Crosses and carved stones: sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type); Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard SM13316Temple Wood,stone circles and cairns 330m SW of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90300Crinan Harbour, pyroligneous acid works Industrial: chemical SM5814Auchinellan,cupmarked rocks 1150m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5516Poltalloch,standing stone 500m WSW of East Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM224Creag Madaidh Mor,mine 1050m WNW of Glenmoine Industrial: mines, quarries SM5490Ford,cupmarked rock Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5709Dun Mac Samhainn,dun Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM5474Glenmoine,cup and ring marked rock 200m NNW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5491Baluachraig,prehistoric rock carvings 100m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90026Kilmichael Glassary,prehistoric rock carvings Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90184Glebe Cairn,Kilmartin Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90183Ballymeanoch,cairn 300m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3342Kilchoan Lodge,chambered cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM220Nether Largie Mid, cairn 305m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13298Nether Largie North, cairn 480m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13294Dun Chonallaich,fort Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort); Secular: shieling SM5473Kintraw,cairns and standing stone 200m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM210.

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Nether Largie South Cairn map

Nether Largie South Cairn UK Map