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:

Dunadd, standing stone 190m ESE of Dunadd Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM197Dun Chonallaich,fort Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort); Secular: shieling SM5473Nether Largie North, cairn 480m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13294Cairnbaan, prehistoric rock art 230m N & 215m NNE of Cairnbaan Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM13211Nether Largie South, chambered cairn 120m S of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM13299Auchinellan,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 SM5669Rhudil Mill,cairn 225m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM226Dunchragaig,cairn 280m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90111Barsloisnach, two cists 230m ESE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM181Ballymeanoch,kerb cairn 430m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3749Kilmichael Glassary,prehistoric rock carvings Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90184Dunamuck,one fallen & two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM199St Bride's Chapel Ecclesiastical: chapel SM2640Poltalloch,cup & ring marked rock SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM223Torbhlaran,standing stone Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM230Ford,cupmarked rock Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5709Crinan Canal,Loch a' Bharain canal feeder Industrial: inland water SM6502Ford,cairn 60m E of Forestry Houses Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM5442Ballymeanoch, standing stones 450m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM4301Dunamuck, cairn and two standing stones 460m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM198Glenmoine,cup and ring marked rock 200m NNW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5491Loch Coille-Bharr, enclosure 220m NW of, Knapdale Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM10336Barr a Chuirn,fort 430m ENE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM3360Carnasserie 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 SM90061Crinan Moss,cist,Barsloisnoch Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM195Poltalloch, three cists 320m S of Cnoc-an-teallaidh Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM225Baluachraig,prehistoric rock carvings 100m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90026Baroile,chambered cairn 180m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM179Ballymeanoch, henge, 390m WNW of Ballmeanoch Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: henge SM176Poltalloch, cist 55m WNW of North Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM221Barnluasgan, enclosures 1200m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM3860Clach an t'Sagairt,chambered cairn,Ardfern Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM3376Rhudil Mill, cairn 410m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM227Stroneskar,cupmarked rock and cairns W of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5710Kilchoan Lodge,chambered cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM220Ford,stone setting 270m SW of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM202Crinan Canal,Crinan to Cairnbaan Industrial: inland water SM6500Poltalloch,standing stone 500m WSW of East Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM224Lady's Seat,cairn 420m WNW of Ballygowan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM211Carnasserie,two standing stones 500m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM187Nether Largie,standing stones 400m S of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM218Dunamuck, chambered cairn 350m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM11053Ederline,crannog 600m W of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: crannog SM5443Barnluasgan, enclosure 950m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM7265Crinan Canal,Cairnbaan - Ardrishaig Industrial: inland water SM6501Carnasserie Castle, cairn 550m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM186Poltalloch,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) SM5514Dun, enclosure and cairn, 200m W of Barnluasgan Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10337Ballygowan,prehistoric rock carvings 100m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90025Barnluasgan, enclosure 530m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM3861Ormaig,cupmarked rocks 320m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5488Ri Cruin,cairn 210m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90247Nether Largie Mid, cairn 305m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13298Ardifuir,dun 2400m W of Poltalloch Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM234Auchinellan,cupmarked rocks 1150m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5516Dunamuck,two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM200Nether Largie,cup marked rock 440m N of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM217Rowanfield Cottage,cist 275m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM228Dun mac Samhainn, cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM201Achnabreck,standing stone 275m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM168Dunadd,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 SM90108Carnasserie Farm,cup-marked rock 360m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM3349Ford,cist 35m ENE of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM5439Glebe Cairn,Kilmartin Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90183Gartnagreanoch, chambered cairn, Knapdale Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM10342Kintraw,artificial hillside platform Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM3690Kintraw,cairns and standing stone 200m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM210Achnabreck,prehistoric rock carvings 370m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90006Dun Mac Samhainn,dun Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM5474Achnabreck, prehistoric rock carvings 485m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM12957Creag Madaidh Mor,mine 1050m WNW of Glenmoine Industrial: mines, quarries SM5490Carn Ban, cairn, Cairnbaan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10333Kilmartin Churchyard, crosses, tombstones, & Neil Campbell Tomb Crosses and carved stones: sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type); Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard SM13316Stroneskar,cupmarkings 1750m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5624Creagantairbh Beag,standing stone at S end of Loch Ederline Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM194Ballymeanoch,cairn 300m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3342Duntroon, fort 140m N of Duntroon Lodge Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM240Crinan Harbour, pyroligneous acid works Industrial: chemical SM5814Temple Wood,stone circles and cairns 330m SW of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90300.

Wild Roe Deer

Brett Gregory is an award-winning filmmaker based in Bolton whose production company, Serious Feather, is currently making a documentary about autism and poetry.

As a part of this production, Landscape Britain was asked to advise with regards to the location of specific areas of outstanding natural beauty throughout the region.

Visit www.seriousfeather.com for further information.

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Nether Largie South Cairn map

Nether Largie South Cairn UK Map