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:

Temple Wood,stone circles and cairns 330m SW of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90300Crinan Moss,cist,Barsloisnoch Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM195Crinan Harbour, pyroligneous acid works Industrial: chemical SM5814Ford,stone setting 270m SW of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM202Poltalloch,cup & ring marked rock 225m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM222Ford,cairn 60m E of Forestry Houses Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM5442Poltalloch,standing stone 500m WSW of East Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM224Dun Mac Samhainn,dun Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM5474Crinan Canal,Loch a' Bharain canal feeder Industrial: inland water SM6502Rhudil Mill,cairn 225m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM226Nether Largie,cup marked rock 440m N of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM217Nether Largie South, chambered cairn 120m S of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM13299Achnabreck,standing stone 275m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM168Baluachraig,prehistoric rock carvings 100m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90026Barsloisnach, two cists 230m ESE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM181Kilchoan Lodge,chambered cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM220Rowanfield Cottage,cist 275m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM228Nether Largie,standing stones 400m S of Fork Roads Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM218Kintraw,artificial hillside platform Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM3690Nether Largie Mid, cairn 305m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13298Carn Ban, cairn, Cairnbaan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10333Glebe Cairn,Kilmartin Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90183Ballymeanoch, standing stones 450m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone setting SM4301Gartnagreanoch, chambered cairn, Knapdale Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM10342Torbhlaran,standing stone Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM230Kintraw,cairns and standing stone 200m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM210Carnasserie,two standing stones 500m SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM187Ford,cupmarked rock Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5709Glenmoine,cup and ring marked rock 200m NNW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5491Dunamuck,two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM200Carnasserie Castle, cairn 550m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM186Carnasserie Farm,cup-marked rock 360m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM3349St Bride's Chapel Ecclesiastical: chapel SM2640Dunamuck,one fallen & two standing stones Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM199Crinan Canal,Cairnbaan - Ardrishaig Industrial: inland water SM6501Ardifuir,dun 2400m W of Poltalloch Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun SM234Dun Chonallaich,fort Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort); Secular: shieling SM5473Ederline,crannog 600m W of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: crannog SM5443Poltalloch, cist 55m WNW of North Lodge Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM221Ford,cist 35m ENE of Ford Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM5439Dunamuck, cairn and two standing stones 460m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM198Poltalloch,cup & ring marked rock SW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM223Baroile,chambered cairn 180m SSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM179Barr a Chuirn,fort 430m ENE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM3360Duntroon, fort 140m N of Duntroon Lodge Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort) SM240Stroneskar,cupmarkings 1750m WSW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5624Kilmartin Churchyard, crosses, tombstones, & Neil Campbell Tomb Crosses and carved stones: sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type); Ecclesiastical: burial ground, cemetery, graveyard SM13316Creag Madaidh Mor,mine 1050m WNW of Glenmoine Industrial: mines, quarries SM5490Crinan Canal,Crinan to Cairnbaan Industrial: inland water SM6500Kilmichael Glassary,prehistoric rock carvings Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90184Barnluasgan, enclosure 530m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM3861Loch Coille-Bharr, enclosure 220m NW of, Knapdale Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM10336Dunchragaig,cairn 280m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90111Rhudil Mill, cairn 410m ENE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM227Dunamuck, chambered cairn 350m SSE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM11053Carnasserie 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 SM90061Stroneskar,cupmarked rock and cairns W of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5710Nether Largie North, cairn 480m NNE of Nether Largie Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM13294Poltalloch, three cists 320m S of Cnoc-an-teallaidh Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist SM225Ballymeanoch, henge, 390m WNW of Ballmeanoch Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: henge SM176Achnabreck,prehistoric rock carvings 370m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90006Ballygowan,prehistoric rock carvings 100m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM90025Cairnbaan, prehistoric rock art 230m N & 215m NNE of Cairnbaan Hotel Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM13211Dunadd,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 SM90108Dun mac Samhainn, cairn Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM201Auchinellan,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 SM5669Clach an t'Sagairt,chambered cairn,Ardfern Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn SM3376Dun, enclosure and cairn, 200m W of Barnluasgan Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM10337Ormaig,cupmarked rocks 320m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5488Ballymeanoch,cairn 300m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3342Ri Cruin,cairn 210m S of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM90247Dunadd, standing stone 190m ESE of Dunadd Cottage Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM197Auchinellan,cupmarked rocks 1150m N of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM5516Creagantairbh Beag,standing stone at S end of Loch Ederline Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone SM194Ballymeanoch,kerb cairn 430m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM3749Barnluasgan, enclosures 1200m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive) SM3860Barnluasgan, enclosure 950m NNE of Prehistoric domestic and defensive: homestead SM7265Old Glennan, standing stone 60m N of, and cairns 50m & 125m NW of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM5514Lady's Seat,cairn 420m WNW of Ballygowan Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain) SM211Achnabreck, prehistoric rock carvings 485m NNE of Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art SM12957.

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

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