Aberdeenshire HER - NK04NW0003 - BALUSS, CAIRNGALL

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNK04NW0003
NameBALUSS, CAIRNGALL
NRHE Card No.NK04NW3
NRHE Numlink 21023
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Artefact
Site Condition Unknown
Details Two oak coffins found in this area of peat moss in 1813 when peat diggers removed a tumulus. A contemporary description with a watercolour of one of the coffins says, 'In digging peat moss on the estate of Cairngall Longside parish in August 1813 men found in a tumulus, two oak coffins, one of them entire, the other not so. Hollowed out of the solid tree measuring seven feet by two feet. No vestige of bones was found in them, but a small quantity of soft earthy matter. Their tops were flat boards; and their exteriors exhibited the bark of the tree in a very perfect state. They were placed close together and lay east and west.' Both coffins had been hollowed out of solid trees, had parallel sides, rounded ends and two projecting knobs for carrying. Part of one (circa 5 inches long) was in Arbuthnott Museum, Peterhead in 1888. On English analogies they have Food Vessel associations.
Last Update09/05/2022
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NK04NW0003

National Grid Reference: NK 0000 4700



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
1813 Excavation

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
TUMULII SITE OFA95
COFFINS OAKB100
TREES HOLLOWEDC100
KNOBS PROJECTINGD100