55°26′27″N 5°14′02″W / 55.440828°N 5.233936°W / 55.440828; -5.233936

Torrylin Cairn
Torrylin Cairn
Torrylin Cairn is located in North Ayrshire
Torrylin Cairn
Shown within the Isle of Arran, Scotland
LocationIsle of Arran
Coordinates55°26′27″N 5°14′02″W / 55.440828°N 5.233936°W / 55.440828; -5.233936
TypeChambered burial tomb
History
PeriodsNeolithic
Site notes
OwnershipHistoric Scotland
Public accessYes

Torrylin Cairn is the remains of a Neolithic chambered tomb. It is located near Kilmory on the Isle of Arran in Scotland (grid reference NR95532108).

Description

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Torrylin Cairn is situated beside Kilmory Water just south of the hamlet of Lagg.[1]

The cairn has been interfered with by stone robbing and later dumping of field stones and its original shape and size are uncertain.[2] The chamber is 6.7 metres (22 feet 0 inches) long by about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) wide with each compartment about 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) long.[2] Torrylin Cairn is of a type found across south-west Scotland known as a Clyde cairn, of which a better preserved example can be found at Carn Ban, about three miles (five kilometres) to the northeast.[1] The tomb would probably have had a crescent-shaped forecourt, framed by a façade of slender upright stones.[1]

Antiquarian excavations in the 19th century uncovered an elongated burial chamber, divided into four compartments.[1] Only the innermost compartment was intact. It contained the remains of six adults, a child and an infant.[1] Beside them lay a flint tool and a fragment of pottery.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Torrylin Cairn, Historic Scotland, accessed 2 May 2014
  2. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Arran, Torrylin (39655)". Canmore. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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