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Bedshiel is a cairn situated in Berwickshire, Scotland, approximately 950 metres north-north-east of Bedshiel settlement. The monument stands on bedrock formed during the Permian period, part of an unnamed igneous intrusion of felsic rock composition. This geological foundation of crystalline igneous material would have presented a challenging surface for prehistoric communities constructing the cairn, requiring careful selection and positioning of stones.
The cairn belongs to a widespread tradition of stone burial and ceremonial monuments erected across upland Scotland during the Bronze Age and earlier periods. Such structures served as visible markers across the landscape, functioning as burial deposits, ritual sites or territorial indicators for dispersed pastoral communities. The monument's position on elevated terrain in the Borders region places it within a landscape rich in prehistoric settlement evidence.
The cairn is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference number SM4630, reflecting its importance as archaeological evidence for early settlement and burial practices in the region. Although specific details of its construction and date remain undocumented, the monument contributes to our understanding of how Bronze Age communities used the landscape of south-eastern Scotland.
Bedshiel,cairn 950m NNE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4630. View the official record →
Bedshiel is a cairn situated in Berwickshire, Scotland, approximately 950 metres north-north-east of Bedshiel settlement. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4630.
Bedshiel,cairn 950m NNE of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM4630.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dirrington Little Law,cairn on summit of (1.1 km), Halliburton,cairn 1300m N of (2.7 km), Evelaw Tower (2.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Bedshiel,cairn 950m NNE of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Bedshiel,cairn 950m NNE of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Carboniferous To Permian, bedrock that formed in the Permian. The rock here is felsic-rock.