Scheduled MonumentsScotlandCairn Reain, chambered cairn
Neolithic · Chambered cairn

Cairn Reain, chambered cairn

Scotland
HES SM435
Period
Neolithic
Site type
Chambered cairn
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Cairn Reain is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Caithness, northern Scotland. The monument dates to the Neolithic period and forms part of the distinctive tradition of megalithic burial architecture characteristic of early farming communities in north Britain. As a chambered cairn, the site would have functioned as a communal burial monument, with an internal stone-built chamber accessed via a passage, though its current physical condition reflects the effects of time and past disturbance. The cairn represents an important archaeological witness to Neolithic settlement patterns and funerary practices in the far north of Scotland.

Cairn Reain, chambered cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM435. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Cairn Reain, chambered cairn?

Cairn Reain is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Caithness, northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM435.

What period does Cairn Reain, chambered cairn date from?

Cairn Reain, chambered cairn dates from the neolithic period, and is classified as a chambered cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Cairn Reain, chambered cairn?

Cairn Reain, chambered cairn 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 SM435.

What other scheduled monuments are near Cairn Reain, chambered cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cairn of Get, chambered cairn, cairns and cists (3.2 km), Broughwhin, cairn and stone row 190m NW of Groat's Loch (3.3 km), Cairn Hanach,chambered cairn S side of Warehouse Hill (3.4 km).

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