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Carn Liath is a Neolithic chambered cairn with an associated deserted settlement located in Kilmuir, Inverness-shire. The monument comprises remains of a chambered burial structure dating to the fourth millennium BC, constructed atop bedrock formed from Palaeogene igneous intrusion. This mafic igneous foundation provides the substantial stone resources characteristic of the Highland landscape, which the monument's builders exploited in raising their ceremonial structure.
The site occupies a strategic location within the Kilmuir settlement landscape, where archaeological evidence indicates sustained occupation spanning multiple periods. The chambered cairn itself represents a substantial communal investment in funerary architecture, typical of Neolithic societies in northern Scotland. Such monuments served as enduring focal points for the ritual life of local populations and frequently saw repeated use and remodelling over generations.
Today, Carn Liath survives as a visible testament to early settlement patterns and burial practices in the Scottish Highlands. The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM894, ensuring the preservation of both the chambered cairn and the broader settlement features visible across the surrounding terrain. The site's archaeological and historical significance contributes to understanding Neolithic communities and their relationship to the distinctive geology of Inverness-shire.
Carn Liath, chambered cairn and deserted settlement, Kilmuir is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM894. View the official record →
Carn Liath is a Neolithic chambered cairn with an associated deserted settlement located in Kilmuir, Inverness-shire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM894.
Carn Liath, chambered cairn and deserted settlement, Kilmuir dates from the neolithic period, and is classified as a chambered cairn and deserted settlement, kilmuir. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Carn Liath, chambered cairn and deserted settlement, Kilmuir 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 SM894.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Eilean Chalium Chille,monastery (0.6 km), Dun Liath,dun (1.7 km), Kilbride Point,church,burial ground and post medieval settlement (2.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Carn Liath, chambered cairn and deserted settlement, Kilmuir'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.
Carn Liath, chambered cairn and deserted settlement, Kilmuir stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic igneous-rock.