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Craighead barrow and cairn is a prehistoric burial monument located in Lanarkshire, Scotland, situated 820 metres north-west of the village it takes its name from. The site rests upon bedrock of the Kirkcolm Formation, a sedimentary wacke deposited during the Caradocian period of the Ordovician, which would have presented substantial stone for cairn construction. The monument comprises both barrow and cairn elements, indicating a burial practice that incorporated earthen and stone components typical of Bronze Age funerary traditions in central Scotland.
The combination of barrow and cairn at this location reflects the upland landscape of Lanarkshire, where exposed geological formations facilitated the gathering of stone for monumental construction. The Kirkcolm Formation bedrock, with its characteristic wacke composition, is quartzose and durable, providing suitable material for cairn building. This geological setting would have been familiar to prehistoric communities working with local stone resources.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM4517, recognising its archaeological significance as evidence of prehistoric burial practice and land use in the region. The survival of both earthen and stone elements at Craighead contributes to understanding the funerary landscape of Bronze Age Lanarkshire.
Craighead, barrow and cairn 820m NW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4517. View the official record →
Craighead barrow and cairn is a prehistoric burial monument located in Lanarkshire, Scotland, situated 820 metres north-west of the village it takes its name from. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4517.
Craighead, barrow and cairn 820m NW 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 SM4517.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Lettershaws,platform settlement 1000m NE of (2.8 km), Boghead,platform settlement 500m SW of (5.2 km), Waterhead,platform settlement 900m N of (5.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Craighead, barrow and cairn 820m NW 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.
Craighead, barrow and cairn 820m NW of stands on Kirkcolm Formation, bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is wacke.