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Meilein is a burial cairn situated in Inverness-shire, in the northern Highlands of Scotland. The monument lies approximately 150 metres north-west of Meilein itself, occupying ground underlain by Palaeoproterozoic igneous bedrock of felsic composition. This ancient geological foundation, formed over 1.6 billion years ago, provides a substantial base for the cairn structure.
The cairn represents a funerary monument typical of prehistoric Scotland, built to mark and contain the burial of individuals or communities. Its construction would have required the gathering and arrangement of stones from the surrounding landscape, creating a substantial mound that served both practical and symbolic purposes. The choice of location on stable igneous bedrock ensured the monument's durability across millennia.
Meilein burial cairn is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5339, recognising its importance as an archaeological site and tangible link to Scotland's prehistoric past. The cairn contributes to the archaeological record of Inverness-shire and remains a significant example of the burial practices and monumentality characteristic of early prehistoric communities in the Scottish Highlands.
Meilein,burial cairn 150m NW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5339. View the official record →
Meilein is a burial cairn situated in Inverness-shire, in the northern Highlands of Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5339.
Meilein,burial cairn 150m 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 SM5339.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Gearraidh na h-Airde Moire,shielings,Loch Resort (3.2 km), Aird Sleitenish,stone circle (6 km), Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha,settlement,Mealista (9.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Meilein,burial cairn 150m 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.
Meilein,burial cairn 150m NW of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Palaeoproterozoic, bedrock that formed in the Paleoproterozoic. The rock here is felsic-rock.