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Shian Hillock is a cairn located 445 metres south-east of The Knapp in Nairnshire, Scotland. The monument sits upon bedrock of Middle Old Red Sandstone, formed during the Middle Devonian period and comprising conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. This geological foundation is typical of the landscapes in which many prehistoric cairns were constructed across northern Scotland.
Cairns of this type served as monumental markers within the prehistoric landscape, often functioning as burial monuments or territorial markers. Their construction required substantial labour and planning, indicating their significance to the communities that built them. The survival of such monuments across millennia speaks to their robust construction methods and the enduring nature of stone.
Shian Hillock is afforded legal protection under Historic Environment Scotland's scheduling system, with reference number SM3135. This designation recognises its archaeological and historical importance as a surviving prehistoric monument within Nairnshire's heritage landscape. Protection ensures the cairn's preservation for future study and appreciation by visitors to this part of the Scottish Highlands.
Shian Hillock, cairn 445m SE of The Knapp is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3135. View the official record →
Shian Hillock is a cairn located 445 metres south-east of The Knapp in Nairnshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3135.
Shian Hillock, cairn 445m SE of The Knapp 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 SM3135.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Higher Hillhead, cairn 715m NNE of (1.9 km), Laikenbuie, cairns 300m SSW of (2.6 km), Slagachorrie, dun 835m NW of (2.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Shian Hillock, cairn 445m SE of The Knapp'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.
Shian Hillock, cairn 445m SE of The Knapp stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.