Alternative Names Giant's Cairn
Site type CAIRN(S), STONE BALL (STONE)
Canmore ID 20601
Site Number NJ94NW 10
NGR NJ 9390 4908
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish OLD DEER
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District BANFF AND BUCHAN
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ94NW 10 9390 4908.

(NJ 9390 4908) Cairn (NR) (Site of)
OS 6" map (1959)

The 'Giant's Cairn', situated in a small plantation on the highest ground in Buxie, must have been the largest cairn in the district, being 346' in circumference. It appears to have been similar to the cairns on Wind Hill (NJ94NE 6) and in White Cow Wood (NJ95SW 5) being surrounded by a ring of boulders many of which still remain.
The Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB 1870) records that nothing was found at the base of the cairn when it was removed prior to 1870; Milne states that urn fragments were found in it when it was robbed to build dykes in 1800 and 1860. On the N side of the cairn were two small cairns, one about 60' the other 50', in circumference, each having a stone kerb abutting on the Giant's Cairn.
A few yards to the S stood what appeared to be a miniature lime-kiln with fire-marked stones inside, measuring about 6-7' x 3-4'. About 510 yds to the S, two rings of stones, similar to those described and probably marking the sites of removed cairns, were themselves removed about 1824. A stone ball was found nearby in 1869.
J Milne 1898

An amorphous scatter of stones in an area of cleared woodland, marks the site of these cairns. About 5.0m to the N of the OS siting symbol are 4 earthfast boulders set out in a line, which may be the remains of a kerb. There is no trace of the 2 cairns to the N, or the rings of stones to the S, nor of the alleged 'kiln'.
Visited by OS (RL) 18 April 1968

Buchan Field Club (1890a) 'Excursion to Old Deer, 6th June 1888', Trans Buchan Fld Club, vol.1
Page(s): 76

Milne, J (1898b) 'Place-names in Buchan', Trans Buchan Fld Club, vol.4
Page(s): 209

Ordnance Survey (Name Book) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale)
Page(s): Book No.68, 23 Held at RCAHMS Ref