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Kilmartin Glen: Ri Cruin Cairn

Near Kilmartin, Argyll
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Reach the southernmost point of the prehistoric ‘linear cemetery’ on Kilmartin Glen’s valley floor.

Ri Cruin was extensively damaged during agricultural works in the 1700s and 1800s, and at one point a lime kiln was even built into the cairn.

It was once the likely resting place of a high-status prehistoric individual. We can tell this from the axe shapes carved into the side stone of a cist – a rare carving and a sign of wealth, also found at Nether Largie Mid and Nether Largie North.

View of a low, circular cairn made of loosely piled stones set within a grassy clearing. The cairn has an uneven surface with a slightly raised central area. Tall trees with dense green foliage form a ring around the site, and sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows across the grass in the foreground. Open fields can be seen through the gaps in the trees.
Close‑up view of a stone-lined chamber opening within the Ri Cruin Cairn. A large, flat capstone lies partially shifted to one side, exposing the dark interior of the burial chamber beneath. The surrounding surface of the cairn is made up of small, rounded stones spread across a grassy clearing. Trees and open fields are visible in the background.
Inside view of a stone burial chamber at Ri Cruin Cairn, showing a tall upright slab. The slab is smooth, worn, and mottled with patches of green. The side walls are built from stacked stones, and sunlight enters from an opening above, casting a bright diagonal beam across the slab. The floor is covered with small pebbles and gravel. Trees and sky are faintly visible through the opening at the top.

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