Court Cairn

The Court cairn is a variety of megalithic chamber tomb found in south west Scotland and northern Ireland. They are alternatively known as Clyde Carlingford tombs.

The Scottish tomb builders generally favoured inhumation whilst in Ireland, cremation was preferred. Most appear to have been built in the early Neolithic, around 3500 BC but many remained in use until as late as the Bronze Age transition c. 2200 BC.

A long rectangular or trapezoid cairn covered several burial chambers, with a curved outer area at the entrance called the court or forecourt. In plan this has an appearance of a claw or set of horns. The chambers themselves divided sections of a gallery, separated by jambs or jambs and sills. Some tombs have additional side chambers making them Transepted gallery graves.

They share architectural features with other forms of gallery graves such as the Severn-Cotswold tombs of south west Britain, implying some form of genetic or economic connection.

See also Chambered cairn.