Cairns have a mystery about them.
Found throughout the world, dating
from prehistoric to modern times, cairns cairns
A cairn site has four main
purposes. To mark a grave; in tribute to a person of significance; for trail
navigation, or as sea markers to help ships determine their location. Cairns also
line the earth with reverence and remembrance beneath the stars. Since there is no mortar used to hold them
together, large burial mounds found throughout Scotland ,
England and Ireland
Most cairns appear natural in
color although some are known to have been painted for religious purposes depending on place and
culture. As trail markers they are used
to indicate specific directions, a living map of sorts or permanent form of 'bread
crumbs' to aid one along a difficult passage.
In Scottish Gaelic "Cuiridh
mi clach air do chàrn" is translated: "I'll put a stone on your cairn". According to folklore from the Highlands , each man going to battle would place a stone
in a communal pile signifying a burial mound. Those who returned from war removed
a stone to signify their survival, those who did not were part of the cairn of
the 'beloved dead.'
Folklore states that the enormous
cairn atop Knocknarea belongs to the mythical Iron Age Queen Maeve. Considered bad luck to remove a stone from
her monument, one is encouraged to travel up its girth to deposit a stone instead
ensuring good luck and protection.
