Site Summary Information

Site Name:

Stevenston

Alternative Name(s):

Pun Brae

Site Type:

Cist

Map Sheet:

Council:

North Ayrshire

Parish:

Stevenston

Site Report

WoSASPIN 5636

(NS 2660 4204) Bronze Age Cist found AD 1895 (NAT)
OS 25" map (1969)

A cist, measuring 3ft 8ins by 1ft 8ins deep was found on 3rd July 1895 when foundations were being dug at Pun Brae. It contained a food vessel and a stone 'club' which are now in the North Ayrshire Museum, Saltcoats along with two other 'clubs' which were apparently found near the cist.
J Smith 1895; A Morrison 1971; D D A Simpson 1965

The find-spot was pointed out by Mr T Banks (Torwood High Road, Stevenston), schoolmaster and local historian. The Pun is now an extinct name, and the area completely altered.
Visited by OS (JLD) 14 September 1956

Although the given provenance of this cist is almost certainly correct, it should be noted that Smith's original location appears to be based on assumption from the name 'Pun Brae', and that he did not have direct knowledge of this find. The ONB (1856) does not record the name 'Pun Brae', but does list 'Pan Brae' as being a street in the harbour area of Saltcoats (NS 247 410), some 1 1/2 kms from the credited provenance.
Visited by OS (JRL) 7 October 1982

Further Reading

Smith, J , Prehistoric man in Ayrshire. London.(1895)

Simpson, D D A , 'Food vessels in South-West Scotland', Trans Dumfriesshire Galloway Natur Hist Antiq Soc, Vol 42, 1964-5, pp.25-50.(1965)

Morrison, A , 'Cist burials and food vessels- some recent discoveries and rediscoveries in Western Scotland', Glasgow Archaeol J, Vol 2, 1971, pp.8-26.(1971)

Ordnance Survey , Name Book (County), Original Name Books of the Ordnance Survey.(n/a)

Morrison, A , The Bronze Age in Ayrshire. [Ayr].(1978)