clava

Clava refers to a group of Bronze Age burial monuments in Scotland, best known as the Clava Cairns at Balnuaran of Clava, near the village of Clava north of Inverness. The site forms a funerary landscape dating to roughly 2000–1500 BCE and is one of the most complete surviving examples of Bronze Age tombs in northern Scotland.

Architecturally, the Clava Cairns consist of circular burial mounds with stone-lined chambers and short passages, typically surrounded by a ring of tall standing stones. Some of the stones bear cup marks. The overall layout blends tomb architecture with stone circles and other ritual features, reflecting a ceremonial landscape used for burial and possibly other rites.

The monuments show a shared tradition of communal burial and ceremonial space in the Bronze Age, with patterns that researchers interpret as influenced by broader megalithic practices in the region. The site is regarded as scientifically significant for understanding Bronze Age funerary architecture, landscape design, and social organization.

The Clava site is protected as a scheduled monument and is managed by Historic Environment Scotland. It remains accessible to the public, though parts of the area are protected to preserve the delicate features of the cairns and stones.

Etymology and usage: the name Clava derives from the nearby locality Balnuaran of Clava; the term is used primarily in archaeology to refer to this cluster of monuments.