CAIRN, a heap of stones piled up in a conical form. In mod ern times cairns are often erected as landmarks; in ancient times they were erected as sepulchral monuments. Burial-cairns are either long or round, corresponding with long barrows and round barrows of earth. Meetings of the tribes were held at them, and the inauguration of a new chief took place on the cairn of one of his predecessors. Thus, in 1225, the O'Connor was inaugurated on the cairn of Fraech, the son of Fiodhach of the red hair. In mediaeval times cairns are often referred to as boundary marks. In Highland districts small cairns used to be erected at places where the coffin of a distinguished person was "rested" on its way to the churchyard. Memorial cairns are still occasionally erected; e.g., the cairn raised in memory of the Prince Consort at Balmoral. (See BARROW.)