Hello Lauren, I've been reading about your quest for the background of the name "Cairn Farm".  The only thing I can contribute is to point out that the ancient stone circles in Scotland are not called "Stonehenges" except by travel writers who are comparing them to Stonehenge.  There is only one Stonehenge and that is in England.  All of the similar circles in Scotland have their own names (Callanish, etc.). As far as the name "cairn" goes back in the Highlands of Scotland it usually meant a spot where people in the cortege dropped a stone to pay respect to a local person who had died, usually at a spot where they had to rest while carrying the corpse to its final resting place.  Other people coming by later would add pebbles or other stones in memory of the deceased, even generations later.  Some of these cairns became quite large.  There are many monuments today in Cape Breton that are called "cairns" but they are not of this early type.  Usually, they are large modern monuments of stone and cement made to mark the spot where pioneer families from Scotland originally settled.  Some others have been erected for individuals who were notable in some way (e.g. Michael MacDonald, Malcolm MacLellan and Angus L. MacDonald, etc.)  Over the years I have played the bagpipes at the unveiling of several such cairns in Inverness County.  This is beside the fact, but one of my former pipe-majors was a gentleman named Archie Cairns.  The type of Inuit markers called "inukshuks" are not native to most of Atlantic Canada, as far as I know.  They are geographical markers used by other Inuit in Quebec, Labrador, Nunavut etc.  People are now erecting them all over Canada without knowing their original purpose, much like the cairns I've mentioned above.  I think that the "inukshuk" is supposed to be the official emblem for the Olympic Games in BC in 2010. I hope this helps. Allan J. Gillis, Ottawa ________________________________ From: lauren macdonald <swayball20@yahoo.com> To: NS-CAPE-BRETON@rootsweb.com; Carol MacLean <ritam@axion.net> Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008 10:28:34 PM Subject: Re: [NS-CB] Cairn Farm ideas...... Thanks Carol! my google skills must not be as good (I tried cairn farm). Hhhmm, some things to think about - sure does mess up the little book intro I wrote though - but maybe not necessarily. i just commented on the Inuksuk that was built by the current owner and the fact that Inuksuks are basically the same thing as cairns just from a different culture. i wrote that it is not known why the farm was named Cairn and suggested the old foundations found on property or Inuksuks found all around Canada - i could add to that that it could be from their homeland of Scotland - still, i guess its a bit ironic that the two traditions of building rock piles should intersect in history on the same property. to add to the story, I brought home five rocks which are stacked in a pile on my fireplace hearth as a memorial to my ancestors and of my trip - I did this not knowing the meaning of the word Cairn or remembering what was told to me of Inuksuks. Lastly, adding to the story of two different culture building stone piles - is the fact that the areas of Cape breton and Scotland were likely jopined 400 million years ago - so in a way the "people" are not so distant Unfortunately, i only have a few more days to get my book submitted to be done for Xmas - so I'll have to come up with something soon. I also don't know if the name of Cairn Farm was given by Aunt Laura (who's grandparents were from Aberdeen and gairloch - or by a previous owner , who still would have been of Scottish descent. Thanks again! Lauren --- On Thu, 12/4/08, Carol MacLean <ritam@axion.net> wrote: From: Carol MacLean <ritam@axion.net> Subject: [NS-CB] Cairn Farm ideas...... To: NS-CAPE-BRETON@rootsweb.com Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 12:03 PM To the list & followers of CAIRN FARM in Cape Breton I had suggested other ideas for the name Cairn....birthplace, family name, maiden name, etc., to Lauren in a previous email. And I've been following the responses that have appeared on this list, including from Lauren....and the fact that Lauren mentions stone/rocky & Inuit/MicMac.... Well I beg to point the direction toward Scotland where the Stonehenge of Scotland is located, and made of stone/rocks.. At the time of this family arriving in Cape Breton, I don't believe that the idea of that the Inuit/Eskimo stone building was widely known in the lower parts of Canada and the Maritimes.  But the Scottish & English folks had grown up and were familiar with the StoneHenge of both of these countries, and brought the family heritage with them to the new world as a reminder of where they were from.....SCOTLAND & ENGLAND... I just did a google search of Cairn Farm....  There are two Cairn Farm hits, one in Ireland, and one in Scotland. Lauren talks about the stone/rocky area....around this farm in Cape Breton Supposing this was a family from Scotland, they do have the StoneHenge.... I think this Cairn Farm in CB is connected to Scotland, and not the MicMac as some may think..... Here is one quote.....and take note of the name that it is called "Cairnpapple" http://www.celtictrails.co.uk/trails/cairnpapple.htm Cairnpapple (The Stonehenge of Scotland) Skeleton outline of tour (This does not cover all aspects.) This tour centers very much on the significance of stones to protect and delineate the feminine powers inherent in this area. We start by entering a place of immense power historically, dating back several thousand years. It is the archaeological equivalent of Stonehenge in England . The multi-complex structure of Cairnpapple lies nestled within the gently rolling Bathgate Hills. It is without doubt one of Scotland 's important heritage points. Fechan alias Vigeon, an early Irish Celtic saint is said to have founded the village below the sacred hill, and the valley harbours a crumbling beehive cell. The refuge stones in the local vicinity were erected by the Knights Hospitallers and are well worth a visit, as is their preceptory remains, which exude an air of peace and safety. The air of sanctuary is perpetuated in the (semi) myth of Arthur's successful battle close by. Place names, local landmarks such as single standing stones and ancient documents all point toward this area as belonging to a forsaken era of power and positive energy. It is well worth exploring. Many find themselves emotionally stimulated and refreshed and even healed by this concealed corner of Scotland *********** ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NS-CAPE-BRETON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message       ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NS-CAPE-BRETON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message