MHG14051 - Preaching Site - Am Ploc, Torridon
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
Protected Status
Full Description
See assoc docs for letter putting forward theory of this site as a Norse Tingvollr.
A M Fox, Highland Council, 12/07/01
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Letter and three photos of stonework associated with the site. See assoc. docs for details.
J Aitken : 08/08/01.
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NG85NE 15 8953 5624
Four rows of flat boulders are enclosed by a drystone wall.
Information from J C C Jordan, February 1997.
A walkover survey and desk-based assessment for the National Trust estate at Torridon was carried out by J Wordsworth and J Harden between 1996 and 2002.
The monument takes the form of a natural amphitheatre, created within a V-shaped cleft in the low sandstone cliffs that form the south side of the Ploc of Torridon. The cleft faces southwards towards the loch and the open, seaward side has been close by a curved drystone wall. The wall is crudely constructed with massive boulders placed irregularly and fixed by a great many small pinning stones. The site is regularly inundated by the sea and the west section of the wall has collapsed. The enclosure created by the wall was entered at its east end, where the wall terminates at a massive standing stone, creating an impressive entrance. Within the enclosure are four concentric rows of boulders forming seating. The seating faces towards a natural pillar of fork which has fissured away from the cliff. This is locally known as the pulpit rock. (SAM notes) There is no convincing evidence for this having been a Viking 'Thing' and this interpretation is a modern invention (see Clark below) without any local tradition to support it.
WG Watson 1904 Placenames of Ross & Cromarty
Scots Magazine Sept 89 and Nov 89
A Clark 1993 Vikings in Ross & Cromarty - fact & fantasy
KR Aitchison 1995 Am-ploc or Ploc an Doire <1>
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG8071 Image/Photograph(s): Arn Ploc ? Preaching Site. Digital Image. .
- --- SHG8072 Image/Photograph(s): Arn Ploc ? Preaching Site. Digital Image. .
- --- SHG8073 Image/Photograph(s): Arn Ploc ? Preaching Site. Digital Image. .
- <1> SHG21916 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Wordsworth, J. & Harden, J.. 2002. Torridon Archaeological Survey 1996-2002. The National Trust for Scotland (NTS). 13/01/2003. Paper and Digital. TOR080.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NG 8950 5621 (40m by 40m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NG85NE |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | APPLECROSS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM8864 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/115178 (View HES Trove entry for this site)
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