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MHG32479 - Shieling settlement - Screapadal, Raasay

Summary

Three shieling huts close together.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Site recorded during a survey of the townships of North and South Screapadal plus the surrounding area carried out by the Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists (ACFA) in April 1998 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on the island of Raasay (Macdonald and Scott Wood 1997).
NG 5776 4459 Shieling.
NG 5776 4460 Shieling.
NG 5777 4460 Shieling.
NG 5774 4447 Shieling.
NG 5776 4447 Shieling.
NG 5776 4444 Shieling.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsors: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Glasgow Archaeological Society, CBA Challenge Funding.
J Macdonald and J Scott Wood 1998

ACFA's site 26 from 1991 lay in a very difficult, boulder strewn terrace at the foot of a scree slope, to the south of the Screapadal Burn and about 100m above the head-dyke on the 130m contour. A group of hitherto unreported structures were found and these are noted first below. However not all of the 1991 sites recorded could be positively identified in the tumble from the scree.

a) Close to the south bank of the burn at NG 5776 4459, was a double structure on an east-west axis. The northernmost cell measured 2.5m by 1.5m with an entrance to the east. Built with a common adjoining wall, the second structure measured
3.5m by 2m and had an entrance to the south. The tumbled walls stood to 0.5m high.
b) Just 5m to the south stood a shieling, small but the most beautifully formed of any of the shielings seen in this survey. Measuring 3m by Im on a north-south axis it was built against a massive boulder which formed the south wall and no doubt provided some protection allowing for the state of preservation. The well built walls stood to a height of 1.4m and were roughly corbelled with a slab forming a roof at the back, partially covering the cell. Entered from. the north its appearance perhaps indicates relatively recent use possibly as a lambing pen.
c) A further 10m to the SE lay the remains of a further structure. It was very ruinous with much tumble both inside and out so that it was unclear whether this was a single or double celled shieling. It measured at least 3m by 1.5m on an east-west axis. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid reference. (7/10/26)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5776 4459 (32m by 32m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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