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MHG42864 - Settlement - Loch Airigh Na h-Aon Oidchhe

Summary

A group of degraded structures.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

NG 5980 4827 and NG 5950 4901 The survey of the townships of Arnish and Torran plus the surrounding area was carried out by ACFA in April 2000 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on Raasay.
A survey was carried out on the area from the Tairbeart N to the path from Fladda to Umachan and the following sites were recorded:
NG 6047 4902 Small settlement (3 structures).
NG 6053 4904 Small settlement (5 structures).
Full report will be lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsors: Glasgow Archaeological Society, CBA Challenge Funding.
J Macdonald and J Scott Wood 2001

Site 36: Directly opposite feature 35 on a more substantial level grassy area and backed by cliffs to the northeast is another group of degraded structures. On the north side of the burn, separated from it by a substantial rock outcrop, [A] appeared at first to be a figure of eight structure. However, on more careful examination, there is a circular structure of about 1.50m internal diameter with 0.75m wide walls standing to about 0.50m high with a great deal of tumble around. It is much better built than the second, almost rectangular chamber which lies between the first one and the outcrop. The second chamber measures about 2.50m by 1.80m. There is no obvious entrance to either structure and, due to the amount of tumble, it is difficult to see if the walls are abutting or which is likely to be the earlier.

Ten metres to the east of [A] feature 36[B] appears to be an early long house about 8.0m by 2.30m, with well curved corners to the walls. The remains appear to be only of the foundation layer which is heavily turf covered. Built on top of the south end of the house is a later D-shaped structure measuring 2.0m by 2.50m. The earlier structure is defined at this point by a turf covered bank from which there is the occasional stone protruding, whereas the later structure is well built with some stones standing to 0.50m high at the outside edge.

About 25m towards the sea, down a gully alongside the bum is a sheep shelter [C], built against the rock face. This is an almost square structure about 3.0m by 2.70m and again the stones are largely turf covered. There is a possible entrance in the northwest corner.

Against the cliff face about 15m to the northeast of [B] are the remains of another two small enclosures, perhaps sheep shelters. [D], about 2.40m in diameter, is very badly degraded with collapsed stone work and a pile of stone that has obviously been pulled out from thestructure. Some walling remains, however, against the east wall of the cliff. Fifty metres southeast, along the rock face towards the sea, is a further smaller sub-circular pile of stones [E] measuring about 1.50m in diameter. All around these structures there appear to be short stretches of poorly tilled lazy beds with small stones still lying, as if no real attempt has been made at stone clearance, although, as evidenced from an area where rabbits had been scraping, the soil quality seems to be of reasonable quality and depth. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2020 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 6054 4902 (45m by 45m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG64NW
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)