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MHG64527 - Building - Loch Poll

Summary

The turf-covered remains of a rectangular stone structure

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A rapid pre-afforestation survey by Headland Archaeology Ltd, was undertaken in 1997 at Cona Chreag on the Stoer Common Grazings, near Lochinver.

This is an extensive and structurally diverse settlement. It comprises elements of stone and stone-and-turf construction and structures and enclosures of various sizes. The presence of a substantial head-dyke (Site 4a), lazy-bed cultivation (Site 4i), areas of adjacent (and presumably contemporary) peat-cutting and possibly corn-drying (Site 4d) clearly imply that this is unlikely to represent the remains of a shieling settlement. The evidence of the clearance cairns (Sites 2, 4b, 4 c & 4f) and the adjacent areas of old pasture would point to the same conclusion. The place-name evidence, presumably preserved in the loch name, Loch Poll, would also suggest that the settlement is possibly of some antiquity. Derived from the Old Norse bolstadr (farm), and preserved in its Gaelic-Scandinavian hybrid form (boll /poll /pool / bo), the name remained a creative name-forming element for a considerable time and was used wherever permanent settlements were formed by the Norse: Nicolaisen (1976, 92), for example, has considered the bolstadr distribution as 'the map of Norse settlement in the Northern and Western Isles and adjacent mainland when such settlement was at its most extensive and Norse power at its height'. The settlement remains on the side of Loch Poll, potentially, have a very early origin indeed. The date of its abandonment is not known, although a clearance-period date might be assumed.

Site 4e: Foundation of rectangular stone building & sheep-fold
Description: The turf-covered remains of a second rectangular stone structure are located 50 m south-east of Site 4d. The building, aligned north-east by south-west, is
8.7 m long and 5 m wide externally. An oval sheep-fold, 3.5 - 4.6 m across internally, has been erected over the north-eastern end of the earlier building. The rubble wall of the sheep-fold is 0.8 m wide and 1.1 m high.
Condition: The sheep-fold is well-defined and clearly visible. The north-eastern end of the earlier building underlies the later sheep-fold but is nonetheless clearly discernible. The south-west gable of the earlier building is unencumbered by later work and is represented by exposed masonry and a low turf-covered stony bank up to 0.8 m wide and 0.4 m upstanding. The interior of the sheep¬fold is engulfed with bracken. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 1008 2961 (11m by 12m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC12NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	ASSYNT

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (0)