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MHG66228 - Clearance cairns - Skullomie

Summary

Linear features consisting of beach-rubble and earth pushed up into a long heap.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

At the head of a stream flowing in to the harbour is a small, roughly triangular platform of land at the seaward side of the 50 ft contour. This platform is bounded on the south by the course of the stream, on the north by the coastline and on the east by the sharp slope to the 50 ft contour. Both of these edges are further defined by c 25 m long linear boundaries that run toward the point of the triangle but do not join up. These linear features consist of beach-rubble and earth pushed up into a long heap. These heaps are very irregular in height and shape but stand up to 0.7 m high from inside the platform, 1 m high from the level of the stream at the south, and 2 m high from the coast-edge. The centre of the platform is flat, but the spread of the banks at either side and the slope to the contour give the area a bowl-like appearance. At the base of the slope at the east there are four distinct clearance-cairns within the area enclosed by the linear banks. There was no sign of cultivation noted on the surface but the area is largely covered with ferns. This would appear to be a small enclosed field with the enclosing banks acting as protection against the stream and the sea. <1>

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

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 6173 6135 (47m by 26m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC66SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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