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MHG66255 - Modern structures - Am Breac-leathad

Summary

The V-shaped settings were part of an unfinished artistic project, where a sculptor had dismantled sheep-pens to use the stone.

Type and Period (3)

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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.

Along the base of a narrow defile which runs N-S between steep, craggy slopes to the vertical cliff-edge are a number of stone features across an area 70 m long and up to 8 m wide. At the north end of this area is a V-shaped stone setting which is 4 m long and consists of boulders piled one or two deep to form two lines which meet at the north. At the south of this is another V-shaped setting which is 6 m long and the same as the first except with more stone visible in the fabric. There are a number of clearance-cairns in this area which range in size from 1.5 m in diameter to spreads 5 m long. At the south of the defile is a very large V-shaped setting which has a number of boulders piled around it, some of which are themselves very large. At the south of this are two small lengths of walling extending from either side of a massive boulder, which thereby forms a small cell measuring 2 m E-W by 1.5 m with a 0.5 in wide entrance in the south side. The walls of this structure are 0.6 m high and roughly-built. At the east of this are two parallel lines of earth-fast boulders. This enigmatic landscape continues out of the range of this survey to the SW. After consultation with a local land¬owner at Lamigo it was ascertained that the V-shaped settings were part of an unfinished artistic project, where a sculptor had dismantled sheep-pens to use the stone. It is now very difficult to discern which features are the original pens, which are recent modifications, and which are clearance-cairns or piles of stone awaiting use in the sculpture. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid coordinates. (TB 31/8/26)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 6532 6368 (39m by 39m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC66SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

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