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MHG66413 - Shieling hut or mill - Raasay

Summary

There was no evidence to support a theory that this could have been a small, horizontal (''Norse") mill although its location made this a possibility.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

An Archaeological Survey of the townships of North & South Screapadal, with a survey of the surrounding area, on Raasay was undertaken by ACFA in 1997.

Feature 4a; Shieling hut. At site 18 from ACFA's 1991 reports, an additional structure [4a on the plan] was found, at NG 5709 4523, some 50 metres from the 2 shielings previously recorded, up the narrow valley to the south, at 210m OD. The valley faces approximately west and rapidly becomes more of a ravine from 4a. Like structures found in a similar situation on the Storab Burn at Balachuirn it utilises the natural cliff face for the east wall. The built walls are however well constructed and still stand to 0.5 to 1m in height and about Im thick. The south wall is curved out from a butt join with the cliff to become a straight west wall parallel to the burn. The north end was difficult to determine due to its almost complete destruction by tumble into the burn. It measures 4.6m by 2.3m on a north south axis. There is no evidence of an entrance but, due to the proximity of the burn to the west side and the cliff forming the east side, it seems likely that the entrance would have been in the north. A low shelf structure appeared to fill the inside curve of the south wall. The structure is built on a partly natural and possibly partly built up platform at a bend in the burn although this may be a diversion to one side of the ravine. Unfortunately there was no evidence to support a theory that this could have been a small, horizontal (''Norse") mill although its location made this a possibility. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on old SMR 1-10,000 map sheets. (TB 5/3/26)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5706 4523 (14m by 14m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54NE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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