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MHG66509 - Turf bank - Balachuirn

Summary

A turf bank with some stones built into it.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A township comprising thirteen roofed, three unroofed buildings, four enclosures, some field walls and a head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1879, sheet xxx). There are three rectilinear plots at the S end of the township which indicates the partial allocation of crofts.
Ten roofed buildings, one of which has an attached enclosure, ten unroofed buildings, four other enclosures, some field walls and the fragmentary remains of a head-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1988).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 31 October 1996

The survey of Balachuirn, Balmeanach, Brae, Inbhire (Inver on OS 1:10,000 map) and the surrounding area was carried out by ACFA in April 1996 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on the island of Raasay.

Feature 6. At the junction of the banks noted above a turf bank with some stones built into it runs eastward to the edge of the modem track. This bank is, on average, 0.5m high and 1m wide. A substantial dry-stone wall then runs northwards, revetting the bank above the modem track and curving round to meet the northeast comer of feature 7. This walling, combined with the walling to the south and West, effectively forms an enclosure around feature 7. In the southwest comer of this enclosure, low moss-covered stone walling forms a sub-rectangular enclosure. A quantity of stone lies heaped in the southwest comer. The purpose of this structure is not clear. Suggested uses were a store, a midden or, tentatively, a kiln. 3m north of this small enclosure is a sub-circular raised area, about 0.4m high, grass covered with some stone felt beneath, which was thought to be the remains of either a midden or a stack stand. 4m north of this lies feature 7. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2023 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5546 4076 (22m by 34m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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