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MHG62157 - Enclosure - Old Coulnabottach, Urchany

Summary

Ruined enclosure, Old Coulnabottach, Urchany

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

The North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) undertook an archaeological survey of Urchany in 2015. A settlement called Coulnabottach on an estate map in 1757 and Coul na Bodach on an estate map in 1798 is a consistent feature on all the estate maps and subsequent OS maps of Urchany. North of the current ruined buildings at Coulnabottach (see MHG62155) there is the old head dyke, then a modern post-and-wire fence, then an area of disturbed ground, 90m E-W x 50m N-S, on which can be traced a variety of archaeological features. The 18th and early 19th century estate maps seem to locate the settlement of Coulnabottach in this area.

Site E102; Enclosure. This poorly defined enclosure seems to have a variety of different components, suggesting that it is not one feature but the remains of several features. These may, in turn, have been modified at the time of the conversion to sheep farming in the early 19th century and the construction of the newer shepherd’s house (see MHG62155). The clearest part of the feature is the loop at the north, consisting of a low turf and stone walls, up to 0.3m high. At the top of this northern loop is a circular pit, V109 p61, which may be the remains of a corn-drying kiln. At the middle of the eastern side is a half-rectangle, that may represent the remains of a building. There are other internal 'walls' or features of no distinguishing pattern. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 4479 4582 (31m by 43m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH44NW
Civil Parish	KILMORACK
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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