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MHG10212 - Buildings - Alltan Dearg

Summary

The possible remains of four structures and associated mounds.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

Foundations of three oval huts, 7m by 3.5m, 6m by 4m and 4m by 3m lie on level ground on either side of a ravine. An enclosure, 9m in diameter, accompanied by run-rig and head dyke, lies on the shore.
T C Welsh 1972h.

Three sub-rectangular footings. The first, on a dry knoll immediately W of the ravine, is roughly L-shaped, measuring internally 5m NE-SW and 4m NW-SE; the interior is approximately 2m across. The second, 60m SW of the ravine, on a green knoll, is very obscure. It measures approximately 9m by 4m internally. The third, 135m SSE of the ravine, is 5m by 2m internally. All three footings tend to have rounded ends. Small areas of strip cultivation 3m to 5m apart lie on either side of the ravine. The enclosure lies at the foot of a steep gully at NC 3625 6676. It measures 7m by 5m internally.
Visited by OS (JB) 28 April 1980.

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.

On gently-sloping ground at either side of a ravine there were the possible remains of four structures and associated mounds. The description of this complex differs in many respects to that provided in the NMRS after visits by T C Welsh (1972) and the OS (JB) in 1980. At NC 3611 6670 on the north (contra OS) side of the ravine is an oval structure defined by stone footings under turf. This measures internally 3 m W-E by 1.8 m. These foundations may partly overlie the fainter turf banks of another building aligned SSE-NNW. These two buildings would appear to be the L-shaped building described in the NMRS. The ground immediately to the north and east of these structures bear evidence of rig-and-furrow and a possible drainage ditch. On the south side of the ravine are two green mounds (centred on NC 3611 6669). The NW example has stone revealed over an area 9 m by 4 m but in no discernible structural shape. A second mound sits 10-20 m to the NE of the first and contains no stone or apparent structures. A further site marked by the OS, 120 m to the SE, is again only marked on the ground by a change in vegetation (ie a grassed area) and shows no structural elements. At NC 3623 6666 are the stone and turf footings of a sub-rectangular structure with external measurements of 4.5 m E-W by 2.5 m and with a maximum height of 0.2 m-0.3 m. There is a possible entrance at the NW were no stone is visible through the turf. At the east and NE of this structure is a quantity of stone, some of which may have formed an artificial platform in front of the structure and some of which appears to be tumble. To the east of this feature is a line of stone which may have represented revetting of the possible artificial platform. Located c 25 m south of this structure was a large heather covered dyke, up to 1 m wide and 0.2 m-0.3 m high. One course of stone is clearly visible on the surface of this dyke which continues to the road at the west, bows around the south of the structure and continues east toward the coast. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 3617 6681 (261m by 375m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC36NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)