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MHG29663 - Buildings/huts, Torr a Choit

Summary

Buildings/huts, Torr a Choit

Type and Period (2)

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Full Description

Inbhir an Dubh Uillt
This is a small bay just west of Torrachoit, and directly opposite to Skiary on the south shore. A substantial burn comes down from the Lochan Torrachoit, high on the ridge above. The catchment for this lochan is very peaty, possibly reflecting in the name of the burn.

There are the remains of four substantial dwelling houses at Inbhir an Dubh Uillt, three of which sit close to the shore-line, in what today is very boggy ground. The fourth house sits some 60m or so back from the sea and close to the burn. These houses appear as unroofed on the first edition ordnance survey, but to date we have not found historical records for a settlement here. The intriguing thing is that within all but one of the houses there are the low walls of later small huts, constructed by robbing out the walls of the main buildings. Clearly, after abandonment of the houses, another group of people moved in who required only small temporary accommodation. We are deducing that they were some of the seasonal herring fishermen. These sites were recorded by NOSAS in 2002 as part of an archaeological survey of Inner Loch Hourn.

The nearby beach is stony, and there is no real evidence of clearance for boats, but this bay is quite exposed, and over time any clearance could have been redistributed. There are no obvious working areas or drying greens in the vicinity of the houses, nor is there any cultivable land near to hand. The slopes above are strewn with boulders and very steep. We can only assume that the original occupants of the houses had a share of the peninsular between here and Torracoit, where the many clearance cairns are, and that they also made a living in part from the sea. Just west of this settlement a substantial area of predominantly oak woodland reaches right down to the shore.

Site: 271. Walls of rough stonework, standing to clm in height. There is no evidence of an entrance. A substantial multi stemmed ash tree is growing up in the middle of this structure.

Site: 272. The remains of a second rectangular hut, c 4m x 3m external, lying within and to the west side of the larger building Site 271. Walls of rough stonework stand to c lm.

Site: 273.The remains of a rectangular stone built hut, c 4m x 3m external, lying within and on the east side of the larger building Site271. Walls of rough stonework, standing to clm in height. There is no evidence of an entrance. A substantial multi stemmed ash tree is growing up in the middle of this structure. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 APs <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 9295 0793 (6m by 6m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG90NW
Civil Parish	GLENELG
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

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