MHG29665 - Hut, Torr a Choit
Summary
Hut, Torr a Choit
Type and Period (1)
- HUT (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
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: 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)
- <1> SHG21677 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Wombell, J.. 04/2002. Archaeological Survey of Inner Loch Hourn. North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS). 04/04/2002. Digital. Site 273 Hut.
- <2> SHG27491 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph/Vertical: Get Mapping. 1999-2001. Get Mapping colour vertical aerial photography 1999-2001 (The Millennium Map). XY
Map
Location
Grid reference | Centred NG 9295 0793 (20m by 20m) (2 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | NG90NW |
Civil Parish | GLENELG |
Geographical Area | LOCHABER |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (0)
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