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MHG30550 - Buildings, huts, Dubh Uillt, Torr a Choit

Summary

Buildings, huts, Dubh Uillt, Torr a Choit

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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: 20, NGR: 92930790, SMR: NG9ONVV0208. This site lies away from the shore and the other houses, between the main burn and a secondary burn. 2 possible structures are indicated amongst the boulder outwash by straight line settings of stones, but they are less visible than the other buildings nearby. Only excavation would reveal more.

Site: 18, NGR: 92920792, SMR: NG9ONVV0206. The remains of a building c 7.5m x 4m overall, a possible dwelling house, close to the shore-line, in wet boggy ground. The corners are rounded inside and out. Within the primary wall footings of this building, are the remains of a small hut, Site 19. The original house doorway to the south appears to have been blocked up. Outwith the building on the south side there is probably a cobbled path c lm wide.

Site: 19, NGR: 92920792, SMR: NG9ONW0207. The remains of a small hut, built within the footings of Site 18. The but measures c 4m x 3.5m external.

Site: 15, NGR: 92910792, SMR: NG9ONVV0205. The remains of a substantial building, probably a dwelling house, c 9m x 4m, built close to the shore-line in wet boggy ground. Only the lower walls remain to 2 or 3 courses, as the walls have been substantially robbed to build 2 smaller huts, Sites 16 and 17, within the walls of the primary building. The building appears to have had a paved area at the west end, and along the front, with a drain and retaining bank at the rear.

Site: 16, NGR: 92910792, SMR: NG9ONVV0204. The tumbled remains of a rough stone built but at the west end of Site 15, c 3.25m square internal.

Site: 17, NGR: 92910792, SMR: NG9ONW0203. The tumbled remains of a second but inside Site15, but smaller at c 2m internal, and built at the east side. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 APs <2>

1st Edition OS 6" <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 9291 0793 (43m by 24m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG90NW
Civil Parish	GLENELG
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

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