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MHG39052 - Ironworking site, opposite Ardvreck Castle

Summary

A series of structures, possibly associated with the pieces of iron working slag that have frequently been discovered on this small promontory on the E shore of Loch Assynt.

Type and Period (6)

Protected Status

Full Description

Foundations of buildings on flat land on opp side of causeway to castle, plus a probable kiln. <1>

Visited by the Assynt's Hidden Lives project in December 2009. Situated on an area of flat land next to Loch Assynt are the uneven rubble ruins of a building 5m by 4m and 0.3m in height, aligned NW/SE, with a wall spread of up to 1.5m. The walls are completely grassed over, with an annex section at the W corner. The structure may be a kiln or related to the nearby iron working site. <2>

Surveyed by Historic Assynt. Pieces of iron working slag have frequently been discovered on a small promontory on the E shore of Loch Assynt to the ESE of Ardvreck Castle and across the bay S of the causeway to the castle. The area is largely level, low lying but dry and is dotted with a number of small cairns, the foundations of a sub-rectangular structure and several other features. The recently created path to the castle passes through the centre of the site before ending in a semi-circular seating area.

The peninsula was surveyed at 1:200 and the sub-rectangular structure and neighbouring features at 1:50.

A series of structures were recorded, the visible stones showing signs of burning. The structures are presumed to be small furnaces in stages of decay.
8 cairns were also recorded. They could all be clearance cairns, but some could contain material from the nearby furnace or forges and some of the larger cairns could be the remains of forges.
A shieling hut and possible shieling dairy were also recorded. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 2410 2358 (102m by 82m) Approximate extent
Map sheet	NC22SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	ASSYNT

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (0)