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MHG40710 - Burial ground at Eilean Loch Arkaig

Summary

The site of a burial ground to the south of the chapel on this island is suggested by two lengths of turf-covered stone wall.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

The remains of St Columba's Chapel stand at the N end of the island, on the highest point, and are oriented E-W, measuring 11.0m by 4.9m within a wall of mortared rubble masonry 0.8m thick and 1.8m maximum height, the E wall and most of the W wall of which have collapsed. There are the remains of a doorway, c. 1.0m wide, at the W end of the S wall, and of a window c. 0.7m wide to the E of it. Although traces of the S and W sides of a graveyard were reported in 1961 on the S side of the chapel in the form of a turf-covered stone wall enclosing an area 18.0m N-S by c. 12.0m E-W, no gravestones were found and the only possible evidence in 1970 was a line of two or three stones in the roots of a tree c. 15m S of the chapel. There are, however, several grave-slabs within the chapel, one of which is faintly inscribed though illegible.
Visited by OS 17 July 1961 and 11 May 1970.

A field survey undertaken in 2007 by Sunart Oakwoods Research Group identified two fragments of slate gravestones cast down the bank below the chapel, one of which is inscribed D.K. or D.R. The sketch plan identifies parts of the walls described above. <1> <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NN 1598 8884 (36m by 43m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NN18NE
Civil Parish	KILMALLIE
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)