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MHG41453 - Field system and clearance cairns - Leathad A' Chuailein

Summary

A field system with clearance cairns at Leathad A' Chuailein.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A field system with clearance cairns at Leathad A' Chuailein. It may be associated with the hut circles in the area, but may be later in origin.

At NH 6555 9627, NH 6541 9621 and NH 6535 9618 are two hut circles (A and B) and an enclosure respectively.
'A' measures about 10.0 m in diameter between centres of a peat overgrown wall with an entrance gap in the SSE.
'B', a denuded hut measuring 8.5 m in diameter between wall centres, occupies a built-up levelled platform, 12.0 m summit diameter. The wall is partly overlaid by a 'depop' dyke. Attached to the W arc is what appears to be a roughly oval annexe, 5.5 m by 3.5 m. The site is difficult to interpret, but the hut and annexe appear to occupy what is probably an earlier hut platform.
The enclosure measures 10.5 m N-S by 9.0 m transversely between centres of a stony bank spread to 2.0 m with an
entrance in the E. Curving round the NE arc 1.5 m out from the bank is another bank which may once have continued around the SE arc.
The interior of the enclosure appears to be slightly raised though this may be due to peat build up. Though it appears to be ancient, it is doubtful if this feature is a hut circle. It is on the edge of a damp hollow and the entrance, being on the shorter axis, is unusually placed.

There are several ancient clearance heaps on the slopes to the W, N and E, which are probably contemporary with the huts, but the ground has been used by the occupants of a depopulated settlement to the E, and the extent of the early cultivation is uncertain.
Surveyed at 1:10,560 on A M and CR PFD.
OS FI JM 25.6.75

This is a settlement of three hut circles (A - C).
Huts A and B are as described. The alleged 'earlier hut platform' occupied by 'B' does not predate the hut but appears to be contemporary.
Hut 'C', previously noted as an enclosure, measures some 12.0 m NE-SW by 11.0 m over all. The wall is only distinguishable in the SW half, where at most pronounced it is a heather-covered rubble spread 2.0 m broad and 0.2 m high. The entrance position is not discernible but must have been in the E. Though the hut occurs in a damp situation, this is probably caused by peat accumulation altering the natural drainage pattern. The ‘bank’ noted curving round outside the NE arc of the hut is natural ground configuration.
Contemporary land use is as described.
Surveyed at 1:10,000, OSFI JM 1.9.80

An archaeological survey of Achormlarie Hill, Dornoch was carried out by D.W. Ross, S.E. Finday and P. Ashmore in 1983. About 30 small clearance cairns up to 4m in diameter and 1.2m high. One shortlength of substantial stone bank ending on a clearance cairn. Some small field 'plots' visible. <1>

An additional hut circle ‘D’ was also noted by Ross, Finlay and Ashmore at NH 6560 9625 (see MHG63667).

Hut ‘C’ (NH 6535 9618 - see MHG63665) appears to have been destroyed by the ploughing & planting associated with afforestation.
Ref. OS, Inverness, Nov 1989

A number of the clearance cairns and the bank aer visible in SEPA LiDAR data. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 6548 9630 (361m by 200m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH69NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	CREICH

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