MHG4737 - Shieling huts - Abhainn A'Ghlinne
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- SHIELING HUT (Undated)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
NG26SE 1 2542 6252.
(NG 2542 6252) A group of 10 (or possibly 11) shielings is situated in the Abhainn a Ghlinne valley on the E side of Vaternish. All are the usual Skye type of shieling (M D MacSween 1959) and nearly all twin-chambered; mostly circular or oval, but some rectangular, partly stone-built and now badly tumbled. Some have developed mounds caused through successive re-occupation.
A trial excavation was made on one example in the group which had a mound 3 1/2' high and consisted of two chambers 7' and 5' in diameter. Two phases of rebuilding were indicated, giving 3 phases of occupation. Occupation material suggests a heather-covered roof, and straw bedding. The absence of wood probably means that roofing timbers were carried seasonally to the shieling. Two sherds of 'craggan' type pottery were found.
Three adjacent groups (each of 2 shielings) were found at NG 254 623; NG 255 629 and NG 259 627. <1> <2>
Known formerly as 'Baile Luachrach'.
Information contained in letter from A C McLeod MD, Clan MacLeod Soc, 203 Evelyn Ave, Nashville, Tennessee, USA to OS 26 October 1982.
There are at least 18 shieling-huts and mounds in the valley of the Abhainn a'Ghlinne in three main groups, two on the burn and one on a tributary to the N. All are situated on the floor and sides of the valley, and the majority are mounds with traces of cells on them. There are fragmentary stretches of bank alongside the burn, some of which may relate to the shielings, although there are no unambiguous relationships.
1.01 NG 2542 6252 Shieling-mounds (504-16)
1.02 NG 2551 6286 Shieling-mounds; Shieling-hut (517)
1.03 NG 2597 6286 Shieling-huts; Shieling-mounds (518-20)
1.04 NG 2610 6293 Shieling-hut (521)
Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 14 November 1990.
Sources/Archives (3)
- --- SHG2677 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1993. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Waternish, Skye and Lochalsh District, Highland Region: an archaeological survey. .
- <1> SHG1764 Text/Publication/Article: MacSween, M. D.. 1959. Transhumance in North Skye (Scot Geog Mag Vol. 75, No. 2 1959, p.75-88). The Scottish Geographical Magazine. 75-88. pp.75-88.
- <2> SHG1533 Text/Publication/Article: MacSween, M. & Gailey, A.. 1961. Some Shielings in North Skye (Scottish Studies Vol. 5 1961, p.77-84). Scottish Studies Vol. 5. 77-84. Digital (scanned as PDF). pp.77-84; plan.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NG 2541 6252 (10m by 10m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NG26SE |
| Geographical Area | SKYE AND LOCHALSH |
| Civil Parish | DUIRINISH |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- https://archive.org/details/sim_scottish-geographical-journal_1959-09_75_2/page/75/mode/1up (View MacSween article in the Scottish Geographical Magazine online)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/10936 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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