MHG53034 - Hut Circle and Enclosure - Loch Borralie West
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (2)
- HUT CIRCLE (Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 4000 BC? to 560 AD?)
- ENCLOSURE? (Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 4000 BC? to 560 AD?)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
a) Large circular structure 10.6 m in diameter externally, defined by stone footings of schist, quartz and limestone, both subangularand rounded and all undressed. There are outer and inner skins of larger boulders with a rubble core. Wall is 1.8-2 m wide and survives to two courses high in places but one course (up to 0.3-0.4 m high) for the most part, with some orthostatic facing visible. Wall incorporates outcrop in the SE arc There is a dividing wall in the interior which runs from the E arc to the W for 7 m iand then turns N for 4 m to rejoin the interior wall face in the NW arc It appears less substantial than the perimeter wall and may represent later use of the structure. Horned entrance in SW, 1.4 m deep, with 2 orthostats marking the interior face of the entrance, which is 1.65 m wide.
b) A tumbled wall extends from N side of entrance for 7.2 m to the N and runs beneath eroded sandy face. Patches of dark brown old ground surface visible outside hut circle to N. Rabbit burrowing beneath walls is also revealing archaeological deposits within/beneath them.
In base of large sandblow, c 2m below surrounding ground level.
Prehistoric hut circle and associated field or enclosure wall. Possible evidence for later re-use of the hut circle. See NMRS NC36NE 25A.
Recommendations: Trial excavation to evaluate survival of deposits, damage caused by burrowing/wind erosion and date(s) of structure's use. Control rabbits. <1><2>
Sources/Archives (2)
- <1> SHG24622 Dataset/Database File: Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). 2003. Site gazetteer: Loch Borralie, Kyle of Durness. Site 15.
- <2> SHG24621 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Lelong, O and MacGregor, G. 2003. Loch Borralie, Kyle of Durness: Project 950. Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). Digital. Site 15.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | NC 3770 6673 (point) Approximate |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC36NE |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | DURNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (2)
External Links (0)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.