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MHG57973 - Building, platform, Lochournhead

Summary

Building, platform, Lochournhead

Type and Period (2)

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Full Description

Lochournhead
This area was recorded by NOSAS in 2004 as part of an archaeological survey of Inner Loch Hourn.

A number of revetted platforms with round ended turf footings had been noted at Lochournhead in 2000 and subsequent years, but they had not been surveyed and recorded. One of the highlights of the 2004 survey was the survey of these sites, and the discovery of several more, spread over some distance, set into the foot of the steep ground outwith the 19th century head ditch and dyke enclosing the improved fields which make up the home farm at Lochournhead.

The interpretation is that they represent the remains of the earliest houses at Lochournhead and that they were creel houses i.e. with timber cruck frames supporting the hip ended thatched roofs, with walls of hazel wattle on the inside and turfs built up on the outside. Some of these remains are in defendable positions and could date back to the medieval period. 19th and 20 century farming has obliterated any visible evidence of early cultivation on the best ground but there is one substantial area of lazy beds on steep ground outwith the fields. The 19th century sheep fank and 20th century long stay car park have probably destroyed one or two more old houses.

In 2006, NOSAS returned to complete a more detailed survey of Kinlochourn and Lochournhead (p.41) which has been used to locate some of the sites.

Site 756. The low turf footings of a probable creel house, c 8m E/W x 2.2m internally with rounded gable ends and no corners, built on a platform revetted into the hill slope, with a cut-off ditch to the rear(S). There is no obvious entrance. The round top turf footings are c 1m wide at base standing to c 0.2m high. There are no stones visible, but a caveat accompanies this comment in that a substantial stone built sheepfank is close by. This site lies just above an almost identical site recorded as 719. <1>

Site 756. The remains of an oval structure, measuring c 8m x 2.2m internally. The turf footings are almost complete, standing to 0.2m high and spread to 1m. Site 757 lies a few meters to the SE and is very similar in character. <2>

Note; Site not visible on Aps so location approximate. (T Blackie 1/6/18)

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 9491 0659 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG90NW
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

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