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MHG57974 - Building, platform, Lochournhead

Summary

Building, platform, Lochournhead

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

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 757. 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 reveted into the hill slope with a cut off ditch to the rear (S) side. There is no obvious entrance and the site is partly crossed at the E end by a modern 'Rylock' post and wire fence. The turf footings are rounded in profile, c 1m wide at base, standing to c 0.2m high. The site lies below another very similar site recorded as 718. The site is just above the public road. <1>

Site 757. A similar structure to Site 756, measuring c 8m x 2.5m internally, but less well preserved. A post and wire fence crosses the west side of the structure. <2>

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

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 9492 0660 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG90NW
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (1)