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MHG58331 - Shieling huts, Sgamadail (east)

Summary

Shieling huts (2), Sgamadail (east)

Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

Sgamadail (east)
These sites were recorded by NOSAS in 2008/9 as part of an archaeological survey of outer Loch Hourn.

Sgamadail is a place of two halves, referred to here as ‘east’ and ‘west’ for convenience. In the latter 18th century, they were known as ‘the two Sgamadails’ and were held - along with ‘the two Croulins’ - by the same person (Munro 1984). Both Sgamadails are sited on outwash fans, spreads of boulders and earth carried down by melt water from the corries above at the end of the last Ice Age (plates 22 and 25). The outwash fans around Loch Hourn do not appear to have been the first choice for settlement, but following the settlement of the fertile valleys like Glen Mor, Glen Beag and Glen Arnisdale, population pressure eventually led to the occupation of the outwash fans. Plenty of building material was available, while the soil in the pockets between the stone is mineral rich. With a huge amount of hard work removing stones, outwash is capable of being cultivated in plots of rig and furrow or as small terraces.

The Sgamadails are typical of a dozen or more similar settlements around the shores of the loch, apparently progressing from summer shielings to permanent settlements. Having said this, the first settlement at Sgamadail (east) might go back to prehistoric times, as two circular recessed platforms were discovered about 200m inland, at an altitude of about 100m OD (Sites 1283, 1284).

Site 1120. The stone walls of a D-shaped shieling hut, built against a huge boulder, near a trickle of water. It measures c.3m E-W x 2m internally, over walls standing to 1m high. A c.1m wide entrance on the NE side is blocked by tumble.

Site 1121. The low stone walls of a nearly oval shieling hut; the walls stand to c.0.75m high and are 1m wide. A 1m x 0.6m pen has been built in to the NW corner. The entrance is on the W side, facing Site 1120. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 AP’s <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 8031 0848 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG80NW
Civil Parish	GLENELG
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

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