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MHG58369 - Shieling - Beinn an Duibh Leathaid

Summary

Two possible sheiling huts from Scotland's Rural Past Camuscross project.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A sheiling hut or small oval building is situated amongst birch wood on the northern slope of Beinn an Duibh Leithaid (hill of the black slope), on a level piece of bracken-infested land, close to the edge of a steep slope. A second, smaller building lies some 32m to the E. The walls of both buildings appear to be turf – no stone is visible and none could be felt by poking with a thin metal spike.
The first (larger) building (NG 68783 11399) is orientated roughly E-W and has a doorway in the middle of the N wall, although the wall is also lower at the E end. The internal dimensions are 3.5 x 1.6m and the walls are 0.7m thick and stand up to 0.35m high.
The second (smaller) building (NG 68816 11384) has an internal diameter of 1.9m at the widest point. The walls are 0.5m-0.6m thick and stand up to 0.35m high. The doorway faces approximately E. The small size and closeness to the larger building suggest that this building may have been used for storage.
Information from SRP Camuscross, August 2011. <1>

It is not clear whether these are the same structures recorded by Headland Archaeology in 1998 (see MHG28666), or if they are additional; the NW face of Beinn an Duibh Leathaid appears to have formed an extensive shieling ground in the past.

The structures do not appear on the 1st or 2nd edition OS maps.

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 6878 1139 (20m by 20m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG61SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	SLEAT

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

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