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MHG58954 - Hut circle - Doir 'a' Bhaird (Sand South 8)

Summary

A hut circle at Doir 'a' Bhaird (Sand South).

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle at Doir 'a' Bhaird (Sand South). Possibly not recorded originally by the OS, but difficult to be sure.

(NG 773 802) An ancient settlement (c3000 BC) in an area of some 40 acres, is situated 1,350 yards from Loch-an-t-Seano-bhalle and 1,600 yards from Loch na Lairig. The remains of at least 4 beehive huts exist, 3 of which appear to be undisturbed. The fourth has about half of the perimeter wall dismantled. An 'altar' stone weighing some 4-5 tons extensive walling and a long mound were noted.
Info in letter from W J Mitchell (AO/c/xm) to OS 9 9 1964

NG78SE 1.03 77 80 to 78 81
From NG 768800 to NG 786814 there are remains of a probable IA settlement area occupied later as shielings followed by more recent (pre-1850) occupation.
The probable IA settlement is indicated by some 20 hut-circles widely scattered, two enclosures and fragmentary traces of field walls of stone. The huts vary in condition from mere boulder outlines to substantial stone walls and in size from 6m-13m overall diameter with entrances where evident in the E segment. Several have a small compartment either attached to outer or inner face of the enclosing wall. The best preserved is at NG 7793 8090. It is 11.5m in overall diameter and is formed by a heather covered stone wall, with inner and outer facings 2.4m thick and c. 0.7m high with a well defined entrance on the E side. Two short stretches of wall extend NW & NE from hut, between W side of NE wall and outer face of wall is a small sub-triangular compartment.
The larger of the enclosures is situated at NG 7758 8045. It measures 17.5m E-W x 16m N-S overall and now consists of two concentric walls of stone, 2.3m apart (but which may have been 2.3m thick) and 0.5m max height. No definite entrance was established.
Two types of stone clearance were noted within the area. Firstly, the usual gathering of the stones into small heaps, now heather-covered, and secondly, on ground thickly covered by stones and rock fragments, small cultivation plots have been created here and there by simply throwing the stones aside.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 11 October 1964.

179112 880403 Sand South 8 AEMC014: The hut circle was visited by A Welti, A MacInnes and J and M Buchanan in 2011 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. This circular stone structure is in poor condition. It is one of a group of 10 circular structures on the lower south west slopes of Meall Mor. The visible platform is sited 100m from a stream and is dug into and built out from a gentle southwest facing slope. Few stones are showing in the ring bank but some wall facings are evident. Remains of a small shieling take up much of the interior space. The surrounding landscape is mainly heather covered with some grass, and there is evidence for field boundaries of turf and stone, especially on the hillside to the south. The vegetation in the HC interior is mainly bracken with some heather and grass. Views from the site are panoramic over land and sea. Average internal diameter is 5.75m, external diameter is 8.3m. The double skinned wall is 1.5m thick with maximum height 0.9m. The possible entrance faces NW. This is the same orientation as that of the entrance of AEMC013 (see MHG58953), sited at a distance of 30m, and could indicate association. The entrance width could not be measured. AEMC014 is in sight line of AEMC011 (see MHG58951), AEMC010 (see MHG58950), AEMC008 (see MHG58948) and AEMC009 (see MHG58949), across the valley. <1> <2>

[Note: a database was set up as part of research for the dissertation and was subsequently expanded as an extension of the We Digs Project (see website link below). The full access database can be made available to enquirers/researchers if requested - contact HER for details].

GIS spatial data created in 2018 to position as seen on 2009 vertical APs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 7910 8041 (12m by 12m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG78SE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	GAIRLOCH

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