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MHG61216 - Hut circle - Breakachy Burn 'D'

Summary

A hut circle at Breakachy Burn (Urchany Glen/ Allt na Criche).

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle at Breakachy Burn (Urchany Glen/ Allt na Criche), recorded originally by the OS as hut circle D.

Depop., cairns, etc.
OS 6"map annotated by A L F Rivet (nd)

Centred at NH 455 455 is a settlement of ten stone-walled huts and a field system.
Hut 'E' is circular, the remainder are oval. Except for 'A', 'G' and 'H' the measurements are given between wall centres.
Hut 'A', set into a SW-facing slope, is visible as a platform measuring about 12.0 m NNW-SSE by 10.0 m transversely, bounded by a stony build-up round the SW arc and a back scarp. The entrance is in the SSE at the change of slope.
'B', set into a W-facing slope, measures about 10.5 m NW- SE by 9.0 m transversely with the wall spread to about 2.5 m. The 'simple' entrance is in the SE, at the change of slope.
'C', adjacent to 'B', measures about 12.5 m N-S by 10.0 m transversely with the wall spread to about 2.5 m all round. The outer wall face is visible round the E arc. The 'simple' entrance, about 1.0 m wide, is in the S, at the change of slope.
'D', at the base of a knoll, measures about 10.0 m from the NNW through the 'simple' entrance in the SSE by about 9.0 m transversely with the wall spread to about 2.5 m all round. The outer wall face is visible round the S arc. Attached to the W arc of the hut and following the curve of the wall of the hut is an elongated enclosure measuring approximately 10.0 m long by 2.5 m wide within a stone wall spread to about 1.5 m. There is no apparent entrance. It is similar in appearance to the 'souterrains' described on NJ 40 SW 3. (See 1:250 plan.)
'E', built up on a S-facing slope, measures about 6.5 m in diameter with the wall spread to about 2.0 m. The entrance is not apparent.
'G' has the outer wall face visible round most of the perimeter giving overall measurements of 13.5 m NNW-SSE by 12.0 m transversely. The wall is spread to about 2.0 m all round. The S arc has been robbed and the entrance is not apparent.
'H' has the inner wall face evident round most of the perimeter giving internal measurements of 10.0 m NNW-SSE by about 8.0 m transversely. The wall is spread to an indeterminate thickness. The entrance is not apparent.
'J' is denuded and measures about 9.0 m NW-SE by 8.0 m transversely with the wall spread to about 2.0 m all round. The entrance is not apparent.
'K', set into an E-facing slope, measures about 13.5 m N-S by about 11.5 m transversely with the wall spread to some 2.5 m all round. Stone clearance has been piled over the W arc. The 'simple' entrance, about 1.3 m wide, is in the S at the change of slope.
About 15 m NE of hut 'K' is a circular hollow, about 6.0 m in diameter, with traces of walling round the edge. Stone clearance has been piled within. The field system, partly overlaid by a depopulated steading, is marked by stone clearance heaps, lynchets and walls forming fields varying in size from about 15 m by 10 m to about 50 m by 30 m.
Divorced survey at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (R L) 17 March 1970

(Name: NH 4555 4550) Settlement & Field System (NR)
OS 1/10,000map, (1975)

This unenclosed settlement comprises the remains of four oval stone-walled houses and two scarped platforms which may represent the sites of timber houses. In the vicinity there are several other platforms of unknown function and also extensive remains of stone clearance, some of which may be of relatively recent date.
RCAHMS 1979

The suggested enclosure attached to hut circle 'D;, at NH 4550 4545 is almost certainly the line of a collapsed souterrain. Otherwise, the hut circles and field system are as described by OS surveyor.
Visited by OS (J M) 11 February 1981

This site was visited multiple times by R Spencer-Jones of NOSAS between March and June 2013. All but three of the hut circles were identifiable due to heather burning at the site (for grouse) which had made the majority of hut circles more visible. The three that were unlocated were A, J and K.
Hut D - [NH 45507 45451] The walls were indistinct in the south west and best seen in the east where they are spread to 1.5m and stand to 0.5m in height. Located on a gentle west facing slope, at the base of a mound to the north lies this large hut circle, with an ellipse of stone wall to the west, ie down-slope. In the original 1970 survey this is described as a souterrain, confirmed by a further OS visit in 1981. What remains of this structure is an ellipse of stones, approx 3.5-4m outwith the western side of the original hut circle. They now don't look like a souterrain, although their function is now unclear. There is a path, probably animal track, that runs through the northern part of the circle, exposing the base. The general shape is circular. The internal diameter measured 7.5m x 6.7m. The external diameter measured 10.6m x 10.2m. There was a possible entrance to the SSE. <1>

NH 45507 45451 Allt na Criche 4 (D) RSJ004 (D). The hut circle was visited by A Welti and R Spencer-Jones in 2013 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 strucure is one of a group of 10 roundhouses at Urchany Glen. RSJ004 is in poor condition. There are 3 duns in the near landscape and a burial cairn is nearby. The HC is adjacent to an enclosure. Evidence of long term agriculture in the area is given by turf and stone field walls, and clearance cairns. The terrain is rough, hilly and rocky. Vegetation inside the structure and in the surrounding landscape is entirely heather. The site is 180m from a stream, 104m from a lochan, 450m from a river and has panoramic views inland. The HC platform is built out from a moderate south facing slope. The ring bank together with several stones in the wall were visible. Average inner diameter is 7.1m, outer diameter is 10.4m. Wall thickness is 1.45m with maximum height 0.5m. The wall construction was not evident but a possible south facing entrance was discerned. A path runs through the site, exposing the base of the northern wall arc. On the west side of the HC a curved structure with dimensions 3.5mx10m abutts the HC wall. This was interpreted as either the part base of an earlier HC, a collapsed souterrain, or a later stock pen. RSJ004 is at a distance of 90m from RSJ006 (see MHG61214) and 100m from RSJ003 (see MHG61217). <2> <3>

[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 2019 to location as shown on 2009 Aps. <4>

The North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) undertook an archaeological survey of Urchany in 2015.

Site H65; OS Hut Circle D. On a gentle west facing slope, at the base of a hillock to the north, lies this hut circle, with an additional stone wall to the west, ie downslope. In the original 1970 OS survey this is described as a souterrain (see MHG44153), confirmed by a further OS visit in 1981 (see MHG44153). The hut circle is circular, 10.6m x 10.2m, with walls best seen in the east, where they are 0.5m high, spread to 1.5m. There is a possible entrance in SSE. All the walls are densely covered in deep heather. There is an animal track that runs through the northern part of the circle, exposing a base of stones. <5>

Sources/Archives (6)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 4550 4546 (17m by 17m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH44NE
Civil Parish	KILMORACK
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

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