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MHG62604 - Hut circle - Peinchonninch [C]

Summary

A hut circle at Peinchonninch.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle at Peinchonninch. Originally recorded by the OS as hut circle 'C'.

Centred at NG 402 645 is a settlement of five circular stone-walled huts (A to E) and traces of a contemporary field system.
All diameters are given between wall centres.
Hut 'A' measures about 10.0m in diameter with the wall spread to about 3.0m all round. One outer wall facing stone is visible in the S. The mutilated entrance is in the SSW.
'B' is identical to 'A' with the entrance in the same arc. A rectangular building measuring internally about 3.5 by 2.0m with an entrance in the SW has been built within the hut against the wall in the NE.
'C' measurs 8.5m in diameter with the wall spread to 2.5m. A ruinous modern wall running NW/SE crosses the mutilated SW arc. The entrance is not evident.
'D' measures 10.5m with the wall spread to 2.5m. The E and S arcs have been mutilated by peat diggings. The entrance is not evident.
'E' measures 7.5m with the wall spread to 2.5m The illdefined entrance is in the S.
In the vicinity of the huts, and particularly to the E of them, several stone clearance heaps and traces of walls probably part of a contemporary field system mainly obscured by peat. To the W the ground is occupied by lazy bed cultivation with comtemporary walls.
Visited by OS (A A) 4 November 1971.

140224 864421 Peinchonninch 3 AW668: The hut circle was visited by A Welti and M Wildgoose in 2019 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. A cluster of at least 5 circular stone structures lies on a gentle South facing slope which forms a plateau bounded to the west by steep slopes down to Uig Bay and to the north by the River Rha. Vegetation is mainly grass with moss submerging many of the visible stones. The area is grazed. A possible burial cairn lies nearby (see sketch of group positions). There are signs of long term agricultural usage in the form of ruinous boundary walls, enclosures, clearance cairns and lazy beds. AW668 is 250m from a stream, 300m from the River Rha, and 1000m from the sea at Uig Bay and there are panoramic views to land and sea. No platform is evident. Inner diameter averages at 6.25m, outer diameter is 10.00m. The ring bank is visible as are some wall stones. Walling is 1.6m thick with maximum height 0.4m. The southern arc of walling has collapsed down slope. A possible entrance faces SE. There is an oval bank to the south of the structure and a possible wall adjoins the SE wall arc. AW668 is 12m from AW666 (see MHG62605) and 30m from AW667 (see MHG62606). <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 2022 according to the location of the feature as seen on 2021 vertical APs. <1>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 4021 6443 (18m by 18m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG46SW
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	SNIZORT

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External Links (1)