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MHG66097 - Possible kilns - Midtown

Summary

A series of buildings.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

On a grass and bracken slope, c 90 m from the HWM are a series of buildings. The first of these buildings is a sub-square, dry-stone structure standing c 1.2 m high and 4.5 m across. The walls of this structure are well-faced all around, with a small opening (0.40 m square) built on the SE side at the base, the opening being filled with rubble and stones up to 0.20 m across. There is clearance debris piled up against the north side of the building. The second structure is a long, rectangular mound 4.5 m N-S by 2 m; this is, again, neatly faced on the south, but tumbled and with clearance piled against the north and east sides. There may be a collapsed small opening on the SE side as in the previous structure. The third structure in this series is an oval mound which is 4 m NE-SW by 2 m. This is mostly turf-clad but also with small rounded stones, which measure up to 0.2 m. These stones are visible in the fabric of the mound. All three structures may be kilns at different stages of collapse and obscured by clearance, although the first structure described may have been deliberately filled in. The next group of structures, which are smaller and grouped closer together, lie to the NE of the first group mentioned. The first of this lesser group is square in form, measuring 4 m square and 1 m high, and it abuts the field wall on the west side. The structure is well-faced along the east side and the wall retains a core of small rubble. The south side is much tumbled with the centre of the structure being a turf-clad mound of rubble. This second structure is rectangular in form and measures 8 m N-S by 2 m, with a maximum height of 1 m, and a low-faced skin retaining a core of rubble. The third and final structure is 4 m N-S by 2 m and is perhaps linked to the structure before, perhaps as a kelp-burning kiln. This grouping of structures suffers from natural erosion. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on grid coordinates. (TB 12/8/26)

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 5889 6107 (67m by 67m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC56SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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