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MHG66119 - Naust - Melness

Summary

Probably a boat-noust or shed.

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.

Cut into a grass and bracken covered slope at the edge of a shingle-beach, is a rectangular structure. Internally this measures 12.2 m NW-SE by 5 m, the back standing to a height of 0.85 m. This is cut into the slope and the walls are faced with dry-stone. There are a few stones to the NW of this, which is probably tumble, and the SE wall has partly collapsed into the structure. The building stands open to the beach on its SE side with the NE wall partly continuing beyond the end of the dry-stone construction by a rib of outcrop. This was probably a boat-noust or shed. There is no evidence for erosion from the tide, the building instead suffering from natural collapse. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2023 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 5813 6025 (9m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC56SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)