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MHG66226 - Farmstead - Skullomie

Summary

Three buildings and an enclosure form the main elements at this site, set on the landward side of the 100 ft contour.

Type and Period (1)

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.

As represented on the OS 1:10 560 map (1962), three buildings and an enclosure form the main elements at this site, set on the landward side of the 100 ft contour. The most northerly structure measures 10 m by 4 m externally and has a 1 m wide paved surface running the length of the south side. The structure runs down-slope towards the sea. There are no discernible internal features but there is an entrance 2 m from the seaward end in the S side. This building survives in parts to ten courses (1.8 m) high but in others to only one course. Located approximately 6 m to the south of this, and on the same down-slope alignment, is another building in a less ruinous state. The SE gable of this structure survives to its full height and still has a turf-cap at the top, presumably a remnant of the roofing material. Again, in places, this building has been reduced to one course. This building measures 13 m by 4.5 m and is bi-compartmental. The seaward end of the structure would appear to be a store attached to the house but with only outside access. This measures 5 m by 4.5 m and the entrance is in the north wall beside the NW gable. The main part of this structure measures 8 m by 4.5 m and although no internal features are visible, it would appear to be a dwelling, Located 6 m up-slope at the landward side of this structure, aligned at right-angles to it, is another measuring 12 m by 4.5 m. This building has been heavily repaired with concrete spread over the stonework, a corrugated-iron roof in place, a glazed window in the sea-facing wall and a wooden, hinged door in the opposing wall, There are two blocked windows at either side of the door, piles of tumble at either gable which may have been now collapsed chimney-stacks, and the top of the walls have been roughly levelled-off to secure the corrugated-iron roof.

Located c 10 m to the south of the latter building is a dry-stone rectangular enclosure measuring 20 m by 15 m which survives from 3-4 courses to 9-10 courses (1.2 m high) and this has an entrance in the NW corner. Also associated with this site are two clearance-cairns, measuring 3 m by 3.5 m and 0.75 m high and 3.5 m by 1.5 m by 0.5 m high respectively. Both of these cairns are located on a terraced slope at the south of the complex described above and within an area defined by two low turf-dykes at right-angles to one another. There is also a stretch of grassed-over trackway which leads along the terrace at the south to the buildings. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 6154 6100 (47m by 49m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC66SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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