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MHG66335 - Possible hut circles - Balchrick

Summary

May be the remains of two hut circles.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A second archaeological survey of Sandwood Estate in the parish of Eddrachillis was undertaken by ACFA in 2002.

Large sections of the ridge to the SE of the Balchrick to Droman road have a machair-type cover, with shelly sand typically around lm deep providing the base for good pasturage and a notably diverse meadow flora. In some local areas however, mainly a little below the crest of the ridge on the NW side, more or less extensive blow-outs have occurred, exposing the underlying rock or stony surface. In two places, the remains of old settlements have thus been revealed.

This site, on a NW-facing slope at approximately 40m OD, is largely surrounded by an area of (actually or potentially) mobile and unstable sand and machair. At some time the site has evidently been completely covered by sand, and has subsequently been re-exposed by wind-blow and water erosion. The area surrounding this site was the subject of work by Scottish Natural Heritage (then NCC) in 1989 when a conservation project was carried out to stabilise the dunes and machair by treatment with peat and planting with marram grass. (Since 1997 this project has been continued by the Trust). The work appears to have been fairly successful, though some further erosion and exposure of the site has since occurred on a relatively small scale (see next paragraph below).

On the archaeological front, it is understood that at much the same time as the SNH work, some excavation of the site was carried out by Highland Regional Council Archaeology Service, and the presence of postholes was reported. Detailed information on this work has not been traced, but an undated sketch of part of the site presumed to have been made at the time (received from The Highland Council through SNH), alows it to be estimated that in some places the standing edge of the sand has since eroded back a further 1-2m. The site contains the remains of an enclosure, two sand mounds with substantial seashell accumulations, and traces of two possible hut circles.

Feature 4; Possible hut circle (1)
On the west slope of Feature 2 lies a sub-circular arrangement of stones, which may be the remains of a hut circle. The feature measures approximately 7m E-W by 4.5m N-S. Rough boulders have been built up and lie low, almost buried in sand. The walling to the north west, west and south is substantial, approximately 1m wide, while in the north and east only a thin scatter of stones can be seen. There is no obvious entrance. It is noticeable that there is only a thin scattering of shell in the interior of the feature, while all round it the shell cover is very thick.

Feature 5; Possible hut circle (2)
To the west of Feature 4 lie the vestigial remains of what may have been a second hut circle of which only the larger stones remain. The feature measures 7.5m E-W by 7m N-S. An outer line of stones from this feature to the `tail' of Feature 3 may perhaps be the remains of a wall which enclosed Features 2, 3, 4 and 5, but this is conjectural. <1>

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

Sources/Archives (5)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 1909 5962 (38m by 29m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC15NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	EDDRACHILLIS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)