Monument record MHG12978 - Group of hut circles, Loch Borralie South

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NC 3777 6668 (49m by 197m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NC36NE
Geographical Area SUTHERLAND
Old County SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish DURNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

(A: NC 3773 6673) A hut circle, partially destroyed and measuring about 34 ft in diameter overall, is exposed by sand-blow on an old stabilised dune surface. Dykes and clearance cairns also occur in the blow.
(B: NC 3773 6661) A well-preserved hut, 27 ft in overall diameter.
'C', lying 18 ft NE of 'B', is a hut circle 33 ft in overall diameter. Information from Dr C S Sandeman, Durness, 14 March 1967; R Reid 1968.

This settlement of three hut circles (A-C) centred at NC 377 667 occurs in an area of limestone ridges partially covered by dunes.
Hut 'A', at NC 3779 6676 survives as a semi-circle of rubble, 2.0m wide and 0.2m in average height, protruding through the sand and turf, with intermittent inner facing stones exposed; this represents the NW half of the hut and measures approximately 8.5m internal diameter; the SE half is presumably buried. Two transverse slabs in the W, 0.8m apart, may indicate the entrance. Scattered stones forming no obvious pattern lay in the interior.
'B' and 'C' at NC 3778 6631 and NC 3778 6632 are two similar turf-covered hut circles, having unusually slight walls spread from 1.0m to 1.5m and 0.3m high. They measure approximately 8.0m and 6.0m in internal diameter respectively. Entrances are in the SE quarter, and both have short sections of wall destroyed to the E of their entrances. Approximately 1 hectare of field clearance and presumably associated low walling lies to the SW of hut 'A' among exposed sand. The clearance heaps average 15.0m apart; many heaps have been built around living rock. Scattered fragments of iron slag occur among the sand.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (J B) 14 April 1980.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Reid, R W K. 1968. 'Prehistoric settlement in Durness', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 99 1966-7, p.21-53. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 21-53. 33, 36, Nos. 7-9.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Loch Borralie South. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Loch Borralie South. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Loch Borralie South. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Loch Borralie South. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Loch Borralie South. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Aug 2 2016 11:26AM

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