Monument record MHG7638 - Rock shelter & midden, Allt Na H-Uamha

NG76SE 1 767 648
The site lies at approximately 85m OD on NW-facing slope of the valley of Allt na h-Uamha, about 1.3km NW of youth hostel at Craig. It is situated at base of vertical crags which comprise the southerly side of valley at this point, just above level of the Allt na h-Uamha itself, which is mostly invisible as it runs through an area composed mainly of large tumbled boulders. The shelter consists principally of 3 enormous boulders, two of which support the third - a massive rectangular piece measuring some 4.5m in width above the 'entrance'; perhaps 2m deep at front; and about 4m from front to back. Its angle of rest is about 30. The space thus created is substantial, and diminishes in height from about 2m at the 'entrance' to 30cm or so at the back of the wedge. The internal space widens behind the two propping boulders to full width of the capping boulder, and was quite dry at the time of visit. Immediately in front of shelter is an area c3m diameter of bright green, short cropped grass through which several other large boulders protrude. It is, essentially, a mound of crushed and broken shell fragments clearly dumped in front of entrance to shelter, and covering boulders which lay strewn about area. The floor of the interior of the shelter is bare soil, with fragments of shell and bone visible; these superficial bones are probably modern, but there might be undisturbed archaeological material at a lower level.
Information from Mr R B Gourlay, 26 January 1984.

The midden material within the shelter included animal bone, possibly worked into points but as previously noted possibly modern, burnt bone- possibly also modern although it would seem less likely, limpet, mussel and winkle shells, some burnt, fish vertebrae and lumps of charcoal. The material upon the surface seems to be a mixture of the eroding, underlying, in situ deposits and possibly more modern material, although nothing diagnostically modern was found. In addition to the space described in the SMR there was a further cavity, accessed from the back wall of the area, through a small, c.600mm wide by 400mm high aperture, which then opened up into an area roughly 3m long by 1.5m wide by 1m high. Although not entered, many shells were visible throughout and imply the area was also used in the mesolithic.
The limpet shells with what appears to be drilled holes were found in a distinct area of circa 500mm2 adjacent to the east wall of the main area of the shelter, and seemed to originate from the underlying in situ deposit which was extremely charcoal rich. <1>