Monument record MHG9940 - Druim Dearg

Enclosure (NR). (NC 9329 1421 : NC 9328 1427) Enclosures (NR). (NC 9329 1412) Earth House (NR). (NC 9328 1425) Earth House (NR) OS 6"map, (1963)

Situated at foot of the steep, scree slopes forming E side of Druim Dearg are remains of enclosures and possible indications of two souterrains.
The enclosure at NC 9329 1410, of irregular shape and with a heather-overgrown wall standing to an average 0.4m, is about 35.0m NNE-SSW by 27.0m; there is an entrance from the north. About 2.0m WNW of this entrance is a large slab 1.5m in length and 0.3m thick which appears to be the lintel over the entrance to a possible souterrain; the entrance, partly filled with stones, is 0.6m wide and extends in for the same distance.
The enclosure at NC 9329 1421 is sub-divided into two compartments and has its longest overall dimension on a N-S axis; the main compartment, to the south and nearly rectangular is about 42.0m N-S by 16.0m; the second compartment, irregular in plan, is about 27.0m E-W by 15.0m. The walls of the enclosure stand to a maximum of 1.0m in the SW end. At the NE corner of the rectangular compartment there is, what appears to be, the stone course of a small rectangular structure measuring 5.0m by 3.0m. About 5.0m NW of the north end of the enclosure is a hole in the hillside which reveals traces of walling in its north and west sides; the hole is about 0.8m in diameter and 1.0m deep. About 3.0m SW of this hole is another, shallower one 0.8m in diameter and 0.5m deep but no walling is visible. These cavities suggest the existence of souterrain or underground structure.
At NC 9328 1427 there is an almost circular enclosure measuring about 22.0m N-S by 21.0m. It consists of a heather covered wall standing to 0.3m and having no apparent entrance gap. In the vicinity of these enclosures are a few other cavities in the hillside but their character cannot be determined.
Visited by OS (E G C) 6 June 1961.

These irregularly-shaped enclosures are almost certainly stock pens constructed of stones from the adjacent scree slope. The walls of bare stones are tumbled and unusually broad, varying from 2.5m to 4.0m spread. Their date is uncertain, but the relatively "fresh" appearance suggests a late date.
Of the two souterrains published by OS, the one at NC 9329 1412 is just the chance setting of a large slab astride collapsed walling. The other at NC 9328 1425 appears to be the wall face of the enclosure overlaid by copious amounts of tumble from the wall, and possibly from the scree above.
Revised at 1/2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 6 May 1976.