South Shian, Shian Wood

NM94SW 68 NM 907 418

NM 907 418 A survey and desk-based assessment were undertaken within the Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve at Shian Wood, on a promontory overlooking the southern shore of Loch Creran. The field survey was undertaken by a team from Kilmartin House Museum and volunteers organised by the Lorne Archaeological and Historical Society. Covering some 21ha, the reserve is dominated by oak and hazel woodland with areas of heath particularly within the southern parts of the reserve. Wetter ground exists along the lower levels on the western side and within level areas towards the central part of the reserve. The survey revealed the presence of several woodland dykes, possibly constructed by the arcaldine

Estate in the late 18th or early 19th century. Several areas of rig and furrow were also noted, and these may prove to be earlier in date. Only one building was discovered, although its dating and function remain ambiguous. Small-scale quarrying and peat-working areas were also evidenced during the survey. (See individual sites too, based on grid references below.)

NM 9018 4082 Achnamoine. Cairn; 23m across and 1.8m

high (NM94SW 6).

NM 8936 4139 Balure. Cairn. Carn Ban (white cairn) is the

most westerly of Balure group; 6.2m across and

3m high. (NM84SE 6).

NM 8960 4145 Balure. Cairn. Central cairn of Balure group;

13.7m diameter and 1.2m high (NM84SE 8).

NM 8975 4140 Balure. Cairn. Most easterly of Balure group;

12m diameter and 0.5m high (NM84SE 7).

NM 910 403 Castle Farm, Barcaldine. Cairn. Most

easterly of group; 9m diameter and 0.8m high.

NM 910 403 Castle Farm, Barcaldine. Cairn. Central

cairn in group; 9m diameter and 1m high.

NM 910 402 Castle Farm, Barcaldine. Cairn. SW cairn of

group, consists of cairn and encircling revetted

bank; 9.8m diameter and 0.6m high, with bank

3m wide and 0.6m high. Both cairn and bank

sit on an artificial platform, 22m diameter.

NM 911 402 Castle Farm, Barcaldine. Standing stone.

Moved and re-erected from its original position

about 10 feet from SW cairn of Castle Farm

group (NM94SW 3).

NM 9011 4239 An Doirlinn, Eriska. Crannog, represented by

mound of stones, 20m diameter. On S foreshore

of Eriska (NM94SW 7).

NM 9079 4057 Barcaldine Castle. Early 17th-century tower

house (NM94SW 1).

NM 9082 4214 Quarry. Small scoop into upper W slope of An

Sithean hilltop.

NM 9077 4217 Quarry. Small borrow pit cut into basal W slope

of hill; proximity of quarry and enclosure wall

suggest they may be related.

NM 9078 4220 Well. Stone-lined.

NM 9075 4217 Wall. Running NW before dog-legging NE.

NM 9072 4194 ?Quarry. Small scoop in side of upper slope of

NE-SW aligned ridge.

NM 9089 4198 Quarry. Hollow in base of slope on E side of

An Sithean. Spoil from this pit appears to cover

a trackway running along W side of enclosure

dyke, presumably making it later in date than

dyke and track.

NM 9085 4195 Quarry. Hollow in E slope of An Sithean.

NM 9077 4192 Dyke. Associated ditch on eastern extent;

enclosing hill of An Sithean.

NM 9079 4192 Peat cutting. Now within a particularly boggy

wooded glade. Remnants of straight edges of

peat hags can still be discerned.

NM 9063 4195 Dyke. Earth bank with accompanying ditch on

its S side; aligned NW-SE. Ditch up to 2.5m

wide; bank up to 1.8m high above centre of

ditch.

NM 9073 4187 Dyke. Earth bank with ditch on W side. This

NE-SW aligned dyke runs between two dykes

lying at N and S.

NM 9064 4184 Quarry. Small hollow dug into W slope of ridge.

NM 9062 4181 Stones and level area.

NM 9054 4182 ?Platforms.

NM 9048 4165 Cleared level area within a glade; slight traces of

rig and furrow.

NM 9047 4178 Quarry. ?Quarry face cut into steep W-facing

rock outcrop. No signs of accompanying spoil

accumulation.

NM 9042 4173 Building and enclosure. Structure appears

roofless on 1871 OS map.

NM 9041 4170 Quarry. Cut into steep outcrop of schist/slate.

NM 9062 4169 Track and ditches. Track runs along SE

boundary of reserve and has a ditch either side.

NM 9056 4168 Peat cutting. Traces of peat workings within

lightly wooded and damp area.

NM 9055 4162 Rig and furrow. Can still be discerned on the

ground, but very apparent on 1967 aerial

photograph; runs NE-SW.

NM 9035 4165 Peat cutting. Series of sunken/reduced areas

with banks running between them; ?remnants of

peat workings.

NM 9021 4159 Rig and furrow. Still apparent on the ground;

aligned N-S.

NM 9071 4163 Building. Remains of ruined farm seen on

1946 aerial photographs. Site now occupied by

modern building/farm.

NM 9061 4157 Rig and furrow. ?Associated with adjacent

building, a pattern of SW-NE aligned rig and

furrow. Plotted from 1967 aerial photographs.

NM 9056 4160 Dyke. Earthen bank and ditch running on its S

side; aligned NW-SE.

NM 9071 4178 Track, dyke and ditch. Dyke stands 1.5m high,

before dropping down to area of trackway and

ditched burn.

NM 9550 4167 Ditch. Curvilinear ditch.

NM 908 421 Old Ferry House, South Shian.

Full report lodged with NMRS.

Sponsor: Scottish Wildlife Trust.