Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the fort, taken from the SW.

Description Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the fort, taken from the SW.

Date 10/4/2003

Collection RCAHMS Aerial Photography

Catalogue Number SC 875653

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of E 35371 CN

Scope and Content Poll Duchaill Fort from north-east, Eigg, Small Isles, Highland The island of Eigg is one of the Small Isles along with Canna, Rum and Muck. It lies 16km off the west coast of Scotland. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic (c.4000-2500 BC) and remains of later occupation survive in the form of Bronze Age hut circles, Iron Age forts, early medieval burial cairns, early Christian crosses, Viking boat stems and 19th-century townships. The island was bought in 1997 by its residents, with help from the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Highland Council. This shows the Iron Age fort of Poll Duchaill on its dramatic rocky knoll at the west end of the Bay of Laig. The fort would have been defended by stone walls, but only occupied in times of trouble due to its inhospitable location. The remains of a kelp burning kiln have been found close to the shore below the fort. Between 1790 and 1815 islanders burnt seaweed to produce kelp, a soda ash which was used as a bleaching agent, and in the manufacture of soap, glass and gunpowder. The process took place in simple kilns, the remains of which can be found at various points around the coast of Eigg. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/875653

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap