Field Visit

Date 2003

Event ID 1000730

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1000730

NR 7788 8949 This site is completely submerged and is not visible above the water level. The previously supplied grid reference is inaccurate, and the reed patch and fence posts noted by the OS in 1977 do not mark anything of archaeological significance. The site referred to by Mapleton (PSAS, 1870, 322) is located at the end of a submerged bedrock shoal which continues underwater off the southernmost headland of the small bay in the SE corner of Loch Coille-Bharr. The site rests upon this bedrock spar, utilising a flattened area close to where the bedrock drops off sharply into deep water. It comprises a stone mound with a basal diameter of 11m; the flattened platform area on top of the site is c 5m in diameter, and measures c 1.6m in height from the lowest to the highest points. It is located 14m from the nearest dry land shore at the end of the rocky headland.

The 'well made walling' referred to by Mapleton is visible in two places - at the SE and SW corners of the site - where the walls act as revetments for the main stone mound. These revetments are well constructed, consisting of angular slabs averaging 0.7m in length, and are best preserved in the SW area, where the walling is six courses high and fills a V-shaped cleft in the bedrock reef. The walling in the SE corner supports the boulder mound at a point where the bedrock drops away sharply to deep water. The character of the site behind the retention walling contrasts greatly, with the boulders seemingly having been dumped without placement on the site. Generally, the stones in the main area of the site are smaller than those utilised in the revetment walls, though several very large boulders, over 1m across, were observed around the edges of the mound. The top of the mound is rough and uneven, and shows no trace of any stone superstructure. No timbers were noted.

Full report has been lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsors: Dr J N Marshall (Isle of Bute) Memorial Fund, CBA Challenge Funding, University of Nottingham.

M G Cavers 2003