Field Visit

Date 2003

Event ID 1000749

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1000749

NM 8981 2807 The artificial island at Rubha na Moine is visible as a boulder mound, densely covered with trees and bushes at the N end of the loch. This overgrowth prevented any inspection of the dry areas of this site, and it is possible that there are structural remains on the surface. The island is sub-circular, 43m in diameter. The diameter of the dry area is 23m, and the site is over 3m high from base to top. The island is situated 126m from the closest point on the modern N shore, and may exploit a naturally raised area on the loch bed, though this is difficult to ascertain. The main mound consists of large (average 0.5m diameter) and medium (average 0.2-0.3m diameter) boulders, and appears to be featureless other than a well-constructed boat noost located on the NNE side of the site. The stone mound is much larger than the area visible above water, and extends particularly to the S, where a flat area protrudes beneath the water for 20m. Only one timber was noted, at the S edge of the site, where a large oak horizontal protruded from the mound at a depth of c 1.5m. At the closest point to the island on the shore there is a small, loosely constructed stone pier, though this feature is of unknown date.

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