Excavation
Date 1995
Event ID 547163
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/547163
At Ruaival (centered on NF 098 985), excavation of two circular structures was completed this summer. One of the biggest problems was the attempt to distinguish the structures from the scree, since most of the main stone material for the structures was probably collected from the vicinity. It was eventually possible to see traces of facing stones and arrangements that suggest that the structures were built and are not, for example, simply the remains of quarry pits. Apart from the remains of a few broken mortar-like stone vessels in the structural material there was nothing that could give definite evidence as to function or dating.
This season also saw the first examination of the earthen platforms at Ruaival. These lie within and under the more recent drystone enclosures and show similarities to the terraces on An Lag. Unlike An Lag, Ruvial is freely drained. Because of this, little trace of stratigraphy (eg tip lines) could be found in the Ruaival platforms. No traces of agricultural, horticultural or domestic activity were discovered and no finds of any chronological significance. Despite the missing evidence for, eg, pottery or tip lines, as found on An Lag, the results of the Ruaival investigations suggest that here, too, a series of artificial earthen platforms has been constructed for growing purposes.
During this season's field work, a built structure in the scree, higher up on the slopes of Mullach Sgar to the N of Ruaival, had been noted. This structure is not visible from lower down the slope and is not easy to see even from a few feet away. The remains stand to a height of well over 1m; it is drystone built, with traces of corbelled construction and there is a small kidney-shaped chamber at one end, plus a small niche built into one wall and a drain-like feature running through the other (see Fig 38, p106). There is what appears to be a blind passage leading out of the chamber for a distance of about 2m and there is no apparent entrance to the structure. One large roofing lintel survives in situ across the passage, with what might be the broken remains of another close to it. The method of construction is interesting. It appears that a level area had been quarried back into the slope of the scree had been replaced around the structure to support but also possibly to conceal it. As a result of this work further examination of the general area was undertaken and it became apparent that there are many examples of walls, enclosures, structures and other features.
Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland.
A Morrison, P Johnson and J Huntly 1995.
