Archaeology Notes

Event ID 643540

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/643540

HY21SE 17 2824 1039.

(HY 2824 1039) Cummi Howe (OE) (Chambered Mound)

Annotation on (undated) OS map.

This mound, known as 'Cummina Howe' is probably a broch. There are considerable traces of stonework but so broken up and turf-covered that no definite plan can be traced. Although it appears to have been quarried to some extent for building materials, it has not been systematically investigated.

At the S side, a portion of a circular wall is exposed for a height of six feet, and against this has been built, possibly at a later date, a small structure, in shape a segment of a circle, measuring 9ft N-S by 8ft E- W. A passage 3ft 8 ins wide and only about 2ft long, leading into the structure, can be seen at the west end adjoining the main circular wall.

RCAHMS 1946.

A mutilated and much eroded broch, known as 'Cummi Howe'. All that can be seen to identify this as a broch is a short stretch of walling, c.6.0m long and surviving to a maximum height of 1.0m, showing eight courses of medium- sized stones. This is presumably the outer wall-face although it could be the wall of a mutual cell or gallery. Further possible traces of this wall were located to the north. The whole of the west side of the broch has been eroded by the sea and, on the east side, a plantie creugh has been built. The small structure and the short passage mentioned by the RCAHMS are no longer visible.

Resurveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RB) 10 May 1966.