Archaeology Notes

Event ID 657987

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/657987

NG30SW 3 315 007

(NG 315 007) Deposits of Bloodstone on the upper part of Bloodstone Hill (formerly Creag nan Stairdean) appear to have been worked from at least the late Mesolithic (c.3000 BC) to the Beaker period (early 2nd millenium BC). Petrological evidence for this comes from the Ardnamurchan Mesolithic industries and from occupation of the cave at Rudh' an Dunain, Skye (NG31NE 5). Since waste material was found on these sites the implication is that it was removed from Rhum in rough form to be worked locally.

The principal deposit is a solid band c.9" thick not far from the summit on the north face. It is not visible but pieces of bloodstone can be procured at the deposit level and the screes below it. It was once worked as an ornamental stone and an old quarry is shown on the 6" map.

P R Ritchie 1968

The quarry shown on OS 6" is now not evident on the ground. Otherwise as described by Ritchie.

Visited by OS (AA) 15 May 1972.