Archaeology Notes

Event ID 693319

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/693319

NR36NE 23 3867 6733

(NR 3867 6733). Eilean Mhuireill appears to have been artificially made: it is said to be the site of an ancient building, uses as a prison by the Lords of the Isles (Macdonalds).

Name Book 1878.

When viewed from a nearby boat, Eilean Mhuireill gave the impression of having been built or reconstructed with large boulders. No causeway was apparent. At its N end are traces of a rectangular building, some 24ft by 13ft, with traces of an adjacent building of uncertain plan. (Local tradition of use as a prison by the Macdonalds is also given).

F Celoria 1959.

Eilean Mhuireill is a crannog, overgrown with scrub, and measuring 22.0m by 18.0m and 1.2m high. Traces of a boulder revettment occur around the base. There is no indication of any causeway; the water channel between the island and the near shore is fairly deep. The buildings on the island are as described.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (JM). 8 June 1978.

NR 3867 6733 Located 51m from the SE shore of Loch Finlaggan. At the time of survey, the depth of the water immediately surrounding the site was between 1.5-2m, with water 3m+ in depth immediately to the N and E of the islet. Eilean Mhuireill is an oval mound of stone which measures 30m NW-SE by 51m NE-SW at its base, with its long axis running parallel with the S shore of Loch Finlaggan. The surface of the islet is covered with a mixture of 80% medium-sized stone and 20% large boulders. The upper platform which stands 2.5m above the surrounding loch bed is also oval, measuring 17.5m NE-SW by 12.5m NW-SE. The turf-covered remains of a substantial perimeter wall could be traced around the margin of the upper platform. It was not possible to make an accurate measurement of the width of the wall due to the density of the undergrowth. At the time of survey, the surface of the islet was covered with a dense growth of briars and thorns and a small tree had taken root on the S side of the site. No trace of a causeway was found connecting the site to shore.

The remains of one of the sub-rectangular buildings (building a) previously noted by the RCAHMS were still visible through the undergrowth, however the other structure (building b) was completely obscured by briars and turf. The remains of what the RCAHMS described as a boat noost were observed in the NW sector of the site. This feature is a slight depression in the islet?s surface and is most pronounced at the water line but continues down to the bottom of the islet?s stone covering. The depression is 2.7m in average width but only 0.4m in average depth.

Sponsors: Edinburgh University Archaeology Department, Holley & Associates.

MW Holley 1996.