Excavation

Date March 2012 - October 2012

Event ID 993838

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/993838

NH 1057 9689 Rhue Hut Circle, Ullapool (Wedig 2) This hut circle lies c200m upslope from the road and a more substantial hut circle by the roadside. The site consists of a heather covered ring-bank c10m in overall diameter, with an extended entrance facing to the SE. The surrounding area, although heather covered, showed considerable evidence for cultivation with numerous clearance cairns protruding through the peat.

Trench 1 which was placed just off centre within the structure revealed a large stone slab set directly on the natural subsoil. This slab, which had been levelled with stone wedges, showed no indication of heat and was surrounded and partly covered by a black, occupation horizon.

Trench 2 was placed across a well preserved section of turf bank just to the W of the entrance. Excavations revealing a tumbled stone wall with the inner face surviving 4 courses high. The outer face had tumbled down the slope. The occupation horizon revealed in trench 1 was seen to butt up to the foot of the inner face of the hut wall.

Trench 3 was placed c3m to the W of the site.

Small finds included a maul/working surface from the tumbled wall core, which may indicate the presence of an earlier occupation site in the area.

Website www.wedigs.co.uk (accessed October 2014).

Archive: Inverness archive (intended)

Funder: Heritage Lottery Fund and Highland Council

Anna Welti, Lochbroom Field Club, 2013

(Source: DES)