RCAHMS National Archaeology Survey: Canna

This survey has been undertaken at the request of the National Trust for Scotland and is designed to compliment the work by Dr John Hunter of the University of Bradford. It provides the opportunity to map the archaeology of the island in its entirety and will provide basic information for further projects to explore the history of the settlement and land-use in this part of the Hebrides. Although the survey was cut short this year, ground-checked aerial photographic data has now been digitised into the EDM control across the whole of the east end of the island, and it is already possible to detect differences between this part of the island and the remote west end. Notable discoveries include a large burial cairn, possibly with the remains of a chamber. (DES 1994, 101)

The basic mapping project reported last year has been completed. Material collected on the ground and from aerial photography has been combined to produce a map covering the entire land area of both Canna and Sanday. Apart from all the areas of cultivation and the agricultural enclosures, it shows 932 structures. The structures range from prehistoric forts and hut-circles to medieval and later shieling groups and townships. Many of the structures are simple mounds, often of considerable size, and while many are probably shieling mounds, others appear to hide substantial stone structures. (DES 1995, 114)