Garbh Reisa

NR79NE 31 7576 9810

NR 7573 9810 A circular structure was noted on an aerial photograph of the island of Garbh Reisa, in the Sound of Jura. A group from the Cowal Archaeological and Historical Society subsequently visited the island in July 1998 to investigate.

A near-circular, stone-revetted turf bank about 35m in diameter, 2m wide, and 1.5m high is located at the SW end of a rocky ridge at the N end of the island, 25m above sea level, on a broad area of flat grassy ground with which the ridge merges.

The longest axis of the enclosure is about 37m and is oriented approximately NW-SE. The perpendicular axis is about 31m. There is an entrance on the W side where the track approaches. A small 2m circular cell abuts the enclosure wall on the outside, to the right of the entrance; it appears to be contemporaneous with the main structure. Further N, along the W side of the ridge, and a few metres above the track, are two small stone-built quasi-rectangular structures about 2m broad.

Some 70m to the W are the ruins of four rectangular buildings, probably 18th or 19th century. Two stand on the flat grassy area at the level of the circular structure. The other two are on a narrow terrace a few metres up the E slope of the high (45m) hill. These are smaller, c 3.5 x 3m, and appear to be of earlier date than the two below which, however, overlie earlier foundations.

The extensive flat area is partitioned by two linear walls, now ruined, running perpendicular to the long axis of the island at about 50m and 90m from the circular structure. At the NW base of the hill is a cave with a drystone wall enclosing the entrance.

Sponsor: Cowal Archaeological and Historical Society.

J D Dorren 1998