Mingulay
Peat Stand(S) (Period Unassigned), Pen(S) (Period Unassigned), Shieling Hut (Post Medieval)
Site Name Mingulay
Classification Peat Stand(S) (Period Unassigned), Pen(S) (Period Unassigned), Shieling Hut (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 21366
Site Number NL58SE 26
NGR NL 5584 8326
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/21366
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Barra
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NL58SE 26 5584 8326
Remains of 3 oval shielings and a peat cleit.
Visited by OS 30 August 1973.
In the upper reaches of the burn that flows into the sea in Mingulay Bay through the village there are three peat-stack stands, four pens and a shieling-hut. These structures are scattered on both sides of a rocky hollow cut by the burn. Two pens are built against the banks and head-dykes that make up the field-system of Mingulay Bay (NL58SE 143). The pens are drystone structures measuring about 2m across overall and apart from the one built against the head-dyke, which stands 0.7m in height (MING03 98), they are reduced to little more than spreads of loose stone. The peat-stack stands vary considerably in style of construction. The stand that is built against one of the head-dykes is oval, bounded by large stones and measuring 3.9m from N to S by 3.2m across (MING03 94). This stand is shown in use with a stack of peat in a photograph held by University of St. Andrews Library (RMA-S.000098). The other two stands are more typical platforms edged with large stones and measuring 4.8 and 4.2m in length respectively and 2.4m in breadth (MING03 95, 96). The shieling-hut is an oval structure that has been excavated, presumably by the University of Sheffield (Branigan and Foster 2000). It measures about 2.2m across within walls 0.7m in thickness and 0.4m in height and there is an entrance on the N (MING03 263). The interior is paved with stone and a gap has been knocked in the S arc. The excavation spoil tip lies to the N.
MING03 94-96, 98, 262-263, 373, 466
Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 26 June 2003
Field Visit (30 August 1973)
Remains of 3 oval shielings and a peat cleit.
Visited by OS 30 August 1973.
Field Visit (26 June 2003)
In the upper reaches of the burn that flows into the sea in Mingulay Bay through the village there are three peat-stack stands, four pens and a shieling-hut. These structures are scattered on both sides of a rocky hollow cut by the burn. Two pens are built against the banks and head-dykes that make up the field-system of Mingulay Bay (NL58SE 143). The pens are drystone structures measuring about 2m across overall and apart from the one built against the head-dyke, which stands 0.7m in height (MING03 98), they are reduced to little more than spreads of loose stone. The peat-stack stands vary considerably in style of construction. The stand that is built against one of the head-dykes is oval, bounded by large stones and measuring 3.9m from N to S by 3.2m across (MING03 94). This stand is shown in use with a stack of peat in a photograph held by University of St. Andrews Library (RMA-S.000098). The other two stands are more typical platforms edged with large stones and measuring 4.8 and 4.2m in length respectively and 2.4m in breadth (MING03 95, 96). The shieling-hut is an oval structure that has been excavated, presumably by the University of Sheffield (Branigan and Foster 2000). It measures about 2.2m across within walls 0.7m in thickness and 0.4m in height and there is an entrance on the N (MING03 263). The interior is paved with stone and a gap has been knocked in the S arc. The excavation spoil tip lies to the N.
MING03 94-96, 98, 262-263, 373, 466
Visited by RCAHMS (PJD) 26 June 2003
