Tiree, Loch Na Gile

NM04NW 27 0260 4819.

(NM 0260 4819) Crannog (possible), Loch na Gile: In shallow water near the NW end of Loch na Gile, there is an unnamed island, measuring about 16m from E to W by 9m transversely, the summit of which is occupied by the severely denuded remains of a sub-rectangular building of unknown date. Beveridge (E Beveridge 1903) mentions the existence of a causeway linking the island to the shore, as well as 'a strong outer wall' on the NE periphery, but the former may well be wholly natural, and the latter is at present no more than a mass of tumbled debris, whose original character cannot be determined.

RCAHMS 1980, visited 1975; E Beveridge 1903

NM 0260 4819 This site, identified by RCAHMS (1980) as a 'possible crannog' is located near the centre of the N end of Loch na Gile, 24m from the W shore. It is surrounded by water less than 0.5m in depth and is easily accessed from shore. No trace was found of a causeway noted by Beveridge even though the loch bed was probed.

The site is an oval-shaped bedrock islet, which measures 18m by 25m at its base, that has been slightly enlarged by small stones. The islet is crowned by a level grassey platform which resembles a light bulb in shape and is 0.5m above water level and 1.1m above the surrounding lochbed. Only one corner of the sub-rectangular building previously identified by the RCAHMS is clearly visible, the remainder of the structure has been broken up and is indistinct. A 5.5m long section of walling was identified on the NE edge of the platform. This walling consisted of a single course of well-rounded, medium sized boulders. Underwater investigation revealed that the islet was natural and only slightly enlarged with small stones.

Sponsors: Univ of Edinburgh Dept of Archaeology, Holley & Assoc.

M W Holley 1995.