Mull, Eilean Ban, Loch Frisa

NM44NE 1 4773 4933.

There is at least one lake habitation on Loch Frisa.

P A Macnab 1970.

Eilean Ban, at NM 4773 4933, is the only artificial island in Loch Frisa. It is composed of small round stones and measures 17.5m from E to W by 14.5m transversely with a crudely faced wall 1.7m wide drawn round its perimeter. Its date and purpose are unknown, but it is locally believed to have been a prison.

Visited by OS (RD) 16 June 1972.

Eilean Ban may have been created or improved artificially. It is low-lying, and was enclosed within a dry-stone perimeter wall some 1.6m in thickness, still preserved to a height of two or three courses in the NE sector. Elsewhere the wall is represented by a thick scatter of rubble showing occasional facing-stones in situ; in the W sector it has been constructed upon a kerb or plinth of massive boulders, while on the E side it returns round a small boat-inlet. This feature, together with the character of the masonry, indicates a late medieval or 17th-century date for the visible remains. There is no evidence of internal structures, and the site has no recorded history.

RCAHMS 1980, visited 1976.

Eilean Ban is located 42m off the western shore of Loch Frisa at roughly the midpoint of the loch. It is roughly circular in shape, measuring 14m by 17m. Drystone walling was traced around the perimeter of the structure, standing up to 1.5m on the NE and W sides. A substantial gap was noted in the SE side of this walling which may be a boat noost or possible entrance to the structure.

Underwater investigation showed that the NW section of the crannog is built on a sheer 4m cliff of bedrock. The N, S and E sides, however, taper more gradually. A search was made of the loch bed between the crannog and the shore and no evidence of a causeway was found.

Two timbers were found underneath the ciiff-edge projecting from the bottom of a heap of stone rubble. Each is about 0.20m in diameter and Sm long. Both have been split in half and are likely to be part of the islet's structure.

Sponsors: University of Edinburgh Department of Archaeology, Holley & Assoc.

M W Holley 1994.