Loch Shiel, Gaskan, Eileanan Comhlach
Corn Drying Kiln (Period Unassigned), Fort (Period Unassigned), Landing Point (Period Unassigned), Vitrified Stone(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Loch Shiel, Gaskan, Eileanan Comhlach
Classification Corn Drying Kiln (Period Unassigned), Fort (Period Unassigned), Landing Point (Period Unassigned), Vitrified Stone(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 293300
Site Number NM87SW 20
NGR NM 8036 7250
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/293300
- Council Highland
- Parish Arisaig And Moidart
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Lochaber
- Former County Inverness-shire
NM87SW 20 8036 7250
NM 8036 7250 The summit of this small rocky islet is occupied by a vitrified fort, roughly triangular on plan, measuring 11.5m NE/SW and narrowing to a point 17m to the SE. The summit is level and 4 to 5m above the surface of the loch. There are no ramparts and little in the way of tumble, but four sections of heavily vitrified rocks suggest the possibility of a former timber palisade with a stone-built timber-laced wall walk supporting imported soil (?) used to level off the interior.
The boat-landing on the NE side is paved with flat slabs on which lie four large chunks of vitrified rock. A V-shaped rocky gully leading from the SW side of the boat landing probably formed the entrance to the fort but now leads into the semi-subterranean antechamber of a corn-drying kiln, with a well preserved flue and bowl occupying the centre of the fort.
Sponsor: Sunart Oakwoods Research Group
P J Madden, J E Kirby, M Gascoigne, J Dye and C Friend 2006.
