Teilishnish, Meavaig North

NB 10848 04710 A watching brief was carried out, 21 March 2017, at the site of a new house. The site clearance cut through a short section of the head dyke enclosing the ruins of Teilishnish Township. The dyke was of turf/stone construction, making use of glacial erratics in places. The turf wall core appeared to have been burnt and then overlain with turf. It is possible that the burning related to preparation of the surface to strengthen the dyke.

A rapid survey was then undertaken of the township ruins adjacent to Loch a Siar, within the S side of the development site. Fourteen structures, dykes and enclosures were recorded. The buildings were well-built, utilising natural stone to create double-faced walls with large boulders at the base and smaller coursed stone on top. Some of the walls also incorporated orthostats, particularly to define entrances. All of the buildings in this settlement had rounded corners, which may suggest a possible late medieval rather than post-medieval date. A variety of different building types were represented, some with internal partitions visible and others with smaller buildings attached to the outside walls. It was noted that further township ruins extended beyond the surveyed area.

Archive: NRHE

Funder: Hebridean Contemporary Homes Ltd

Mary Peteranna – AOC Archaeology Group

(Source: DES, Volume 18)