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Bute, Barmore Wood

Charcoal Burning Platform(S) (Post Medieval), Platform (Medieval)(Possible)

Site Name Bute, Barmore Wood

Classification Charcoal Burning Platform(S) (Post Medieval), Platform (Medieval)(Possible)

Canmore ID 40394

Site Number NS06SE 29

NGR NS 069 609

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40394

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish North Bute
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Argyll And Bute
  • Former County Buteshire

Archaeology Notes

NS06SE 29 07064 61271.

There are several scooped-out hollows on Barmore Hill (name: NS 064 606) and in the wood (name: NS 070 610). They may be the remnants of dwellings, or of more modern charcoal-burning stances.

J K Hewison 1893

Centred NS 069 609 Approx 30 sub oval platforms evenly dispersed throughout Barmore Wood (a dense deciduous woodland) are on a generally E-facing hillslope and lie between 40 and 380 ft asl. All are levelled into the slope and range in size from 7.0m by 5.0m to 9.0m by 7.0m (with the longer axis at right angles to the slope). They are generally well preserved and clearly defined with in most cases a near vertical back scarp (up to 0.7m high), a level platform and an 0.8m high front (downhill) scarp.

Some of these platforms or stances are built in an area where the slope is almost precipitous (centred NS 0680 6075) but they are identical to those on the shallow slope near the loch shore except that the front scarp is revetted. Cultivation of the rocky hillslope is impractical and there is no trace of lynchets, dykes or clearance.

Their uniform distribution over the hillslope suggests that they are not of prehistoric origin.

Visited by OS (TRG) 2 November 1976

'Barmore Wood. NS 067 606 to 074 614. Of more than 30 platforms trial trenches were made in three. No charcoal was found.'

D N Marshall 1977

Platform 2 was partially excavated. No evidence of charcoal burning was found. Evidence was uncovered that the stone fronted platform had been built as the foundation for a round timber framed structure, 9m in diameter. Post holes of a doorway and of a porch were found, one at the NE, the other at the SW where the floor level of the platform equalled the level of the slight flattening of the hill slope. An internal partition is indicated by 5 post holes approximately 4m from the platform edge. No central post hole was found. A curve of socket holes round the perimeter indicated another partition, of withies and clay. 4 post holes found in the 3m of the stone facing suggest another wall. Rennie 1987. Radiocarbon dates for charcoal from this platform are 904 +/- 100 BP (UB 3037); 1 sigma calibration AD 1020-1240; 2 sigma calibration AD 960-1280.

E B Rennie 1988.

There are at least 59 charcoal burning platforms in Barmore Wood, overlooking Loch Fad to the SE. The platforms are generally as described by the Ordnance Survey. The following NGRs were derived from a hand-held GPS, by A Hannah, Glenmore.

NS 0666 6060; NS 0666 6064; NS 0667 6070; NS 0671 6064; NS 0673 6056; NS 0674 6072;

NS 0676 6061; NS 0679 6066; NS 0680 6075; NS 0683 6065; NS 0684 6069; NS 0685 6084;

NS 0686 6075; NS 0689 6079; NS 0691 6076; NS 0694 6084; NS 0696 6096; NS 0698 6092;

NS 0698 6089; NS 0699 6083; NS 0700 6102; NS 0703 6107; NS 0703 6118; NS 0705 6127;

NS 0707 6107; NS 0707 6114; NS 0709 6100; NS 0710 6120; NS 0714 6103; NS 0712 6133;

NS 0714 6136; NS 0716 6114; NS 0717 6097; NS 0718 6123; NS 0719 6125; NS 0719 6140;

NS 0720 6103; NS 0720 6129; NS 0721 6131; NS 0722 6150; NS 0723 6154; NS 0723 6145;

NS 0724 6107; NS 0725 6136; NS 0726 6114; NS 0727 6146; NS 0728 6142; NS 0728 6129;

NS 0728 6119; NS 0730 6155; NS 0730 6143; NS 0731 6149; NS 0733 6143; NS 0733 6127;

NS 0734 6139; NS 0734 6153; NS 0738 6159; NS 0739 6153; NS 0741 6149.

Visited by RCAHMS (AGCH, JH) 21 April 2009.

Activities

Desk Based Assessment (6 July 1972)

There are several scooped-out hollows on Barmore Hill (name: NS 064 606) and in the wood (name: NS 070 610). They may be the remnants of dwellings, or of more modern charcoal-burning stances.

Information from OS (IF) 6 July 1972

J K Hewison 1893

Field Visit (2 November 1976)

Centred NS 069 609 Approx 30 sub oval platforms evenly dispersed throughout Barmore Wood (a dense deciduous woodland) are on a generally E-facing hillslope and lie between 40 and 380 ft asl. All are levelled into the slope and range in size from 7.0m by 5.0m to 9.0m by 7.0m (with the longer axis at right angles to the slope). They are generally well preserved and clearly defined with in most cases a near vertical back scarp (up to 0.7m high), a level platform and an 0.8m high front (downhill) scarp.

Some of these platforms or stances are built in an area where the slope is almost precipitous (centred NS 0680 6075) but they are identical to those on the shallow slope near the loch shore except that the front scarp is revetted. Cultivation of the rocky hillslope is impractical and there is no trace of lynchets, dykes or clearance.

Their uniform distribution over the hillslope suggests that they are not of prehistoric origin.

Visited by OS (TRG) 2 November 1976

Excavation (1977)

Trial trenches were made in three of these platforms. No charcoal was found.

D N Marshall 1977

Excavation (1988)

Platform 2 was partially excavated. No evidence of charcoal burning was found. Evidence was uncovered that the stone fronted platform had been built as the foundation for a round timber framed structure, 9m in diameter. Post holes of a doorway and of a porch were found, one at the NE, the other at the SW where the floor level of the platform equalled the level of the slight flattening of the hill slope. An internal partition is indicated by 5 post holes approximately 4m from the platform edge. No central post hole was found. A curve of socket holes round the perimeter indicated another partition, of withies and clay. 4 post holes found in the 3m of the stone facing suggest another wall. Rennie 1987. Radiocarbon dates for charcoal from this platform are 904 +/- 100 BP (UB 3037); 1 sigma calibration AD 1020-1240; 2 sigma calibration AD 960-1280.

E B Rennie 1988.

Field Visit (21 April 2009)

There are at least 59 charcoal burning platforms in Barmore Wood, overlooking Loch Fad to the SE. The platforms are generally as described by the Ordnance Survey. The following NGRs were derived from a hand-held GPS, by A Hannah, Glenmore.

NS 0666 6060; NS 0666 6064; NS 0667 6070; NS 0671 6064; NS 0673 6056; NS 0674 6072;

NS 0676 6061; NS 0679 6066; NS 0680 6075; NS 0683 6065; NS 0684 6069; NS 0685 6084;

NS 0686 6075; NS 0689 6079; NS 0691 6076; NS 0694 6084; NS 0696 6096; NS 0698 6092;

NS 0698 6089; NS 0699 6083; NS 0700 6102; NS 0703 6107; NS 0703 6118; NS 0705 6127;

NS 0707 6107; NS 0707 6114; NS 0709 6100; NS 0710 6120; NS 0714 6103; NS 0712 6133;

NS 0714 6136; NS 0716 6114; NS 0717 6097; NS 0718 6123; NS 0719 6125; NS 0719 6140;

NS 0720 6103; NS 0720 6129; NS 0721 6131; NS 0722 6150; NS 0723 6154; NS 0723 6145;

NS 0724 6107; NS 0725 6136; NS 0726 6114; NS 0727 6146; NS 0728 6142; NS 0728 6129;

NS 0728 6119; NS 0730 6155; NS 0730 6143; NS 0731 6149; NS 0733 6143; NS 0733 6127;

NS 0734 6139; NS 0734 6153; NS 0738 6159; NS 0739 6153; NS 0741 6149;

Visited by RCAHMS (AGCH, JH) 21 April 2009.

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