Cnoc Na Gamhna

At the extreme S end of the group, and at the edge of the swampy ground, is a construction which is probably an ancient kiln. Two mounds, apparently composed of earth and small stones, about 30' long 12' thick, and 4' to 5' high, lie parallel about 6' apart, in a N and S direction. Between them are two well-defined depressions, the one at the N. end measuring about 8' long by 6' broad, while that to the S. measures about 7' X 6'. They are divided from each other by a ridge joining the mounds about 4' long and 2' broad, from which large stones protrude, suggesting walling. At the S end of the S. depression lies a flat slab 3' long and 1' 8" broad, supported on stones at either side. It is at present a few inches above the soil. This is probably the outer end of a covered passage to supply a draught.

RCAHMS 1911, visited 20 May 1909

OS 6" map (1907)

NC63NE 48 6907 3620.

(NC 6907 3620) Unclassified square feature.

OS 6"map, (1963)

This is a burnt mound, now disfigured by ploughing associated with re-afforestation. It is 10.0 by 11.0m by 1.3m high; a wedge depression extends through the centre, along the shorter dimension, opening at one end, the south, onto marshy ground. Disturbance and erosion of the heather-overgrowth reveal blackened earth, pieces of heat-stained stone and fragments of charcoal.

Revised at 1/10,000.

Visited by OS (J M) 29 March 1977.

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were carried out 20 July – 30 August 2012 on 29 sites in the North Highland Forest District. The work was undertaken in order to update existing monument management plans with new detailed site descriptions, condition reports, fixed point photography and plans (RCAHMS Level 4) of 25 scheduled monuments and one unscheduled monument. Three additional scheduled monuments were surveyed in greater detail, (RCAHMS Level 1). Recommendations were also made for the conservation management of the sites. The sites visited and surveyed were:

NH 728 784 (SAM 4760) Provost’s Well homestead and enclosure

NC 688 348 (SAM 2513) Noc na h’Iolaire hut circles and clearance cairns

NC 557 027 (SAM 1784) Ruim Baile Fuir stone circle, cairns, hut circles and enclosure

NC 679 390 (SAM 1779) Lach an Righ stone circle

NC 600 149 (SAM 5401) Loch Beag na Fuaralachd prehistoric settlement

NC 623 139 (SAM 5084) Achadh nan Eun shieling

NC 597 149 (SAM 5081) Loch Beag na Fuaralachd cairn and shielings

ND 212 372 (SAM 573) Rumster Broch

NH 786 942 (SAM 5484) Glen Cottage long cairn

ND 205 374 (SAM 550) Golsary Broch

NC 602 146 (SAM 5159) Loch Beag na Fuaralachd shielings

NH 730 798 (SAM 4752) Carn Liath long cairn

NH 731 786 (SAM 4743) Provost’s Well hut circles and field system

NC 689 392 (SAM 2517) Meall a Choire Bhuidhe hut circles

NH 772 926 (SAM 5573) Proncy hut circle

NC 696 334 (SAM 2519) Cnoc Airigh an Leathaid hut circles

NH 681 942 (SAM 4505) Creagan Reamhan farmstead, kiln and fields

NH 728 767 (SAM 2916) Scotsburn Wood cairn

NH 747 780 (SAM 3129) Lamington Park cairn

NH 734 834 (SAM 4763) Redburn Cottage long cairn

NH 396 628 (SAM 2720) Little Garve Bridge

NC 604 124 (SAM 5161) Meall Meadhonach sheepfold

NC 608 112 (SAM 4560) Meall Meadhonach hut circles, field system and shielings

NC 687 370 (SAM 2514) Cnoc na Gamnha hut circles, burnt mound and clearance cairns

NC 619 124 (SAM 5093) Meall Meadhonach settlement and shielings

NH 782 944 (SAM 1885) Skelbo Wood Broch

NC 591 103 (SAM 1829) Altbreck Broch

NC 592 102 (SAM 5563) Altbreck homestead

NC 571 067 Ferry Wood Broch

Funder: Forestry Commission Scotland

Steven Birch, West Coast Archaeological Services

Lynn Fraser, Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services

Mary Peteranna, 2012