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Abercross
Township (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Abercross
Classification Township (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 91483
Site Number NC70SE 53
NGR NC 766 002
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/91483
- Council Highland
- Parish Golspie
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NC70SE 53 766 002
A township, comprising ten unroofed buildings and nine enclosures is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Sutherland 1879, sheet civ). Fifteen unroofed buildings, and two enclosures are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1971).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 20 November 1995.
The N end and E side of this township was noted by J Wordsworth during a pre-afforestation survey. One building, a corn-drying kiln and associated dykes and enclosures were noted at the N end of the township. A modern track, cutting through the settlement has caused some damage to the dykes and the building.
Between the N end of the township and the buildings on the E side, there are two areas of clearance cairns. The larger, at NC c.768 006, above the present tree-line (NMRS MS 961/28, no.7/8), measures roughly 100m by 60m, whilst the second lies on heather-covered moorland at NC c.7694 0051. There is also a turf dyke, from NC 7674 0045 to NC 7682 0046, extending along the N side of an unnmarked burn possibly associated with the township to the W. A small patch of grassland, lying on a terrace to the E (at NC c.7688 0051), may represent the last vestiges of a, possibly, rectangular building.
At the E side of the township, twelve rectangular buildings all situated outwith the head-dyke, three of which are associated with an enclosure, were noted in two groups. In the S group, apart from one building to the S, which measures 28m in length with two partitions, they all measure about 11m in length by 3.5m to 4m in width. A further building, measuring 12m by 4m, lies detached to the N. To the SW there is an enclosure with a small structure attached. A rectangular building, measuring 10m by 3m with a 2m outshot at one end lies to the E of the main group of buildings at NC c.7720 0022.
To the W of, and enclosed by the head-dyke, traces of enclosures, rig, clearance cairns, a structure and a corn-drying kiln were noted. The kiln, at NC c.7691 0009, comprises a 1.5m diameter bowl which is 1m deep, within a building measuring 6m by 4m.
J Wordsworth (Wordsworth Archaeological Services) 2 June 1997; NMRS MS 961/28, nos.7/7-7/12 and 7/14 to 7/23
