Description

The monument is a Post Medieval settlement which consists of a range of structures. These include 5 rectangular houses, 6 small oval shielings and 8 other irregular foundations, possibly shielings. The buildings vary in size from 3m across to 15m by 3.5m and survive in a variety of conditions which this may indicate a fairly long period of occupation. There is also a stone-built sheepfold 14m in diameter to the S of the site.

This settlement would appear to represent part of a 'cottar town', many of which were destroyed during the clearances of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 300m N-S and 240m E-W, to include the buildings and an area around them in which traces of activities associated with their use will survive, as shown in red on the attached plan.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a Post Medieval settlement which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the domestic organisation and farming practices of its inhabitants. The site is also of importance from the perspective of the process of Clearance in this area of the Highlands and is one of an important group of deserted Post Medieval settlements to the north of Lairg.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as NC61SWM1 and is number Dal 200-1 and 208-23 in R Mercer, Archaeologicial Field Survey in Northern Scotland 1976-79

Source: Historic Environment Scotland