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Latitude: 56.4792 / 56°28'45"N
Longitude: -5.9725 / 5°58'20"W
OS Eastings: 155486
OS Northings: 738974
OS Grid: NM554389
Mapcode National: GBR CCML.K2N
Mapcode Global: WGZDT.7D6T
Entry Name: Gruline Pier, crannog 300m SE of
Scheduled Date: 24 March 2003
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM10496
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: crannog; Secular: crannog (with post-prehistoric use)
Location: Torosay
County: Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward: Oban South and the Isles
Traditional County: Argyllshire
The monument comprises a crannog, or artificial islet, of probable prehistoric date, visible as a stone mound sited within a loch.
The monument lies towards the NW end of Loch Ba, some 90m from the W shore. It comprises a large mound, roughly oval in plan and measuring 25m E-W by 30m N-S at its base, which appears to be composed entirely of loose boulders and medium-sized stones.
The base of the mound sits on bedrock and it rises 3m above the surrounding loch bed. The summit of the mound is crowned by a circular platform measuring some 21m E-W by 23m N-S. Water 5m in depth surrounds the site and there is no evidence of walling or a causeway.
The date of the crannog is not known, although it is most likely to be prehistoric in origin. In the mid 16th century, this island was described as an "inhabited stronghold", but it does not appear as an inhabited site on Pont's map of the last quarter of the 16th century.
The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is circular in shape, with a diameter of 50m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric and later settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by the possibility that it may be a multi-period site, occupied also in the later medieval period. In addition, crannogs frequently preserve important palaeoenvironmental evidence and rare organic materials (such as wood, leather and plant remains) because of the waterlogged nature of the deposits.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NM53NE 1.
References:
Blundell O (1913) 'Further Notes on the Artificial Islands in the Highland Area' PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 47, 257-302.
Holley M W (2000) THE ARTIFICIAL ISLETS/CRANNOGS OF THE CENTRAL INNER HEBRIDES, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 303, Oxford.
Monro D (1549) 'A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland'. In Macleod J D ed. 1994, A DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND: CIRCA 1695, Birlinn, Edinburgh.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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