Description

The monument comprises three artificial platforms, almost certainly charcoal-burning stances of post-medieval date.

The platforms lie scattered near the upper limit of mixed oak and birch woodland on the steep S slope of Garbh Choire, about 200m above the NE shore of Loch Ba. These three platforms are similar in appearance to others in the Lorn area of Argyll which have been identified as the stances for charcoal-burning kilns.

This identification was confirmed in 1976 by the discovery of fragments of charcoal below the turf floor of one of the structures. Typically these charcoal-burning platforms were created by cutting into the hillside and banking the excavated spoil behind a curving stone-revetted lip some 1.5m in height, to form a circular platform about 8.5m in diameter.

These platforms probably date from the late 18th or early 19th century, when the activities of the Lorn and Argyll Furnace Companies resulted in the manufacture of charcoal throughout the West Highland area.

The areas proposed for scheduling comprise three circles centred on the three platforms, to include the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. The three areas are each 19m in diameter, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of post-medieval technology and economy in rural Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM53NE 4.

References:

RCAHMS (1980) ARGYLL: AN INVENTORY OF THE MONUMENTS VOLUME 3: MULL, TIREE, COLL AND NORTHERN ARGYLL (EXCLUDING THE EARLY MEDIEVAL AND LATER MONUMENTS OF IONA), Edinburgh, 251, No. 386

Source: Historic Environment Scotland