In the area of the Lordship of the Isles there is little evidence of structures with the exception of Strath Suardal on Skye. Three roundhouses test pitted in the survey of the site yielded medieval dates. All had slightly different construction styles. One (LS88) had random stones for the base, and may have had a timber or turf wall. The second one (LS116) had a double-skinned wall and the interior wall face was revetted. The third (LS66) was much disturbed by a later building, but appears to have had a boulder-faced wall (Wildgoose 2016). They survey team suggest either reuse of earlier round houses or possibly a continuation of the use of round house architecture in this area of Skye in the medieval period.
Test pits at sites on the west coast of Wester Ross and Skye show that cave and rock shelter occupation continued into the post-medieval period. Without further investigation, the nature of this occupation, whether seasonal or more permanent, is not clear.
At Site 6 on the road between Arisaig and Morar, a large amount of mineral sediment was encountered, and this was interpreted as possibly the remains of turf huts or shielings. The lack of artefacts from Site 8 has led to the interpretation the site was a temporary shelter (Carter et al 2005, 13, 17).
The survey at Rubh’ an Dùnain suggests the presence of possible medieval maritime buildings, an aspect of Highland settlement generally lacking from investigations. A boat timber from a clinker built vessel was dated to the medieval period. Further survey explored the canal and identified docks with nousts, quays and possible associated buildings (MHG4895; Martin 2014; Martin and Martin 2018; Case Study Rubh’ an Dùnain). Further work with dating evidence would be useful.
| Site | Area | Dating | Comments | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toscaig 9 | WR | 1039–1220 1317–1444 | Rock shelter and midden, with post-medieval occupation as well. | MHG58718; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.77, SFS 41; AA-50678; AA-50676 |
| Ard Clais Salacher 2 | WR | 1442–1640 | Rock shelter and midden. Dates from test pit in shell midden. Fish bone, animal bone, shellfish | MHG37251; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.9, SFS 66; AA-50684 |
| Creag na h-Uamha | WR | 1289–1403 | Rock shelter and midden. Dates from test pits show Iron Age and medieval occupation. | MHG37315; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.27, SFS 49; AA-50679; AA50680 |
| Crowlin 1 | WR | 1401–1468 1470–1650 | Rock shelter and midden. Dates from test pits. multi-period use | MHG34256; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.28, SFS 2; OxA-9252; OxA-9253 |
| Fergus’ Shelter, Applecross | WR | 1300–1420 | Inland rock shelter and midden. Dates from test pit with undated structures. most-medieval artefacts also. | MHG37257; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.38, SFS 114; AA-50696; AA-50697 |
| Clachan Church | WR | 1320–1615 | Test pit in midden near church. Post-medieval date as well | MHG57778; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.22, SFS 99; AA-50694 |
| Ashaig | Skye | 1193–1289 1211–1285 1224–1383 | Midden with shell, animal bone, slag. Located near to graveyard and chapel | MHG35894; Hardy and Wickham-Jones 2009, 2.2.11, SFS 6; OxA-9277; OxA-9278; OxA9279 |
| Home Farm, Portree | Skye | 12th–14th century 11th –13th century | 3 Pits and 1 ‘micro-souterrain’ which also had Iron Age pottery. One pit with metalworking debris | MHG51648; Suddaby 2013 |
| Ben Suardal | Skye | 1170–1273 | Roundhouse with hearth. Double-skinned wall, with interior wall face revetted | MHG6701; Wildgoose 2016 LS116; SUERC-33758 |
| Strath Suardal | Skye | 1205–1280 | Roundhouse with hearth, charcoal, pottery sherd, lithics, burnt bone fragments, burnt hazelnut shells. | MHG6416; Wildgoose 2016 LS88; SUERC-33762 |
| Strath Glebe | Skye | 1161–1262 | Roundhouse, with boulder-faced wall. Hearth, charcoal, pottery sherd, saddle quern fragment. Beneath post-Medieval house | MHG59564; Wildgoose 2016, LS66 |
| Tungadal | Skye | 1169–1384 | Roundhouse, built on Iron Age site included find of 14th century Bronze mirror case | MHG5106; Miket 2002; Armit 1996, Appendix ; GU-3807 |
| Airidh na Creige, Torrin | Skye | 1020–1211 1286–1612 | Shielings. 2 excavated. | MHG5158. Armit 1996, Appendix ; GU-3491; GU-3490 |
| Uamh an Dòbhrain | Skye | 1421–1615 | Midden in cave | Hardy & Estevez 2014; GU-20359 |
| Camus Beach | Skye | 1270–1400 | Midden in front of cave | Hardy & Estevez 2014 ; GU-24358 |
| Between Arisaig and Morar (Site 6) | L | 1040–1290 1418–1488 | Pits | MHG58041; Carter et al 2005, Site 6 ; SUERC-2445 |
| Between Arisaig and Morar (Site 8) | L | 1440-1640 | Rockshelter | MHG37955; Carter et al 2005, Site 8 |
| Rubh’ an Dùnain | Skye | 1060-1280 | Survey revealed nousts, canal, quays, possible buildings. Dating from boat timber | MHG4895; Martin and Martin 2018; Case Study; Rubh’ an Dùnain ; SUERC-4334 |
All dates cal at 95.4% probability. For full details of dates, see Datasheet 2.1
