8.3.12 Undefended sites

Undefended sites must have existed in this period, but have so far resisted attempts to locate them, with the possible exception of the poorly understood Bruach an Druimein, Poltalloch (CANMORE ID 39541) (Abernethy 2009) and the Dunstaffnage site mentioned above. The lack of aerial reconnaissance in the region may have contributed to this, but it is also possible that many dispersed settlements may lie beneath post-medieval buildings. There are other surprising gaps in our knowledge of types of structure however. No horizontal mills have been identified in western Scotland, despite their abundance in Ireland, and their occurrence in the Northern Isles. There are no tidal mills, again common in Ireland, or even fish traps dated to this period, despite many suitable locations.