Croft 119, Clachtoll, ,

Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services

Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Evaluation

Catherine Dagg

for

Helen Theakston and Graham Acreman 5 Bayview Terrace By Sutherland IV27 4LB

Croft 119, Clachtoll, Assynt, Sutherland: Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services.

Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Evaluation

2 Croft 119, Clachtoll, Assynt, Sutherland: Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services.

Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Evaluation

Site summary Rural site 204062 926865 Site location (NGR)

Total area of construction

Work required Archaeological Walk-over survey

Area of investigation required All ground breaking work.

1.0 Summary

A desk-based evaluation and walk-over survey of an area of ground to be affected by development located no previously unrecorded archaeological sites, but concluded that there is high potential within the development area for features of Prehistoric or Mediaeval settlement and land use to be buried under a deep deposit of windblown sand.

2.0 Background

This archaeological evaluation has been produced in response to a brief from Council Archaeology Unit for a walk-over survey in advance of development in this area. The area is considered to be archaeologically sensitive and this evaluation provides a baseline of archaeological features, areas of archaeological or historical interest and areas with potential for buried features or deposits, which will inform decisions on the design and extent of the development and on further archaeological recording or investigation in order to protect the archaeological record.

The application area is known to contain a number of features of archaeological and historical interest although these are not yet recorded. This evaluation provides an opportunity to record these and place them within a wider context of settlement and land use within the Assynt area.

The objectives of the evaluation are:

• To identify the location, nature and extent of any features or objects of archaeological or historic importance that would be damaged or destroyed by the development

3 • To propose arrangements for the safeguarding where possible, and recording where necessary of any archaeological features or finds identified. These will need to be agreed with the HCAU • To ensure that the needs for archaeological conservation and recording are met without causing any unnecessary delay or disturbance to the development project.

3.0 Archaeological Background

Although there are several important archaeological sites in the Clachtoll area, including the nationally important broch and a burnt mound, both dating to the Iron Age, there are no recorded sites within and only one adjacent to the development area:

• A’Clach Thuill: vitrified wall at NC 0380 2670 Her Ref: MHG 43508

This small area of vitrification is located on the NW corner of the prominent landward section of the split rock on the headland west of the development area. While no actual walling is evident, this site is ideally located to be defensive. Vitrification of rock can occur in other contexts involving high temperatures, such as inside kilns and on smelting sites and it is possible that the site was chosen to utilise strong winds to produce the high temperatures required for industrial processes. It is, however, more likely that this is a small defensive site as suggested by G.Sleight during his research into the distribution of Iron Age defensive sites around the Assynt coast. Eroding midden deposits on the rock adjacent to the vitrification have produced charcoal, burnt bone and one small fragment of possible Iron Age pottery. While Clachtoll Broch is the more impressive monument, its location within the bay is not ideally suited to see and be seen up and down the coastline. The split rock does command extensive views to north and south and may have served the purpose of defence for the local community before the site proved too small for development into a broch.

This begs the question as to the location of domestic settlement within the prehistoric period. The almost complete lack of contemporary settlement types, notably hut circles, within Assynt, has led to the present hypothesis that, in a landscape of limited arable ground, settlements have not shifted over time and the remains of prehistoric settlement are most likely to lie under later, Early Modern townships or be concealed in some other way.

It can be expected that the domestic settlement associated with a defensive site on the split rock would be relatively close. It may be significant that the township name Clachtoll or Balclachinhole as recorded by Roy in the 1750s links the township to the split rock Clach Thuill although it is not now the closest topographical feature. The township is known to have drifted slightly in its location during the early modern period and this is a process which could have continued from earlier times.

The known archaeological evidence would therefore suggest the high likelihood of early settlement features being located within the evaluation area.

4 4.0 Historical Background

The township of Clachtoll is recorded on Roy’s Military Survey of the 1750s, together with its corn lands. This map appears to show no arable ground on the headland, where the split rock and the rising ground are clearly indicated.

1. Clachtoll area on Roy’s Military Survey

The detailed estate maps drawn up by John Holme in 1819, on the eve of the Sutherland Estate Clearances also shows all the houses in one cluster and annotates the arable ground with information such as ‘flat green sandy ground called the Links’ (east of the township) and ‘corn lands interjected among the rocks’ (on the rising ground east of the headland) Again, clearly, there is no cultivation marked on the headland. There is what appears to be an enclosed area of rigs running NE from the bay south of the headland towards Cnoc nan Cnamh, measuring 10 acres (written on the map as 10.0.0)

Clachtoll lay within the area designated for the resettlement of tenants cleared from the inland areas of Assynt in 1819-21. While the rest of the resettlement area was lotted into crofts in 1821, this was found to be impossible at Clachtoll, given the nature of the ground and the number of settlers. Permanent crofts were not created until the late 1840s and early 1850s. This gives a possible first date for the establishment of Croft 119 but, given the high number and its location at the edge of the township, it is more likely that this croft was created later, during the 1870s when tenants at Clashmore were removed to make way for the model farm there. These tenants had to be absorbed into the adjacent, already congested, townships and new crofts are likely to have been created at this date.

Whether created in the 1850s or 1870s, Croft 119 is recorded on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1878. Three roofed buildings are shown, probably one dwelling house and

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2. John Holme’s Survey two byres. Attached to the east byre is a dyke which runs north then east and attached to the west byre is a dyke running south and east. Three areas of improved or cultivated ground are indicated, including one on the south part of the headland.

3. Ordnance Survey 1st edition: 1878

The 2nd edition OS map of 1907 shows the same layout of buildings and dykes, but has an additional dyke crossing the headland from North to South, west of the building group. The

6 1973 Pathfinder 1:25000 map shows only the south part of this third dyke but shows additional boundary lines which are probably fences. The buildings are shown as unroofed.

5.0 Site description

A line running north-south and separating the headland from the mainland is in fact a major geological feature, the junction between the underlying Lewisian gneiss and a ‘cover’ of Torridonian sediments. To the east of this line is a typical landscape of gneiss knolls and outcrops with very little opportunity for improved ground, while to the west the red-brown sandstones of the lower Torridonian provide a smooth undulating landscape covered with a close-cropped sward. Towards the split rock, the hollows are notably filled with particularly sharply defined rigs (Photos 1-4) and eroding sheep scrapes reveal a light brown sandy soil. Towards the neck of the headland the ground becomes sandier and more eroded and the neck itself is marked by a deep eroded sandy gully (Photos 5-6). The eroding section on the west side of this gully is up to 1.5m deep and there is no sign of underlying bedrock, so the actual depth of the sand is unknown. The section shows banding of dark and light material (Photo 7) the bands being broad at the base and narrow towards the top. This suggests a number of seasons of windblow of alternating beach sand and soil and may give an explanation as to the abandonment of the rigs on the headland, although these do not appear to be wind-eroded.

At both ends of the gully which divides off the headland are small, sheltered sandy bays which would provide boat access.

South of the building cluster a low, level, partially waterlogged area of ground curves east and appears to correspond to the 10 acre arable ground recorded by John Holme although it is poorly drained and the soils appear peaty. It is bounded to north and south by steeply rising gneiss knolls.

6.0 Gazetteer of Archaeological Features

The following archaeological features were noted during a walk-over survey carried out on 2.7.09 in clear sunny weather conditions. Obviously modern post and wire fences or their traces have not been included.

1. Building: dwelling house, croft house and byre at NC 04069 26878 What is shown on the modern mapping as a single structure divided into four compartments is in fact two buildings, the earlier to the north with an attached shed or byre on the north gable, and a later new- or re-build continuing the alignment south. (Photos 7-11) The northern building (Photos 13-18) stands to full height only at the south gable and has been modified, notably in the NW where the west wall has been poorly rebuilt, inadequate to support a roof and probably as a stock pen. The undisturbed section of the west wall contains what may be the groove for a cruck frame. The east wall has been taken down to ground level and no doorway survives. Low grassy footings of internal partitions may be original, but a small single pitch roofed structure has been built inside the house against the south gable. This has a

7 narrow entrance and may have been a kennel. The byre attached to the north consists of low grassy rubble. The south building (Photos 19-28) is slightly narrower than the north. A fireplace and flue have been added by building a new wall face on to the shared gable; the fireplace lintel is a particularly fine piece of exotic worked stone. . In two places, the collapsed inside face of the south gable and in the NW corner, the wall fill of pale sandy mortar is exposed, but other sections of walling appear to be drystone. The doorway is set north of centre in the east wall and a lintel of local sandstone lies just inside.

There is no trace of an extension to the west which appears to be indicated on modern mapping.

2. Sheep enclosure, dip at NC 04058 26861 To the west of the dwelling house is a sub-square enclosure (Photos 30-31). The walling is rough drystone and stands to a uniform 1m height except where tumbled. A sheep dip constructed of breeze block and brick is attached to the SE corner and sections of walling extend north from the NE corner and south from the SW corner.

3. Building, footings at NC 04045 26871 Extending west from the enclosure (site 2) are footings of what may be a former building, corresponding to the roofed building recorded on the 1st edition OS map. (Photos 32-34) Only set large stones of the lowest course survive, the rest presumably having been robbed to build the enclosure. Low grass-covered banking north of the enclosure may also be part of this.

4. Midden (possible) at NC 04053 26870 Abutting onto the west wall of the enclosure (site 2) is a build-up of sand, overgrown with nettles and thistles (Photo 35). The vegetation and location may indicate midden deposits.

5. Building, barn at NC 04091 26885 Walling standing to a height of 1m of a small rectangular building standing on the NW flank of a knoll east of the croft house. The building is aligned NE-SW and there is a doorway in the centre of the NW wall. The gable ends do not appear to have been originally higher. The low footings of a shed or shelter are attached to the NE gable. This building is shown as roofed on the 1st edition OS map and unroofed on the 1973 1:2500 map. (Photos 36-38)

6. Structure (possible) at NC 04089 26894 Three large set stones aligned approximately N-S with two other, smaller stones set to the line of walling running west at 90º. This may be the remains of a building not recorded on the 1st edition OS map. (Photos 39, 40)

7. Pond, water containment, dam at NC 04043 26904. At the top of a small dry gully leading to the beach is an oval hollow and what may be a dam. The gully may be a seasonal or former watercourse and the dam and hollow a

8 means of collecting water, possibly for livestock as there appear to be few sources of water on the croft. (Photos 41-43)

8. Dyke from NC 04059 26922 to NC 04050 26999 This is the dyke recorded on the 1st edition OS map as running NW from the barn (site 5) the north and marking the boundary between improved ground to the east and rough ground to the west, although a change in vegetation is not now evident. The dyke makes use of natural rocky outcrops and is partly rubble and partly earth bank but does not now run as far as the barn (Photos 44-46)

9. Circular stone setting, field clearance at NC 04080 26962 A small circular setting of stones may be a recent fireplace. To the east of this by 3m, on the south face of a knoll is a field clearance pile.

10. Walling at NC 04072 26868 A short curve of walling (Photo 47) to the SSE of the main building. This does not appear to continue and may be either field clearance or for stock management.

11. Stone setting at NC 04064 26843 A spread setting of 18 stones, measuring 1-1.5m in diameter, may be the remains of a corn stack base.

12. Dyke from NC 04055 26855 to NC 04096 26786 This is the dyke recorded on the 1st edition OS map as running south from the building west of the dwelling house (Photos 48-53). The northern section is only visible as a low earth bank but after about 20m, set stones begin to emerge. At NC 04072 26817, two pointed stones set on end and about 3m apart may be a former gateway.

13. Wall at NC 04071 26769 A short section of what appears to be a wall almost completely buried under the sand emerges for about 2m. It is aligned just W of N. This is not indicated on early mapping (Photos 54-55)

14. Dyke from NC 04038 26738 to NC 04052 26761 This is the continuation of a long rubble dyke, a visible landscape feature, which runs along the south side of the headland. It turns sharply NE and runs for a further 20m before apparently dipping under the windblown sand. (Photos 56, 57) This dyke is not recorded on early or modern mapping.

15. Dyke at NC 04025 26837. At this point a drystone dyke emerges from under the sand bank on the west side of the gully and continues north to the shore (Photos 58, 59). This is the dyke recorded on modern mapping and the 1907 2nd edition OS map but not on the 1st edition. This gives a date of construction as between 1878 and 1907 and suggests that the windblow events which deposited sand in the gully to a depth of over 1m occurred post-1907.

9 16. Area of Rigs centred on NC 04080 26735. A group of cultivation rigs aligned mostly NW-SE although some short rigs aligned at 90º fill gaps. The rigs to the NE are low and indistinct, but towards the break of slope become more sharply defined with some resemblance to the rigs further west on the headland. (Photos 60-63)

17. Area of field clearance piles centred on NC 04181 26759 Along the NW side of the low, waterlogged but formerly cultivated ground are a group of field clearance piles. These are at the break of slope and are piled on to large boulders or exposed rock faces (Photos 64-68) Similar piles are visible on the south side of the level area.

7.0 Analysis of Archaeological Features

Of the 17 features identified within the survey area, six can securely be dated to the modern period. These are the croft buildings, sites 1-5 and site 15, the dyke known to have been built after 1878.

A further seven sites may date to the establishment of the croft in the 1850s or 1870s, when tenants moved from elsewhere on the estate would have brought with them relatively archaic methods of using the land and building techniques. These seven, sites 6-12, are features of land and stock management and some are recorded on the 1878 map. However, they could also be remnants of a pre-crofting landscape.

Sites 16 and 17, areas of rigs and field clearance cairns are typical cultivation features of the pre-crofting, or Early Modern period. While an end date to this period can be given by known historical events, with some leeway for the conservatism of the tenants, it is less easy to give an earliest date in a period when farming techniques barely changed for centuries. In fact, similar dykes to site 12, located in the vicinity of Clachtoll Broch, are locally thought to be prehistoric land boundaries.

Sites 13 and 14, boundary dykes which do not appear on early mapping and which are partially or almost totally concealed by sand, may be associated with a much earlier phase of settlement

As explained above in section 3.0, the proximity to the defensive site on the split rock and the extensive areas of rigs on the headland suggest that the early settlement of Clachtoll may have been much further south than as recorded in the 18th century. It is also possible that the nucleated township of the 18th century was preceded by a more scattered settlement pattern of individual farmsteads, one of which being located close to the later croft house site. Similarities may be drawn with the Loch Borralie area of Durness, where features of settlement from the Iron Age onwards are now being revealed by eroding sand. However, the lack of obvious fresh water may equally have prevented such settlement at Clachtoll.

The depth of deposit of windblown sand means that any early settlement features will be preserved on an old ground surface and will only be revealed by removal of the sand.

10 8.0 Potential Impacts of the Development

8.1 House site

The house site is located in an area where no archaeological features were noted, although it is very close to site 12, dyke. The sand at this location is of an unknown depth and it is considered likely that it will conceal features of early settlement and land use. Site 13, wall, which is almost completely buried, is heading directly towards the house site.

Recommendations: Trial trenching or a watching brief during ground breaking work and excavation of foundation trenches will allow any buried archaeological features to be identified and recorded. There is the possibility that these features may prove to be significant and may require more detailed excavation than can be carried out during a watching brief.

2. Access Road upgrade.

Construction of the road will damage site 12, dyke. This is probably the only site which will be directly affected as, although the road passes close to the building group, it is unlikely to damage them. Ground breaking for the road will be relatively superficial and is unlikely to penetrate to the base of the layer of windblown sand.

Recommendations: A watching brief during ground breaking work may be advisable along the section of road running south of the croft building complex. This will allow the dyke, site 12, to be investigated and possibly dated and will allow the identification and recording of any sites exposed during work where the sand layer is more shallow.

3. Agricultural Building

No archaeological features were noted in the area of this development. As this is on the gneiss and further east than the windblown sand, the likelihood of buried archaeological features is low.

Recommendations: none

4. Polytunnel and access

The polytunnel site is located on the area of level, partially waterlogged ground. It is close to the field clearance piles, site 17, but is unlikely to have an impact on these features. The likelihood of buried archaeological features in this area is low and erection of the polytunnel and cultivation of the topsoil will only involve superficial ground disturbance.

Recommendations: none

Catherine Dagg, BA, AIfA 2, Ruigh’Riabhach Scoraig Peninsula Dundonnell Wester Ross IV23 2RE Tel: 01854 633 337 21.7.09

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Appendix 1. Data Sources and Bibliography

The following data sources were consulted during the desk-based evaluation:

• Historic Environment Record (HER) held by HCAU in Inverness • Early maps held by the Map Library within the National Library of in Edinburgh

The following publications provided background information:

• Bangor-Jones M.1998 The Assynt Clearances • Beaton E. 1995: Sutherland An Illustrated Architectural Guide

The author would like to thank Gordon Sleight of Historic Assynt for his assistance and time

Appendix 2. Photographic Record (digital)

Photo no. Site no. Description Viewpoint 1 General Area of rigs on north part of headland. Croft buildings are visible on From W left in front of gneiss hill 2 General Area of rigs, eroding brown sandy soil and shoreline showing From W Torridonian sandstones overlying Lewisian gneiss 3 General Area of rigs From N 4 General Area of rigs. Split rock visible on left horizon From NE 5 General ‘gully’ and eroding sand deposits on east side From S 6 General ‘gully’ and eroding sand deposits on west From SE 7 General East facing section in gully showing layering in windblown sand From E deposits 8 1 South croft house in setting From W 9 1 Join between north and south dwelling houses From W 10 1 Detail of join between houses on west side. Note rough mortar pointing From W on north building 11 1 Join between houses on east side, showing added wall face on gable From E end to allow fireplace and flue 12 1 North building, removed east wall and interior with low rubble From SE partition, also possible cruck frame groove on back wall, left 13 1 North house with bay of Clachtoll behind From SE 14 1 North house with headland and split rock behind From NE 15 1 North house with byre extension on right From NE 16 1 North end of attached byre From N 17 1 North building, exterior of north gable showing modification From N 18 1 North building north gable and rebuilt west wall From SW 19 1 South building, exterior of south gable From S 20 1 South building, south gable, detail of stonework From S 21 1 South building, general view From SE 22 1 South building, doorway in east wall, exterior From E 23 1 South building, added wallface and fireplace From SE 24 1 South building, fireplace From S 25 1 South building, detail of fireplace lintel From S 26 1 South building south gable interior showing sandy mortar wall fill From N 27 1 South building, doorway in east wall, interior and fallen lintel From W 28 1 South building, NW corner interior showing sandy mortar wall fill From SE 29 1 View showing ‘kennel’ within north building From NW 30 2 Sheep enclosure and drystone walling extending north From N 31 2 Sub-square sheep enclosure with sand-filled ‘gully’ behind From NE

12 32 3 Building footings: group of three on left mark west wall From S 33 3 Footings extending out from corner of sheep enclosure, partially buried From W in sand 34 3 Set stones of footings extending from corner of enclosure From N 35 4 Possible midden mound, sand-covered with vegetation, against outer From S wall of sheep enclosure 36 5 Building, barn From SW 37 5 Building, barn with croft houses behind From E 38 5 Building, barn with extension on left gable From N 39 6 Possible structure, three large set stones mark east end From E 40 6 Possible structure, three large set stones left of centre: lambs are in From N interior 41 7 Pond, water containment, dam. Oval of darker vegetation is possible From S pond 42 7 Pond with dam behind From E 43 7 Dam with pond behind From NW 44 8 Dyke, east terminal with access track in foreground. Where rubble From E section meets rock, left of centre, the line turns sharply NW and then turns again to run as a grassy bank on the near horizon 45 8 Dyke, rubble section along top of rock outcrop From W 46 8 Dyke, section which is low grassy bank running bottom left to top right From S 47 10 Walling, short section of curved walling south of buildings From NW 48 12 Dyke, north section visible as low grassy bank running as extension to From SW drystone dyke 49 12 Dyke, running across image but visible as low bank with few stones From NW 50 12 Dyke, visible as low bank with few stones to right of fence. House site From N is behind far strainer post 51 12 Dyke, two set pointed stones marking possible former gateway From W 52 12 Dyke From S 53 12 Dyke, south section beyond house site From N 54 13 Buried wall, exposed section From S 55 13 Buried wall, exposed section From W 56 14 Long dyke, east section and disappearance under sand From NE 57 14 Long dyke, point of undergrounding From NE 58 15 Dyke exposed by erosion in gully From NW 59 15 Dyke: exposed section running down gully From S 60 16 Area of rigs south of house site From N 61 17 Area of rigs south of house site From NE 62 17 Area of rigs south of house site at break of slope From SW 63 17 Rigs on break of slope with sites 14 and 15 behind From E 64 18 Field clearance pile 1 From W 65 18 Field clearance pile 2 From SW 66 18 Field clearance pile 3 From W 67 18 Field clearance pile 4 From SW 68 18 Field clearance pile 5 From NE

13 4. Location of archaeological sites and development features (in green)

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