2 Introduction

Arisaig, together with to the south and logical investigations in recent years (eg Rees 1996), and to the north, make up the area in line with current national planning policy traditionally known as na garbh Chriochan: the guidance. We present the results of a programme of Rough Bounds (Illus 1). An anonymous writer in archaeological and palaeoenvironmental investiga- 1750 (quoted by Rixon 2002) considered that: tion carried out during the upgrading of the section of the A830 between the village of and All these countries viz. Knoydart, the Two Morrirs, Kinsadel at the west end of Morar (Illus 2). This Moydart, and Arisaig, are the most Rough Moun- 6-km section of road was rebuilt on a totally new line, tainous and impassible parts in all the Highlands inland from the existing road, and therefore offered of , and are commonly called by the Inhab- an opportunity to record an undisturbed transect of itants of the Neighbouring countries the highlands the landscape. The investigations were carried out of the Highlands. by the Centre for Field Archaeology (CFA), Univer- The construction of the Fort William to sity of Edinburgh, and Headland Archaeology Ltd Road (the ‘Road to the Isles’, completed in 1812) and between 2000 and 2001; the road was opened in the railway that follows the same route (opened in 2003. 1901) considerably improved the accessibility of For readers of this paper who know the area well, it Arisaig and Morar. Knoydart remains one of the should be noted that we use the name Arisaig to refer least accessible parts of the Scottish mainland, at to coastal land between Loch nan Uamh (Borrodale) least if we judge by the standards of our modern in the south and the River Morar in the north. This car-dependent society. definition does not precisely match the historic Progressive upgrading of the road (now the A830) estate of Arisaig as it takes in part of South Morar in from its former single-track status to modern trunk the north and excludes parts of Arisaig to the road standards has been accompanied by archaeo- south-east.

Loch Hourn

70 80 ArisaigArisaig Roinn na Beinne 1020

Sound of Sleat 441 K N O Y D A R T 100

Loch Nevis Mallaig Sgurr na Sgurr Ciche Bhuidhe 1040 440

NORTH MORAR 90 Loch Morar Sgur Thuilm Arisaig SOUTH MORAR Sidhean Mor 963 599

Illus 02 A8A83083030 Loch nan Uamh Ailort Railway 80 Loch Beinn Odhar Bheag 882

M O I D A R T

Loch Shiel N Meall Mor 759

0 1010 kmkm LandLand overover 200m200m

Illus 1 Site location (from maps © Crown copyright)

2 79595000000

1

leat 8 Sound of S

Loch Morar

arach

Allt Cam C 2 Site 6A 79090000000

Site 8 3 6

A r i s a i g

7 Loch nan Ceall Site 41 9 4 10 11 Railway 12 Brunery burn 13 78585000000 A830 14 15 16 5

Loch nan Uamh N

17 0 1km C Crown copyright. 16565000000 17070000000

KEY Pollen sites Pollen site 1: Lochan Doilhead (Williams 1977) 2: Allt Dail an Dubh-asaidh 3: Mointeach Mhor (Shennan et al 1994) 9: NMRS NM68NE 7: Kerbed cairn Medieval site 4: Loch nan Eala (Shennan et al 1995) 10: NMRS NM68NE 2: Crannog Prehistoric site 5: Polnish (Clarke 2000) 11: NMRS NM68NE 4: Oak platform 12: NMRS NM68NE 6: Cairn Archaeological sites 13: NMRS NM68NW 9: Promontory fort Limit of study 14: NMRS NM68SE 1: Cup-marked stone Land over 200 m 6: NMRS NM68NW 1: Stronghold and Corn-Drying Kiln. Medieval or later 15: NMRS NM68SE 5: Cairn 7: NMRS NM68NE 1.00: Medieval church 16: NMRS NM68SE 2: Promontory fort 8: NMRS NM69SE 1: Mixed scatter. Quartz and flint tools. Mezolithic - Bronze Age 17: NMRS NM68SW 2: Fort

3