Report of Archaeological Desktop & Walkover Survey for Glendale, Skye Water Mains Renewal Project To cover NG 1221/8472 - NG 1145/8505 Client: Halcrow Group Ltd on behalf of Scottish Water Edited by Stuart Farrell B.A A.I.F.A F.S.A.Scot. February 2004 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Acknowledgements 3. Objectives 4. Survey Results 5. Conclusions 6. Archive 7. Discovery and Excavation 8. References Cover: Glendale Mill (site 29). Non-Technical Summary Stuart Farrell was commissioned by Halcrow Group Ltd in March 2003 to undertake an archaeological desktop and walkover survey for the Glendale Water Mains Renewal Project, Skye (of an area between NG 1221/8472 - NG 1145/8505). Work revealed a number of crofting townships comprising of a number of buildings and enclosures along the route of the existing pipeline, where it is likely that the new route will follow to enable house connections to be made. Only a brief study was made of each township to try and undertake a detailed study of each township is well outwith the scope of this project. A number of recommendations have been made for certain sections of the existing and any proposed pipeline route. 1. Introduction This report is for an archaeological desktop survey conducted for Halcrow Group Ltd on behalf of Scottish Water by the author for the Glendale Water Mains Renewal Project, Skye. 2. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following for their help during the work: - Mr. I MacLeod, of Halcrow Group Ltd; - Mr. S Buchanan, for help with this project; - Staff of Staff of Highland Council Archaeology Unit; - Staff of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland; - Staff of the National Monuments Record of Scotland; - Staff of Highland Council Archives; - Staff of the National Library of Scotland, Map room. Stuart Farrell 39a Park Street Nairn Highland IV12 4PP Figure 1: General Location Figure 2: General Survey Location 1: 50,000 Copyright Ordnance Survey. Licence 100041016. Figure 3: Detail of Map coverage 3. Objectives To conduct a desktop and walkover survey to the development area to record those features that would be possibly affected by the new proposed water renewals scheme, this work to identify sites along the existing route which will lie close to the new mains. This survey to follow those guidelines as proposed by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA, 1999) and to follow the enclosed specification as provided by Highland Council Archaeology Unit. 4. Archaeological Survey Desktop & Walkover Results A desktop survey was conducted using the following sources: - Highland Council Sites and Monuments Record; - National Monuments Record of Scotland, Edinburgh; - National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh (Maps); - Highland Council Archives; - Inverness Library. Map coverage was limited as the 1st edition of 1870’s was almost the same as the 2nd of 1906 and little survey work has been carried out in detail in the 20th century, with the next edition being late 1960’s. Archaeological survey is this area has been very limited in the past. Work by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (1928) only surveyed a small number of sites in the parish of Duirinish being either prehistoric (especially Duns) or ecclesiastical. Modern survey work has been limited to only a small part of the township of Boreraig being surveyed in 1989 (Miket and Wildgoose, 1989, 35-43). A number of shielings and cairns were identified to the western edge of the township. No survey work has been made to any of the other townships in the area. The following 41 archaeological sites were to be found in the area or close to the existing pipeline (existing pipelines are highlighted in red on the accompanying maps with sites numbered). Sites are as follows: HSMR – Highland Sites and Monuments Record NMRS - National Monuments Record of Scotland N/a – not available Recommendations are given after each site. 1 – Skinidin HSMR – NG24NW 49 NMRS – NG24NW 31 Grid Ref: NG 221/478 (centred) Type – Township Noted in HSMR and NMRS of ‘A crofting township, comprising 44 roofed, 4 partially roofed, 10 unroofed buildings and a head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6- inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1881, sheet 21). 20 roofed, 3 partially roofed, 33 unroofed buildings and a head-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1968).’ Results made during walkover were as follows: 1.1 – Building at NG 61470/55380 with no roof 8m x 4.5m with walls up to 1.5m. 1.2 – Cairn at NG 61451/55451 2.5m in diameter and 1.5m high. 1.3 – Building at NG 22109/47398 with no roof only 3 walls 6m x 4m with walls up to 1.5m. 1.4 – House at NG 22118/47409 recently deserted with roof and fenced garden, built up trackway to house. 10m x 6m. 1.5 – Group of buildings and enclosure at NG 22185/47453 all without roofs walls up to 2m. 1.6 - Group of buildings and enclosure at NG 22179/47535 all without roofs walls up to 2m. 1.7 – Building at NG 22089/47478 with no roof 5m x 10m and walls up 1.5m. 1.8 – Building at NG 22103/47678 with no roof 10m x 5.5m and walls up 1.8m. 1.9 – House at NG 22097/47769 in good repair not occupied 12m x 8m. 1.10 – Field boundary at NG 22051/47672 1m wide for 40m in length. 1.11 – Cultivation remains centred at NG 22000/47737 3-4m apart. 1.12 – Buildings with enclosure at NG 22099/47732 5m x 10m with walls up to 1.2m. 1.13 – Building at NG 22052/47809 4m x 6m with walls up to 1.6m. 1.14 – Group of buildings with enclosures at NG 21947/47908 no roofs, gable end intact in building to NE others in good repair with walls up to 1.7m. 1.15 – Enclosure at NG 21698/48269 c20m x 25m walls up 1m high. 1.16 – Enclosure/field boundary at NG 21698/48269 walls up to 1m in poor condition. 1.17 – 2 buildings at NG 21710/48286 6m x 8m with walls up to 2m. 1.18 – Buildings at NG 21690/48383 12m x 5m walls up to 1.3m. (Photographs for 1.1 – 1.18 were lost due to damage to film) 1.19 – Buildings and enclosure at NG 21655/48493. Building is 8m x 4m with walls up to 2m. Enclosure is c20m x 20m with walls up to 1m. (See photo 1) 1.20 – Building at NG 21619/48667 6m x 4m with walls to 1.5m. Track going towards building from SSW. (See photo 2) The following recommendations are to be made: A – route to pass site 1.4 to the east. B – route to pass site 1.8 to the east. C – route to pass site 1.9 to the west. D – route to pass site 1.13 to west to avoid rigs 1.11. E – route to go around enclosure 1.15. F – route to go east to avoid 1.16 and 1.17. G – route to go east to avoid site 1.19. 2, 3 and 4 – Three Chimneys Folk Museum or 1 Colbost HSMR – NG24NW 15 NMRS – NG24NW 14 Grid Ref: NG 21596/48707 Type – Blackhouse, still Status – Listed B Existing route goes through a green field in front of the blackhouse where old agricultural machinery is displayed. The house is late 19th century in date. (See photograph 3) Area to be avoided with new proposed pipeline. 5 – Colbost HSMR – NG24NW 45 NMRS – NG24NW 32 Grid Ref: NG 210/494 (centred) Type – Township Noted in HSMR and NMRS of ‘A crofting township, comprising 68 roofed, 18 unroofed buildings and 2 lengths of head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1881, sheet 21). 35 roofed, 29 unroofed buildings and a head-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1968). Results made during walkover were as follows: 5.1 – Building and enclosing wall at NG 21262/48816 well preserved walls in building 10m x 4.5m up to 2m and at gable end 3m. Enclosing walls up to 1m. (See photo 4) 5.2 – Building and enclosing wall at NG 21145/49265 well preserved 10m x 4.5m with walls up to 2m. Enclosing walls up 0.5m. 2nd building to E. (See photo 5) 5.3 – Building at NG 20751/49699 in poor state 7m x 4m walls up to 0.5m. (See photo 6) 5.4 – 2 small buildings centred at NG 20538/49877 with walls up to 1.3m. (See photo 7) The following recommendations are to be made: Route to pass site 5.1 to the south. 6 – Dun Colbost HSMR – NG24NW 5 NMRS – NG24NW 5 Grid Ref: NG2055/4947 Type – Broch Noted in HSMR and NMRS of ‘Dun Colbost, a broch measuring 52' E-W by 57' N-S externally, with well" built walling varying from 11-12ft. in width. No entrance is visible, but it was probably on the W. where the wall has been destroyed. One chamber and a short length of gallery can be traced. An outwork surrounds the rocky plateau upon which the broch stands, consisting of a wall about 6' thick surviving to a height of 3' in places.’ Dun Colbost broch is sited on the east end of a rocky knoll in moorland above Loch Dunvegan. The broch is surrounded by an outer wall, which cuts across the knoll, leaving the western half of the plateau unenclosed.