Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Archaeology Development Plan for the Small Isles: Canna, Eigg, Muck, Rùm Report No: HAS051202 Client The Small Isles Community Council Date December 2005 Archaeology Development Plan for the Small Isles December 2005 Summary This report sets out general recommendations and specific proposals for the development of archaeology on and for the Small Isles of Canna, Eigg, Muck and Rùm. It reviews the islands’ history, archaeology and current management and visitor issues, and makes recommendations. Recommendations include ¾ Improved co-ordination and communication between the islands ¾ An organisational framework and a resident project officer ¾ Policies – research, establishing baseline information, assessment of significance, promotion and protection ¾ Audience development work ¾ Specific projects - a website; a guidebook; waymarked trails suitable for different interests and abilities; a combined museum and archive; and a pioneering GPS based interpretation system ¾ Enhanced use of Gaelic Initial proposals for implementation are included, and Access and Audience Development Plans are attached as appendices. The next stage will be to agree and implement follow-up projects Vision The vision for the archaeology of the Small Isles is of a valued resource providing sustainable and growing benefits to community cohesion, identity, education, and the economy, while avoiding unnecessary damage to the archaeological resource itself or other conservation interests. Acknowledgements The idea of a Development Plan for Archaeology arose from a meeting of the Isle of Eigg Historical Society in 2004. Its development was funded and supported by the Highland Council, Lochaber Enterprise, Historic Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, and much help was also received from individual islanders and others. This project would never have been completed without the tireless enthusiasm and energy of Camille Dressler. Special thanks are also due to Community Council members, the Eigg Historical Society, Flis Hough, the MacEwen family, Lucy Conway, Jill Harden, Peter and Susanna Wade-Martins, and all those islanders who assisted in providing accommodation, transport, and comments; and John Wombell and Ann Wakeling for their contributions. 2 Archaeology Development Plan for the Small Isles December 2005 Contents Summary.................................................................................................................................................................2 Vision .....................................................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................5 Background.............................................................................................................................................................6 Stakeholders ...........................................................................................................................................................7 Aims and objectives................................................................................................................................................8 Understanding the heritage resource.......................................................................................................................8 Geology..............................................................................................................................................................9 The Stone Ages (c. 7000 to 2,400 BC) ..............................................................................................................9 The Bronze and Iron Ages (from c. 2,400 BC)................................................................................................10 The Early Historic Period - Romans and Picts (c. 100 – 600 AD)...................................................................12 Early Christianity.............................................................................................................................................12 The Norse period .............................................................................................................................................14 Place-names .....................................................................................................................................................15 The Lordship of the Isles .................................................................................................................................16 The 16th to 18th centuries..................................................................................................................................18 The 19th century - Landlords and Clearances...................................................................................................19 Modern archaeology ........................................................................................................................................22 Assessment of significance...................................................................................................................................23 Evidence ..........................................................................................................................................................23 Aesthetic ..........................................................................................................................................................23 Associative.......................................................................................................................................................23 Symbolic..........................................................................................................................................................24 Ecological ........................................................................................................................................................24 Economic .........................................................................................................................................................25 Key Features ....................................................................................................................................................25 Management issues and sustainability..................................................................................................................37 General development issues.............................................................................................................................37 Archaeology and Historic Environment issues................................................................................................37 The conservation and management of archaeological sites and areas .............................................................38 Types of feature ..........................................................................................................................................39 Management................................................................................................................................................40 Issues for individual islands.............................................................................................................................42 Canna ..........................................................................................................................................................42 Eigg.............................................................................................................................................................42 Muck ...........................................................................................................................................................43 Rum.............................................................................................................................................................43 Sustainability ...................................................................................................................................................44 Legislation and Policy Frameworks .....................................................................................................................44 The historic and built environment ..................................................................................................................44 The maritime heritage......................................................................................................................................45 Portable artefacts (‘Treasure Trove’)...............................................................................................................45 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................46 Policies and procedures ...................................................................................................................................46 1. General principles