31890: ECC 1.6 Eilean Chalium Cille

Summary:

FIELD SYSTEM (Medieval to Post Medieval – 1266 AD to 1900 AD)
CLEARANCE CAIRN (Medieval to Post Medieval – 1266 AD to 1900 AD)
LINEAR CLEARANCE CAIRN (Medieval to Post Medieval – 1266 AD to 1900 AD)
Feannagan or lazybed field system with clearance features

Location:

NB 38034 20913

Full description:

"This area of feannagan – lazybed – cultivation is located on the south facing slopes above the south shore of Eilean Chalium Cille. Covering an area of approximately 100 metres from west to east the beds run sinuously from north to south for 50 metres from the crest of the slope down to the shore of the island. Small areas of clearance may be seen, either individual cairns or linear clearance banks between the beds. Such cultivation is typical of pre-crofting settlement and may date from the medieval period right through to the early 19th century. It is also possible that it may have had the continuity of use despite the apparently associated dispersed settlement (1.3 and 1.4) being abandoned for more recent nucleated settlements eslewhere in the vicinity." (Burgess 2004, 73-74)

References:

Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004. Northamptonshire Archaeology Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle. Part No Loch Seaforth Head Gazeteer.

Acknowledgement:

Information provided by Western Isles Council Sites & Monuments Record, January 2006.