31631: LSFH 29.4 Aird Sithaig – KILN?

Summary:

KILN? (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
KELP KILN? (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
Possible kelp kiln

Location:

NB 27467 16608

Full description:

"Situated on the headland of Aird Sithaig, the remains of this structure are cellular in form, with a flue or entrance way/passage towards the south-east. Constructed of turf, with some stone visible on the exterior, the cell measures 2.5 metres from south-east to north-west and 2 metres from south-west to north-east. Internally it measures 1 metre in diameter, and the flue, running for 2 metres from the cell in a south-easterly direction, measures 0.3 metres wide and 0.25 metres deep. The whole structure appears to be constructed in a turf bank, that may actually be an earlier lazybed or feannagan. A number of other cellular structures have been recorded in the immediate vicinity (29.4, 29.5, 29.6 and 29.7), suggesting either an industrial use, such as corn drying or the reduction of kelp, or a residential use, such as for a monastery. The small size of the majority of the features tends to support the industrial interpretation." "Situated across much of the Aird Sithaig headland this group of monuments are noticeable for their close proximity to one another. Two landscapes may seem to have been identified from among the remains. The first consists of a post-medieval/pre-crofting settlement that includes a blackhouse (29.2) and a feannagan field system (29.11). Several cellular structures formed of stone, along the west shore of the headland (29.8 and 29.9) may also date to this phase of activity. The second phase of activity on the site is likely to be one of marine industry, relating to kelp collection and processing. This phase can be seen as a series of cellular structures or kilns that seem to have been cut into the tops of the earlier feannagan (29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.10,29.13 etc). These cells or kilns are all of similar size and construction and seem to post-date the earlier landscape. It is possible that the bothie/sheiling (29.1) constructed in the western edge of the earlier blackhouse (29.2) may relate to this phase of activity on the site. Pre-dating all of this is likely to be a Norse phase of activity that is visible solely through the remains of a boat-shaped house (29.3) located under the remains of blackhouse (29.2). There are no other remains that can be firmly dated to this possible earlier activity though it cannot be ruled out that some of the cellular structures in the vicinity may date to the Norse phase. How much of the activity on the headland can be associated with elements of the promontory enclosure (30) at its southern end and thought to be medieval in date, is also unclear, though again it cannot be ruled out that some of the features identified in the vicinity actually owe their origins to this phase of activities on site." (Burgess 2004, 39-40 and 44-45)

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.