Monument record 3759 - LOCHAN, LEWIS

NB31SE 7 399 108

What may be four unroofed shieling-huts annotated as Ruins and a length of wall which may be a head-dyke are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire, Island of Lewis 1854, sheet 43). The fragmentary remains of the wall are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 3 July 1997

Structure A
This is the only building on the western bank of the stream. It measures 4 x 3m and is orientated north-south. It has no visible entrance.
Structure B
This is a well-preserved rectangular sheiling building, 2 x 2m internally, with 1m thick walls, has a possible enterance in its north-western corner, and a possible window opening (or niche) in its south-eastern corner. Its western gable wall survives to a height of 1.75m. This building is on top of a significant settlement mound, 10m in diameter, with occasional embedded stones running around the southern part of the mound, relating to the remains of earlier structures. To the east end of of structure B, a small, tumbled, 4 x 4m enclosure is visible, with its back built to a steep rock outcrop. To the south-west of the building, on the edge of the mound, a spring emerges to join the stream, which runs on the western side of the mound. The mound is on a south-facing slope, in the lee of the rock outcrop.
Structure C
This is the very dilapidated remains or a curvilinear building, constructed of the stone (with some very massive blocks), and with a number of rooms. The main structure is sub-circular, c. 3.5m diameter internally, and where both faces of the wall are visible, it is c. 1.5m thick. For most of the extent of this building, the external wall face is obscured by tumble, but the approximate external measurement is c. 6m diameter. It has an enterance to the south, facing and sheltered by a very large boulder measureing at least 2m high and 2.5m wide. On the western edge of the main structure is a sub-rectangular cell, to the north of which is another cell, 2 x 2m internally, which appears to be a rebuilding of part of an earlier, underlying structure. To the north of that is another, smaller cell, only faintly discerable. Structure C is on the topof a slight settlement mound, on a south facing slope.
Structure D
This is a sub-rectanguler structure, orientated east-west, now just a pile of rubble, 4 x 4m, built aginst a crag which forms its eastern wall. A gap between each end of the wall, and the crag, provides entrances at the north-eastern corners of the buiding.
Structure E
This is an oval, east-west orientated, 5 x 4m structure, very ephemeral and deeply embedded, lying to the west of structure D, parallel to the crag face. It has no visible enterance.
Structure F
This is a sub-rectangular, two roomed, 7 x 4m structure, to the south of structures D & E, oriented north-south, adjacent to the crag. It has no visible enterances.
Structure G
An oval or sub-rectangular, two roomed, 7 x 4m structure, south-east of structure F, lying on the lower part of a slope, oriented north-west to south-east. It has no visible enterances. It is ephemeral and deeply embedded.
Structures A, D, E, F & G
These are all shielings. However, structures B &C are more significant. It is likely that structure B is the latest shieling, but it stands on the highest settlement mound. Strucure C may possibly be prehistoric in date, and also stands on the remains of earlier buildings.
Barrowman et al 2003 p42 - 44

C. Barrowman, I. McHardy, M. MacLeod, 2003, Severe Terrain Archaeological Campaign (STAC)Project 2.1. Seirbhis Arc-eolais nan Eilean Siar, Stornoway. (Bibliographic reference). SWE41052. (Bibliographic reference). SWE41052.