Monument record 6929 - Slugach

SU 6:
Located on the first rise to the west of the valley of South Glen Dale at ca. 100 metres OD, this poly-cellular construction measures 5.7 x 6.3 metres overall is sub oval in shape and is constructed of stone against bedrock erratics on its south side. Internally three cells can be discerned. Two on the western side form a figure of 8 with the southern half measuring 2 metres from east to west and 1 metre from north to south and the northern half measuring 2 metres in diameter. These two cells are linked by a narrow entrance. The third cell, located to the east of the first two, is circular in shape and measures 2 metres in diameter but has no descernible entrance. SU 7 is located immediately to the south-west and is of similar form and construction suggesting that the two sites may be related.
Interpretation: Cells such as these, located in rough grazing are likely to represent the remains of a shieling or transhumance site. Poly/multi-cellular shielings have been recorded in abundance on Skye and Lewis and are generally thought to be medieval in date, though excavation evidence to support this remains unpublished. The possibility should not be ruled out that this site is prehistoric in date. Given it's immediate vicinity to Baile A/B it is unlikely that this structure was used for transhumance in the post-medieval period when these settlements are thought to have been occupied, however, its distance from the settlements closer to the shore, Bailes F-J, would be enough to suggest a transhumance relationship between this site and the earlier houses in the coastal areas.
(Babtie Group, 1999)

Babtie Group, 2000, Eriskay Causeway Archaeological Sruvey Draft Report (Unpublished document). SWE41018.