Monument record 9532 - MY346, Mingulay

MY346: Settlement complex. Valley floor. Located lower down the valley on the west bank of teh stream. MY346 presents much the same site profile as MY345. There is a large circular building at the western edge of the complex with later structures overlying it and spreading to the east. A small excavation trench was opened alongside inside the east wall of the ring-wall (see above). This showed the main wall to be constructed of massive stone blocks, some of which weith in excess of 1 ton, forming a single-face internal revetment to a 1m wide turf, earth and stone wall. An unstructured hearth was found against the inner wall face at a high level in peat soil that most likely relates to a recent use of the site as a shieling or shelter. A rough stone floor was encountered and excavation ceased at this point since there was no intention to remove undisturbed archaeological features or significant deposits at this stage. The expected dating evidence didnot appear and the peat soil infill down to the floor level was burrowed by rabbist to such an extent that it is arguable whether any material remained in these levels that was not disturbed. Presumably the floor encountered represents the last permanent occupation of the building before the accumulation of peat soil and fallen stonework infilled much of the interior. Overlying the ring-wall and these upper deposits is a D-shaped early modern/modern shelter standing several drystone courses high. This was used to contain the spoil from the excavation that was left open so that informative details of the ring-wall elevation could be seen.
Brannigan & Foster 2000, 120

Keith Branigan & Patrick Foster, 2000, From Barra to Berneray: Archaeological Survey and Excavation in the Southern Isles ... (Bibliographic reference). SWE41033.