Monument record 12221 - LOCH MOR A' CHOCAIR, LEWIS

NB33SE 11 3535 3438

What may be two roofed shieling-huts are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1852, sheet 19), but they are not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1973).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 24 September 1997.

An archaeological assessment was undertaken in advance of a potential windfarm development at Beinn Mholach and Arnish Moor. A total of 29 areas (over 100 individual sites) of archaeological remains were identified, most of which relate to post-medieval shieling practice, lazy bed cultivation, peat cutting, and to the 19th and 20th-century use of these upland areas. The proposed windfarm development involves two areas of peat moorland in the centre of Lewis. (GUARD 891).
NB 3535 3435
Loch Mor a' Chocair
Shieling hut.
Full report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Dulas Ltd
J Hooper 2001
REPORT DATE: 17/06/2002

On the OS 1st ed map (1849-52), two roofed shieling huts are shown here. Neither aer on the 2nd ed map (1895) or the currednt edition (1973). A single hut shown on the vertical aerial photographs o 1946 probably coresponds to eh southern of the two on the 1st ed map. The same photographs show the suggestion of another two mounds aligned parallel to the loch shore near the building.

The low stone footings of a hut survive in the vicinity of the southern of the structures on the 1st ed map, c. 4m x 2m, aligned WNW-ESE. The walls are up to 0.5m wide, stnading up to 1m high. The internal corners are square, and the walls well built. There seem to have been two opposed entrances towards the NW end of the long walls.
Hooper 2000, 31

Also listed in J Hooper 2001, 104

Janet Hooper, 2000, Lewis: Project 891 (Bibliographic reference). SWE41076.

Council for Scottish Archaeology, 2001, Discovery and Escavation in Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41185.