Monument record 11468 - LEWIS, AIRIGH LEITIR

NB33NW 27 3440 3565

What may be three roofed shieling-huts are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1852, sheet 19). What may be the location of eight shieling-huts are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972).
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 3440 3565
Airidh Leitir
Shieling group.
Full report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Dulas Ltd.
J Hooper 2001

REPORT DATE: 17/06/2002

B018-022 NB 3440 3565:
Airidh Leitir, one substantial stone-built shieling hut and four mounded structures, probably representing earlier huts.
On the 1st edition OS map (1849-52), Airidh Leitir is shown as a group of three roofed shieling huts, lying amidst a cleared area of ground. By the time the 2nd edition was amended in 1895, only two ruins, corresponding to the more westerly of the earlier buildings, are shown. In the Name Book, compiled at the time of the 1st edition map, Airidh Leiter is described as a few shieling huts, adjacent to the Alolt Creagan nam Feannag, close to the base of Beinn Mholach. This suggests that it may have been seen to include the group classified here under the name of the Allt Creagan nam Feannag (B023-025) and which are shwn on the modern 1:10000 map, but not on the earlier editions. On the current 1:10000 map (1972), eight shieling huts, under the name of Airigh Leitir, are depicted.
The site is only visible on vertical aerial photographs taken in 1989, where it is apparent as a very prominent group of ten or more mounds. The site lies on a rocky knoll on the gentle, south-facing lower slopes of Beinn Mholach, above a level marsh basin opening out to the south-west. It lies on the same contour as the shieling groups at Allt Creagan nam Feannag (B023-025), Airidh a'Chreagain (B041-043) and Airigh Garvaig (B044-057), suggesting this was obviously a preferred location for shieling sites. Long disused and irregularly shaped peat cuttings surround the mounds.

B018 NB 34428 35618: The substantial remains of a drystone shieling hut, 2m long by 2m broad, aligned north-south across the contour, with a large grassy/reedy area on the downslope (south) side. The walls stand up to 0.5m high, with the north wall appearing to be more or less its original height. Two square cupboards are set into this wall, each capped by a nicely shaped lintel. The internal corners of the building are rounded, while the external, turf-covered faces of the wall have a pronounced batter. Ther are two very narrow (c. 0.4m wide), opposed entrances towards the wouthern end of the building. A partly collapsed division wall lies just to the north of the entrance.

B019 NB 34417 35643
B020 NB 34410 35678
B021 NB 34438 35610
B022 NB 34413 35598
Although ten mounds are visible on the aerial photographs, only four low mounds of amorphous shape are recognisable on the ground. Like the mound containing B018, each mound stands out as bright green amidst the heather moorland surrounding them. None of the mounds have any definite shape and all are about 8m in diameter. Only on the summit of one, B019, does there appear to be the remnants of a turf-built structure, suggested by a slight bank along the north edge.
Hooper 2000, 18

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.