Monument record 12892 - Tom Ta and Mhaol Mhor, Luerbost

A relatively large structure(for a shieling) measures 7 metres in outside diameter, and occupies the top of a small hill, near the most northerly fence of the area. There is some evidence that the walls were originally double-skinned, with a diameter of around 1 metre. No entrance could be discerned. A rectangular setting of orthostatic stones in the centre of the building, measuring 1m by 0.5m, could have been a hearth. A small, well defined 'scoop' that appears to be built into the wall to the south is of unknown use. See Drg.1.

A recangular basin, presumably constructed to improve access to a well or spring, is of dry stone construction and sinks into the side of the small hill 4-5 metres to the north. It measures 1.8m by 1m, and most likely would have originally been deeper than the two 0.2m-0.3m observed in the present day. On the down slope side of the basin a small aperture of 0.2m presumably enabled water to overflow. Another deep depression c.5m to the east around the side of this small hill could conceivably have been an earlier example of the same phenomenon. However it does seem odd that there could be a useable spring so close to the top of a hill, and certainly the author has not seen anything like it in his experience. See Drg. 1 and 2

Ian McHardy, 2006, The Archaeology of the Tom Ta and Mhaol Mhor area, Leurbost (Unpublished document). SWE41104.