Monument record 1405 - MINGULAY

NL58SE 21 5680 8223

A group of about 8 rectangular, oval and circular 'cells', adjoined by walling, the whole laid out in a half-circle.
Visited by OS 30 August 1973.

MY 35 (NL 5680 8223) Shieling complex.
Location: Coastal plain.
Description: A complex of small dwellings and associated barns and clearance cairns in an area 44 x 30 m. The complex as a whole appears to be built on a prepared platform. The dating of this monument is problematical, two small sondage trenches opened in the hope of finding datable material did recover Iron Age pottery sherds, but they appear to predate the standing buildings and appear to belong to some earlier settlement. The supposed dwellings are not true blackhouses. Judging from a small excavation across one of the larger buildings they are small, generally square internally, consisting of a small single cell with a seating bench around the internal walls. The walls are generally stone-faced with small stones. On the present evidence the hoped-for mediaeval or earlier dating of this monument, apart from whatever is lying below the present buildings cannot be sustained, and the most lilkely function for this group of dwellings is that of regular seasonal use as a shieling complex. Further use in modern times is most likely and some of the buildings may have been modified and other shelters constructed. Excavation report will be in SEARCH volume 6.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35a (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 6 x 5 m, single cell. Entrance to the north.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35b (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Oval, 4 x 3 m, single cell. Store for (a).
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35c (NL 5680 8223) Enclosure.
Location: As above.
Description: Oval, 12 x 10 m, enclosure formed by closing off what may have originally been an opening for livestock giving access between the upper and lower fields.
Note: Most likely a later addition.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35d (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 6.5 x 4.5 m, single cell with entrance to the west that appears to be in a different constructional style to the other buildings, and it also appears to be superimposed over other features. Consequently, it may therefore be a later addition to the complex.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35e (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Oval, 7 x 4 m, single-cell ?store for (d). Could be a shieling.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35f (NL 5680 8223) Cairn (clearance).
Location: As above.
Description: Circular pile of stones, 2 m diam.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35g (NL 5680 8223) Shelter.
Location: As above.
Description: Oval, 4 x 3 m, possibly collapsed shelter built with a stone setting of three large monoliths to the east.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35h (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 6 x 5 m, single cell. Entrance to the north.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35i (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 4 x 3 m, barn to ?(h).
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35j (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 5 x 3.5 m. Entrance open end to west.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35k (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 6 x 5 m, entrance to north-east.
Note: Possibly a later rebuild.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35l (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 7 x 6 m, single cell. Entrance to the north.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35m (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 7.5 x 5.5 m, single cell later rebuilt and divided into two cell structure?
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35n (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Square, 3 x 3 m, single cell barn for (m).
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35o (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 5 x 3.5 m, double cell. Entrance obscure.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35p (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 3 x 2 m, entrance to north. Barn to ?(q).
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35q (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Subrectangular, 5 x 4.7 m, single cell built over change in underlying ground surface. Entrance to ?east.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35r (NL 5680 8223) Shieling.
Location: As above.
Description: Square, 4 x 4 m, single cell. Entrance obscure.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

MY35s (NL 5680 8223) Barn.
Location: As above.
Description: Oval, 5 x 4 m, or collapsed shelter?
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 99

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