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Torran

Hoard (Bronze)

Site Name Torran

Classification Hoard (Bronze)

Alternative Name(s) Ford; Torranbeg; Craigbeoch; Loch Awe

Canmore ID 22803

Site Number NM80SE 43

NGR NM 8732 0455

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/22803

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Kilmartin
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Argyll And Bute
  • Former County Argyll

Archaeology Notes

NM80SE 43 8732 0455.

(NM 874 045) A Late Bronze Age hoard was found on Torran farm. In 1881, when digging for a ferret, two socketed spearheads, one with a beading on each side of the socket, the other with a plain leaf-shaped blade, and a socketed gouge were found. The site of this find, among tumbled boulders, was under a very big rock insecurely perched on two others, on a 1:2 slope on the side of Creag Beathach. it was visited in 1962, Mr A Carmichael of Torranbeg acting as guide. Examination of the pine needles immediately below the rock revealed two rings, a fragment of bronze, a Thorndon type socketed knife and three socketed axes, one three-ribbed, another collared and faceted, and the third bag-shaped.

In view of the steepness of the hillside and recent rock movements, it seems that the original hoard may have been deposited in a rock-shelter, now collapsed, under the crag, and rolled downhill with the rocks to its eventual findspot. All of the articles found could well be of Irish manufacture. All the finds, except for one of the spearheads, which was in private hands and is now lost, are in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS - Accession no. DQ 329-33, DG 116,329).

J M Strachan 1884; M Campbell and J M Coles 1965.

The site was indicated by Mr A Carmichael of Torranbeg and is as described.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (D W R) 11 October 1971.

Hoard found at the foot of Craigbeoch on Torranbeg farm, at the S end of Loch Awe, by T Richmond, tenant of the farm, when digging for a ferret, apparently among loose stones at the base of a rabbit hole. In 1962 further discoveries (axes and rings) were made by J Coles and M Campbell.

Other associated finds: leaf-shaped spearhead, leaf-shaped sperahead with fillet-defined midrib, socketed gouge; socketed knife; two rings of circular section (one with a small ring around its rod).

1097. (Socketed axe of Gillespie type). Socketed axe, finely pitted, originally smooth cast, green-black, well trimmed, short haft ribs; length 93mm, mouth 25x31mm, cutting edge 57mm, weight 260gms. NMAS DQ 329.

1194. (Socketed axe; Dungiven variant of Dowris type). Socketed axe, finely pitted, green, cracked in one face, mouth damaged, short haft ribs; length 70mm, mouth 28x32mm, cutting edge 52mm, weight 145gms. NMAS DQ 331.

1381. (Socketed axe of Yorkshire type). Socketed axe, badly corroded, green (?), haft ribs, half-way up but not reaching down to bottom of socket; length 85mm, mouth 31x31mm, cutting edge 45mm, weight 195gms. NMAS DQ 330.

P K Schmidt and C B Burgess 1981.

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