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Rosal

Cairnfield (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle(S) (Prehistoric), Souterrain (Prehistoric)

Site Name Rosal

Classification Cairnfield (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle(S) (Prehistoric), Souterrain (Prehistoric)

Alternative Name(s) Naver Forest; Strathnaver

Canmore ID 5699

Site Number NC64SE 28

NGR NC 6910 4117

NGR Description NC 6910 4117 and NC 6885 4166

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/5699

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

  • Council Highland
  • Parish Farr
  • Former Region Highland
  • Former District Sutherland
  • Former County Sutherland

Archaeology Notes

NC64SE 28 6910 4117 and 6885 4166

(NC 6910 4117) Enclosure (NR)

(NC 6885 4166) Earth-house (NR)

OS 6" map, (1961)

Iron Age occupation is indicated by the existence of hut- circles, a souterrain and field clearance heaps in and around the township of Rosal (NC64SE 12). The hut circles include the published 'Enclosure' (A), the unnamed circle at NC 6910 4137 ('B') and four others discovered during Fairhurst's survey in 1962 (C-F). They are 30 to 40ft in diameter and consist of lowbanks of earth and boulders. 'A' has an entrance in the SE. The rectangular structure published at NC 6885 4176 ('G') was excavated by Fairhurst and proved to be a circular hut platform, 41ft in diameter cut into the slope on the SE and revetted on the NW by blocks forming a wall 4ft thick and 2ft 6ins high. No definite hut was associated with the souterrain but to the north there were intermittent traces of a very low annular bank, some 30ft in diameter, which excavation showed to be composed of small stones inadequate for the foundation of a hut, although it is possible that any large stones had been removed. The souterrain itself was excavated by Corcoran in 1962 and proved to be unpaved and 42ft long with three lintels still in position. The entrance was in the SE and 7ft 6ins from it were what appeared to be door-checks. Another pecularity was the outward batter of the passage walls towards the top.

Visited by OS (JLD) 7 May 1960.

J X W P Corcoran 1969; H Fairhurst 1969.

The Iron age occupation at Rosal is generally as described above. All hut circles, now lying in unthinned forestry approximately fifteen years old, have been disfigured by ploughing and planting. Hut 'E' given at NC 6908 4123 was not located. The site of the hut platform ('G') excavated by Fairhurst is as described by him. Unusually the curving wall on the lower NW side though well preserved does not exhibit an entrance as could be expected. Possibly this is a later wall, contemporary with the township, and overlying the hut platform. The souterrain now largely filled with earth displays the three lintel stones remaining in situ. The clearance heaps form no cohesive pattern mixed as they are among the later cultivation of Rosal township.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (J B) 8 July 1978.

Activities

Field Visit (February 2012)

A photographic survey was carried out by AOC Archaeology in February 2012.

References

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