Breachacha crannog
Encyclopedia
The Breachacha crannog is a crannog
located near Loch Breachacha, on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll
. The crannog is recognised in the United Kingdom
as a Scheduled monument. A scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given legal protection against unauthorised change. There are about 8,000 such sites in Scotland.
is located at ; about 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) south of Breachacha Castle
. It sits within the former loch
which was known as Poll nam Broig. The loch was drained in 1875 and today the crannog sits in an arable field
. The surrounding ground is marshy and can be accessed only from the east.
The crannog is oval-shaped and consists of a stone and earth mound with a flattened top. It stands 2 metre high and measures 26 by at the base, and 16 by on the top. The crown of the mound stands about 1 metre above the surrounding former loch-bed; and according to Mark W. Holley, this corresponds with what would have been the maximum water level of the old loch. Holley's calculations deduced that when the loch was full, the crannog would have been located about 30 metre from shore.
Holley surveyed the site in 1995 and noted a series of five, semicircular pits dug into the ground on the east, south, and south-west sides of the crannog. He considered these holes to have been dug relatively recently, since the early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge
made no mention of them, nor did he mention any form of excavation on site. There is no trace of a causeway
, jetty
, or harbour on the site. There is no trace of any walling at the site; or of any protruding timbers. Holley noted that the stones appear to be of local origin. There are no other man-made features near the site.
Crannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
located near Loch Breachacha, on the Inner Hebridean island of Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
. The crannog is recognised in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a Scheduled monument. A scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given legal protection against unauthorised change. There are about 8,000 such sites in Scotland.
Description
The crannogCrannog
A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
is located at ; about 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) south of Breachacha Castle
Breachacha Castle
Breachacha Castle is a 14th-15th century tower house castle at Breachacha, Coll, Scotland. It was a stronghold of the MacLeans of Coll and overlooks Loch Breachacha. The castle fell in ruin in the late eighteenth century and was restored in the 20th century by Major N V MacLean Bristol.-References:*...
. It sits within the former loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
which was known as Poll nam Broig. The loch was drained in 1875 and today the crannog sits in an arable field
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
. The surrounding ground is marshy and can be accessed only from the east.
The crannog is oval-shaped and consists of a stone and earth mound with a flattened top. It stands 2 metre high and measures 26 by at the base, and 16 by on the top. The crown of the mound stands about 1 metre above the surrounding former loch-bed; and according to Mark W. Holley, this corresponds with what would have been the maximum water level of the old loch. Holley's calculations deduced that when the loch was full, the crannog would have been located about 30 metre from shore.
Holley surveyed the site in 1995 and noted a series of five, semicircular pits dug into the ground on the east, south, and south-west sides of the crannog. He considered these holes to have been dug relatively recently, since the early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge
Erskine Beveridge
Erskine Beveridge LL.D. FRSE was a Scottish textile manufacturer and antiquary. He was the owner of Erskine Beveridge & Co. Ltd., which had been founded by his father in 1832 and was the largest linen manufacturer in Dunfermline, Fife...
made no mention of them, nor did he mention any form of excavation on site. There is no trace of a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
, jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
, or harbour on the site. There is no trace of any walling at the site; or of any protruding timbers. Holley noted that the stones appear to be of local origin. There are no other man-made features near the site.