We have a great number of Prehistoric structures around Ardchattan Parish
There is a great deal of work to bring the resources and references together here to understand these fully, and to put them in chronological order.
for example :
- Crannogs : Eriska / Ledaig Moss / Somerled connection
- Chambered cairns : Achnacreebeag, Dalvuie, Lochnabeith, Castles, Achnamoine, Balure of Shian, Culcharran
- Standing stones : Culcharran, Barcaldine, Pony Park, Dun na Mara Achacha, Lochnell school
- Stone circles : Culcharran
- Forts / Duns : Dun bachlach, Dun val an righ, Dun mac Uisneachan;
- burial cists : Kintaline, Cairnbaan
- Artifacts : Benderloch Beaker People urn; Dun Mac Uisneachan sword & brooch1
Dr Angus Smith, Loch Etive and the Sons of Uisnach, London, 1879,
From Assynt to Oban: some observations on prehistoric cave use in western Scotland [2012]2 Clive Bonsall ▾
This paper examines the evidence for temporal variation in the human use of caves in western Scotland. The archaeological record of cave use in this part of the British Isles extends back to at least the Late Glacial. However, there is little evidence for the regular use of caves until the later Mesolithic, c. 7500 cal BC. During that period an important use of caves was as temporary shelters for food-processing activities. A significant change in the human use of caves occurred c. 3900 cal BC, coincident with the appearance of farming. At that time there was a shift from economic use to funerary or ritual function. This may reflect the change in economic practices and mortuary rituals that marked the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition, but in part at least was influenced by the geomorphic evolution and changing nature of caves in Mid-Holocene Scotland. Keywords: caves, western Scotland, Oban Bay, processing camps, burials, geomorphological change
Understanding the Mesolithic http://www.starcarr.com/
Papers Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Volume 9 : Descriptive List of Antiquities near Loch Etive, Argyllshire, consisting of Vitrified Forts, Cairns, Circles, Crannogs, &c.,; with some Remarks on the Growth of Peat. (pp 81-106) Smith, R Angus
Volume 67 from 1932 Margaret Crichton Mitchell THE PREHISTORIC ANTIQUITIES OF BENDERLOCH AND APPIN
[https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/42502185/Mesolithic_and_later_sites_around_the_In20160209-22259-18fpvih-libre.pdf Mesolithic and later sites around the
Inner Sound, Scotland: the work of the Scotland’s First Settlers project 1998–2004]
Bronze Age Banks at The Black Crofts, North Connel, Argyll, A Synthesis and Re-Assessment . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 2005.Stephen Carter & Magnar Dalland
The world of the dinosaurs - the prehistoric globe
The general area around the beach at Tralee is also thought to be one the main centres of power and exchange in the area from the Late Iron Age and Early Historic period although there is little archaeological evidence so far found to substantiate this.3
Paul Robins monitored the excavation and lifting of a Bronze Age funerary vessel by GUARD in 1996. This was found at NGR NM 9051 3805. Burnt bone was recovered, as well as twenty pieces of quartz, some or all which may be struck. A group of cobbles was situated in the southwest corner of the excavation trench. It was found that the urn had been set on a stone slab.
Nearby, in 2007, human remains were discovered by the householder undertaking landscaping for a garage in the garden of his home at Cliff House, Main Street, Benderloch. (NGR NM 9051 3799).
Although this site had been very disturbed, finds included a small quantity of decorated prehistoric pottery (probably from a Food Vessel), a single worked bone tool and a small amount of human bone. Extensive quantities of small mammal bones and marine shells were identifiable within the disturbed material. Initial examination of the human bone indicated the presence of two adults with a single adolescent bone pointing to the presence of a third individual.
A number of standing stones have been recorded in the area, including one at Lochnell Primary School (NGR NM 90623865), where excavations were undertaken in 1971 prior to the construction of a new school building. A relict soil horizon was identified within the gravels of the marine terrace, and a possible stakehole cutting this was excavated.
To the north, another standing stone can be found at Castle Farm, Barcaldine. Near this are three Bronze Age kerbed burial cairns, (NGR NM 910 403 to 910 402).4
We need to create accessible maps for each of these locations; learn field archeaology skills to assess others in our parish; and then learn more about them.
Particularly interesting is to understand more about when each of these were being used, relative to each other; and the time between each era of activity.
