Archaeological notes on Loch Sgadavagh Isle and accompanying sketch, c1869
Scope and Contents
Archaeological notes on Loch Sgadavagh Isle [Loch Sgadabhagh, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] including a sketch plan of the ruins there with their dimensions, noting that there is a place for the boat at the door an destimating the age [of ruins] to be two or three hundred years old. Carmichael states that the loch is named after the island of Scadabhagh which is 'low, green & flat' and notes that thick heather or eilteach grows there. He adds that there is a pillar about five feet high at Eilean-du-mor [Eilean Dubh Mòr] where the late Lord MacDonald killed his first stag and in celebration a gallon of whisky was drunk. Airi na gaoithe and Airi nan seilicheag [Airigh na Gaoithe and Airigh nan Seilicheag] are described as like an egg in shape and about fifty by twenty yards in size. 'All round this soli[d] stone shore plac[ed] in order by man'. A cromleac [cromlech] is described as comprising of a circle of rude stones and a large stone in the centre. On one of the stones in the circle is a 'natural St Andrews cross the full length of the stone - a vein of hard trapped [-]'. Lying around are other larger and smaller stones and other smaller cromlechs. Also noted is a 'Recess[ed] room for a man under a stone lying on top of other at the back of the flag cont[ainin]g the cross'. The dimensions of other stones and crosses are given and Carmichael observes that the foundations are still traceable on the top side, while on the south side are a number of airidhean or folds.
Dates
- Creation: c1869
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 64 folios ; 17 x 20.3 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 46r, line 1 to folio 46v, line 11
- Airigh na Gaoithe North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Airigh nan Seilicheag North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Archaeology
- Cromlechs
- Exports
- Geography
- Loch Sgadabhagh North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- North Uist (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Placenames
- Plants
- Standing stones
- Stones
- Tales
Subject
- MacDonald (of Sleat) (Family)
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk