Five small lumps of coal found on the beach at Port a’ Mhuilinn, Hynish, in 2018. They were probably washed ashore from either the ‘Regina’ or the ‘Marchioness of Lorne’, which were wrecked nearby in 1872 and 1875, respectively.
Coiled strip of bamboo bark.
Two pellets of a bird of prey found behind the old garage at Crossapol in May 2018.
Fosslised bivalve seashell in a piece of worked flint found in a sand blowout at Balephuil.
Lump of ‘sea coal’ found at Port a’ Mhuilinn, Hynish (grid ref. NL 97995 38780), from one of two shipwrecks, either the coal puffer ‘Regina’ 1872 (Canmore ID# 256038), or the cargo steam ship ‘Marchioness of Lorne’ 1875.
A small winkle shell used as a whistle by Mary MacKinnon, Parkhouse, Balephetrish, in about 1995.
Cross-section of a hawthorn tree from Glac nan Smeur / Hollow of the Brambles, on the side of Beinn Hynish, Balephuil. There are about 80 rings, suggesting that the tree is still producing new stems. Planted in 1803, it remains the oldest tree on Tiree. Hawthorn can live for 500 years.
Two samples of peat washed up on Balephetrish beach in 2017, and carbon-dated at 9474 years before present (+/- 32).
Three purple shells of the Violet Sea-snail Janthina janthina in a glass jar. Found on the beach at The Green, these shells were part of an exceptional influx of at least 50 specimens to reach Tiree in August 2017. The Violet Sea-snail is a warm-water species, and none had been previously recorded on the island.
Lump of iron ore found in Barrapol at NL 958 432, by Dr John Holliday in 2017.
