Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 312, 7/2/2004.
Local news and events including the forthcoming study of Tiree by the Islands Energy Agency, Councillor`s View, the beached whale on Coll, the new Crofters Commission Development Officer, the Scottish Islands Network Newsletter, and news from the WRI, the school, RSPB, Tiree Development Partnership and the feis.
Colour photograph of Mary MacLean of Scarinish in 2000.
Mary MacLean of Scarinish at the Cattle Show held at Whitehouse in 2000.
Colour photograph of a stuc of oats in September 2001.
Stùc of oats grown by Hugh Archie MacCallum at Whitehouse, Cornaigbeg in September 2001.
Former crannog at Loch na Buaile near Scarinish
Photograph of the site of a crannog at Loch na Buaile near Scarinish in 2000
The people of Iron Age Tiree built houses known as crannogs which were protected by water. These may have been a defence against invaders or possibly to keep rats away from corn. The one at Loch na Buaile near Scarinish was connected to the loch side by a four metre long causeway.
The possible remains of three others have been found on Tiree at Eilean Aird nam Brathan and Eilean Mhic Conuill in Loch Bhasapol and at Loch na Gile on the Balephetrish sliabh. The site of Island House, the Tiree residence of the Duke of Argyll, may originally also have been a crannog.
Similar buildings on the mainland were built around 400 BC. Many were used in unsettled times off and on until the 17th century.
Colour photograph of the remains of a crannog in Loch na Buaile in 2000.
Remains of a crannog at Loch na Buaile near Scarinish photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Colour photograph of the dun at Gott in 2000.
The remains of Dùn Ghot photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Colour photograph of glaciation marks on rocks at Dun Mor a` Chaolais.
Marks of glaciation on rocks at Dùn Mòr a’ Chaolais photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Colour photograph of the raised beach at Kilmoluaig in 2000.
The raised beach at Kilmoluaig photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Colour photograph of Dun nan Nighean in Balephuil in 2000.
Dùn nan Nighean at Balephuil photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Photograph of Dùn nan Nighean at Balephuil in 2000
The remains of twenty-five fortresses from the Iron Age (600 BC – 400 AD) survive on Tiree. It is likely that these were unsettled times caused by a worsening of the climate, a growing population, thinning of the first farmed soils and the use of new iron weapons.
These fortresses, all now called ‘dùn’ in modern Gaelic, are either forts large enough to hold a community of 30 to 40 people, small duns made to shelter one family or brochs with double-skinned walls containing a staircase and guard cell, probably standing around 8 metres tall.
The forts and duns had simple defences and usually stood on inaccessible crags away from their accompanying farms. Tradition has it that a group of nuns was cornered at Dùn nan Nighean and slaughtered by the Vikings. There is also said to have been an escape tunnel out of the dun.
Bird records for the Isle of Tiree for January 2000 by Alan Leitch, RSPB.
The record for bird sightings in Tiree for January 2000 by Alan Leitch, RSPB.
