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.
Round grey basalt cobble from Happy Valley, Hynish.
Sea ball found on Balephetrish beach by Ulrike Rawson, Balephetrish. Sea balls are formed when marram grass and other natural marine fibres are rolled into a tight ball by wave action. Today, they often form around sea rubbish like discarded fishing line fragments.
Bag of 6 iron-rich rock fragments collected from Barrapol in 2015.
Flat grey piece of sandstone glacial drift found in Barrapol in 2015. It was originally proposed as a limpet hammer, but Dr Fraser Hunter and Ann Clarke have said this was not the case.
Cardboard box (‘spiced beef and tongue’) containing two lumps of hardened yellowish-brown wax found in Mannal House. Probably whale blubber, which would have had various domestic and croft uses, e.g. preservation of leather harness.
Piece of gneiss rock
Large piece of Lewisian gneiss rock from Balephuil, with intrusions of feldspar (grey crystals) and black mica.
Coconut
Whole coconut found on the shore at Hynish by Alec Hector MacDonald in winter 2009/2010 and given to John Bowler. Coconuts drift up the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean and occasionally wash up on Tiree`s shores after westerly gales.
Lumps of Tiree peat
Three lumps of peat collected from the bank of Amhainn Bhan, Balevullin, in 2012. Only a small amount of peat was ever present on Tiree, and all the useful cuttings were exhausted decades ago. These pieces are very rare examples.
