Hazelnuts
Three whole hazelnuts and three shelled hazelnuts. Hazel trees grew on Tiree in Mesolithic times and the nuts were a rich source of food. There are several hazels growing on the Balephuil sliabh today.
2012.80.1
Leave a Reply
Object Type: natural object
2012.81.1
Limpet shells
Three large and two small limpet shells. Limpets were a staple food on Tiree until the end of the 19th century. They can be eaten raw, like oysters, or cooked. They are boiled and then the muscle is cut off and fried in butter.
2011.89.2
Two pieces of serpentine rock
Two pieces of green serpentine rock from Am Fang Dubh, Kenavara. Collected in 2011.
2011.45.2
Chipped flint nodule
Flint nodules washed up on Balephuil beach from a source in the Irish Sea. The west coast of Tiree is one of the few places in the Inner Hebrides where flint can be found. The chipped piece demonstrates how sharp the edges can be.
2011.26.1
Bowl of white sand from Balevullin beach.
Bowl of sand from An Tràigh Bhàn, `the white beach`, Balevullin, 2009. The sand on Tiree beaches comes mainly from crushed shells, which makes it very white. The purple fragements are crushed mussel shells.
2010.45.1
Piece of pink marble from Balephetrish quarry
Piece of chipped pink marble from Balephetrish quarry. Matches description on board of permanent exhibition.
2009.84.1
Flint cobble
Round white flint rock from Balevullin beach. Chipped to show grey flint interior.
2009.53.1
Tiree red-green marble
Round cobble of Tiree red-green marble from the shore.
2009.53.2
Piece of gneiss rock from Ben Hynish.
Piece of gneiss rock from Ben Hynish. Note the banding and lichen patterns.
2009.53.3
Stone containing fossils
Stone containing fossil ammonites and other shells. May have come from Skye as there are no rocks like this on Tiree. Found by Ulrike Rawson on Balephetrish beach.