21 small pieces of bog iron iron found by Dr John Holliday at Pàirc na Coille, Balephuil, in 2021. Bog iron ore occurs naturally in wet ground associated with sand. It was refined and used by Iron Age settlers to make tools etc.
Lump of iron ore found in Barrapol at NL 958 432, by Dr John Holliday in 2017.
Six pottery sherds and a fish vertebra, thought to be Iron Age, dug from a midden in a sand dune near Kilkenneth Chapel in April 2017. See accompanying report with photographs: 2017.49.2
Book extract ‘The Kingdom of the Isles’ by David Caldwell, 2014. An overview of the sea kingdom of the western isles of Scotland and its links with the Isle of Man, from which it was ruled during the Medieval period. Topics covered include the extent and influence of the kingdom of the isles, administrators, castles, the church, economy, mercenary services, art and architecture.
Book extract ‘The Sea Power of the Western Isles of Scotland in the late Medieval Period’ by David Caldwell, 2015, about the struggle for domination of the isles between Somerled and the Kings of the Isles based on the Isle of Man, during the 14th and 15th centuries. Topics covered are the ships, galleys and birlinns used to patrol the islands, the extent of the island kingdom, the warriors, and the social, legal and political management of the kingdom.
Notes titled ‘A Tyrannical and Tiresome Tirade on Tiree by a Tired Retiree’ on the Medieval history and archaeology of Tiree by David Caldwell, casting doubt on the popular view that Tiree (along with Mull and Islay) was ruled by Somerled and his descendents to the exclusion of the dynasty of kings. David Caldwell, retired Keeper of Medieval Department at the National Museum of Scotland, gave a talk on the subject during a visit to Tiree in April 2016.
Photocopy of an academic paper ‘Brochs and the Hebridean Iron Age’ by Euan W. MacKie published in the journal Antiquity XXXIV, 1965. Includes section on Dùn Mor Vaul.
Fragment of pottery from a collection of objects found by George Holleyman at Balevullin in 1941-43. Identified by Dr Colleen Batey on 21/10/2016 as being late Norse ‘gritty ware’ from the east coast in the 12-13th centuries.
Wooden case (550 x 325 mm) containing approximately 200 small bronze objects and eight worked flints collected by George Holleyman from a sand-hill site at Balevullin during 1941-3.
