Hut site in Slievemore

In rough, heather-covered upland bog, located on the lower SW-facing slope of a high ridge in NW of Achill Island. Ground rises steeply to NE, and falls away gradually to SE, levelling out to an area of worked bog. This roughly D-shaped hut (c. 3m N−S; c. 3m E−W) is enclosed by a drystone wall, which is straight on the S side, but describes a curve from the SW to NE. There is a narrow entrance gap at the E side, now partly blocked by displaced stones. The wall (Wth 0.6-0.7m at S; 0.9-1m at N; H 1.2-1.5m) is roughly built of medium-large field stones, and narrows slightly in cross-section from base to top. Sedges grow densely in the interior. Low, roughly-built walling (Wth 0.4-0.6; H 0.3m) -little more than a jumble of stones -encloses a square area (2m E−W; 2m N−S) appended to the exterior of the hut on the S side, and a small, C-shaped area (diam. 2m), defined by a setting of low, contiguous stones, is appended to W side of the hut. The appearance of this hut site suggests that it may be relatively late in date, but its exact date and function are unknown. It is possible that it is one of six small rectilinear structures or enclosures (max. dims. c. 5-15), which are shown, widely scattered (between 25-200m apart) across this area of bog, on the 1837 OS 6-inch map, but are not shown on 1921 edition. It could have served as a type of booley hut, or animal pen, or may have been built as a temporary shelter for peat cutters. Located immediately to NE of the hut, is a trapezoidal stone-built structure (MA042-048001-) (L 7.5m; H 0.3-0.6m) of uncertain function, which appears to pre-date the hut; indeed, the hut may be built from stones robbed from the trapezoidal structure. Another hut site (MA042-050----) is located c. 100m to SW. Images: MA042-048002_01.jpg: Hut site viewed from E, with small enclosed spaces appended to the outside of the hut MA042-048002_02.jpg: hute sit viewed from W Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 24 July 2017