The remains were found on trust land in Glen Coe. Photo: NTS
Experts believe they may have found the remains of a building with links to a notorious Highland bloodbath in one of Scotland’s most popular walking and climbing glens.
Archaeologists from the National Trust for Scotland will carry out a survey of the turf house ruins that could be connected with the Massacre of Glencoe.
The remnants of the building, thought to date from the 17th century, were discovered on trust land at Achtriochtan, near the loch at the western end of the valley, in the shadow of Aonach Dubh.
On 13 February 1692, in the wake of the Jacobite uprising, 38 member of the MacDonald clan were murdered by soldiers under the command of a Clan Campbell member who had been enjoying the hospitality of the Glen Coe-based MacDonalds.
The survey will start within days of the 324th anniversary of the dark date in Scottish history.
The NTS said the turf house was found at Achtriochtan during a routine inspection of other archaeological sites in the area. It said the remains are quite difficult to see as all that survives is a low, spread, earthen bank defining the roughly rectangular outline of a building.
The trust’s head of archaeology Derek Alexander said: “We were very excited to discover these remains.
“Most of the archaeological sites in the glen are stone-built structures, likely to date to after the agricultural changes of the mid-18th or 19th century. Prior to then, most buildings would have been built of turf, perhaps with one or two stones included in the base of the wall.
“It is impossible to provide a precise date for the Achtriochtan structure from their surface remains alone but by carrying out a detailed drawing of the site and undertaking a comprehensive photographic record we will provide a basis for any future research.”
The conservation charity has owned the site, along with large areas across Glen Coe and Dalness since the 1930s.
Glen Coe is a magnet for walkers and climbers both in winter and other seasons, with the Aonach Eagach ridge enclosing its northern side, the Three Sisters framing the South and Buachaille Etive Mòr welcoming visitors at its eastern opening. The glen has eight munros.
