Finlaggan, settlement, burial ground and assembly site, Islay

Scheduled area

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History & significance

Finlaggan is a settlement, burial ground and assembly site located on the island of Islay in Argyllshire, Scotland. The site comprises two islands within a freshwater loch and served as a significant political and administrative centre, particularly during the medieval period when it functioned as the seat of the Lords of the Isles. Archaeological evidence indicates occupation spanning several centuries, with the site containing the remains of domestic structures, defensive works, and burial grounds that reflect its importance as a focal point for the Hebridean lordship. The physical remains visible today include fragmentary stone structures and an arrangement of islands that would have been naturally defensible, making it strategically valuable as a centre of power and governance in the western Scottish Isles.

Finlaggan, settlement, burial ground and assembly site, Islay is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2325. View the official record →

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