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Soilsean is a deserted township and hut circle located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. The settlement lies upon bedrock of the Moine Supergroup, ancient metamorphic rocks formed during the Neoproterozoic era and comprising gneissose psammite and gneissose semipelite. This geology would have presented both challenges and resources to its inhabitants, offering stone suitable for building whilst the underlying bedrock influenced drainage and soil conditions across the site.
The hut circle and associated township structures represent a form of rural settlement typical of the Scottish Highlands, where dispersed communities maintained small clusters of dwellings rather than nucleated villages. The circular or sub-circular form of individual huts reflects building practices suited to the upland environment, with stone foundations providing stability in exposed terrain.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11806, recognising its significance as evidence of historical settlement patterns and land use in the Highlands. Such deserted townships document the changing geography of human habitation in Scotland, often abandoned as agricultural practices evolved and populations shifted to more accessible locations during later periods.
Soilsean, deserted township and hut circle 745m ESE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11806. View the official record →
Soilsean is a deserted township and hut circle located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11806.
Soilsean, deserted township and hut circle 745m ESE of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM11806.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Drumbain Cottage, hut circles 725m, 845m and 975m ESE of (0.9 km), Woodend, cairn 760m NW of (3 km), Edinchat, cairn 415m NNW of (3.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Soilsean, deserted township and hut circle 745m ESE of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Soilsean, deserted township and hut circle 745m ESE of stands on Moine Supergroup, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is gneissose psammite and gneissose semipelite.