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Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha is a settlement located at Mealista in Ross-shire, Scotland. The site occupies ground underlain by a Palaeoproterozoic felsic igneous intrusion, bedrock of considerable geological age that has shaped the landscape and drainage patterns of this Highland locality. The settlement's position on this ancient igneous foundation reflects the longstanding human occupation of Ross-shire's interior settlements.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5712, recognising its archaeological and historical significance. Settlements of this type in the Scottish Highlands typically represent domestic occupation from the medieval or early modern period, though individual histories vary considerably. The name, Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha, preserves a Gaelic designation reflecting the linguistic heritage of the region.
The site represents an important record of rural settlement patterns in Ross-shire. As part of the broader archaeological record of Highland communities, it contributes to understanding how people used and adapted to the terrain and resources of these upland areas over successive generations. The monument's legal protection ensures its preservation as evidence of Scotland's settlement history.
Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha,settlement,Mealista is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5712. View the official record →
Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha is a settlement located at Mealista in Ross-shire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5712.
Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha,settlement,Mealista 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 SM5712.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Aird Sleitenish,stone circle (5.9 km), Stac Dhomnuill Chaim, fortified promontory, Mangersta (7.5 km), Gearraidh na h-Airde Moire,shielings,Loch Resort (8.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha,settlement,Mealista'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.
Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha,settlement,Mealista stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Palaeoproterozoic, bedrock that formed in the Paleoproterozoic. The rock here is felsic-rock.