Colonsay

Colonsay ( Scottish Gaelic: Colbhasa ) is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland. It is located about 15 miles south of the Isle of Mull and is inhabited by about 100 people. Colonsay has been inhabited since 7000 BC ( Mesolithic ). Capital is Scalasaig on the east coast, with the ferry terminal.

History

Mesolithic period (7000-3800 BC)

The earliest settlement of the initially constant interconnected islands of Colonsay and Oronsay takes place about 7000 BC by the arrival of hunters. The 1879-1884 excavations were carried out by Kökkenmöddingern rendered next shell material bone and stone tools. The Kökkenmöddinger had diameters of 25 and 30 meters and were 2.5 and 3.5 m high. Your layered deposits consist mainly of the shells of the limpet ( Patella vulgata ) and quicksand. Oronsay was extensively explored in the recent past, so that was a chronological basis. The data show an intense exploitation of island resources from the mid-5th BC show to the middle of the 4th millennium Excavations either accumulations of intact shells or predominantly fragmented shells mixed with municipal waste. The modern excavation techniques, the importance was discovered that fish for the societies had, especially pollock.

Neolithic period (3800-2000 BC)

In the early 4th millennium BC, there was a settlement on the basis of agriculture. On Colonsay and Oronsay but no settlements or large Bestattungsbauten have yet been found from the Neolithic period. However, a small number of surface finds such as axes and leaf-shaped arrowheads of flint are evidence of the presence of Neolithic learning.

Bronze Age (2500-600 BC)

Among the archaeologically proven squares that arise from BC to the 3rd millennium BC to the middle of the first millennium, including Cairns, stone cists and menhirs and field systems. The data from the older excavations are published imperfect and the majority of the finds was lost. Two of the Cairns probably contained central stone boxes. Some are related to a Late Bronze Age, perhaps even younger group. The found in a stone box decorated stone could not be dated. In addition, there are standing stones Cup - marks at the entrance of the cave of Uamh na mine at the Kiloran Bay. The islands have a number of difficult to dating Direction huts and field systems. Most of them are associated with Bronze Age settlements. A small number may belong to earlier or later periods. The free-standing round huts have inner diameters of between five and eight meters; many found in the highlands. Your usually made of earth and stone walls are between 1.5 m and 2.5 m thick. The majority are simple rotunda, but several show bulges reminiscent of the younger domes of the Hebrides. No field system has survived in its entirety. However, there are extensive fragments. The smaller plots apparently served as agriculture, during the enclosure in connection with the livestock are.

Iron Age ( 600 BC - 400 AD)

The Iron Age Colonsay and Oronsay systems to include in the categories of attachment and Dun. Although the categories are divided by the archaeological tradition, there are no cultural or functional differences. The Monuments of Scotland were placed in the Atlantic context and assigned to the period between the 1st millennium BC and the first five centuries AD. The builders were part of a group that is referred to in classical sources as Ebudae or Ebudes. A loose contact of the companies with the Romanized provinces in the south can be made using individual ceramic finds. Colonsay has compared with areas of similar size in Argyll has a high density. There are eight fortified places on Colonsay and Oronsay on one. Dun Cholla, Domhnuill Dun, Dun Eibhinn, Dun Dun and Gallain Meadhonach are large facilities with massive walls, while Dun Uragaig and Meall Lamalum are much smaller. Their function is difficult to estimate, because plants of this type have not yet been excavated. However, it is questionable whether these structures have worked in the same way as the larger ones. More symbolically separates a low wall from the steep promontory of Dun Tealtaig and forms a Promontory Fort Several Duns contain round or irregularly shaped house foundations. A cut in the bedrock in Dun Domhnuill basin has its counterpart in the early historic fortress Dunadd. There it is connected with the dedication of the members of the dynasty of Dalriada.

Early Christian Period

By the middle of the first millennium AD settlers from County Antrim in Ireland were to Colonsay and Oronsay. The known as Scotti clan founded on both sides of the Irish Sea, the Kingdom of Dalriada. The surviving archaeological evidence related to the activities of the early Christian Church. The most remarkable object is the cross of Riasg Buidhe. Cross slab in a funeral at the indicated Kiloran Bay Christian influence on the Norse settlers in the last quarter of the 9th century.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, the islands are located in the territory of the MacDonald's. The Macduffies or MacFies received the islands of the crown in 1493, after the extinction of the MacDonalds. Malcolm MacDuffie 's name, with the title Lord of Dunevin on Colonsay, can be found on a grave stone of the early 16th century on Iona. In the 17th century the islands were part of the county of Argyll. In 1701 she sold the 10th Earl of Argyll to the McNeill that they had about various branches of the family until 1904.

Modern Times

In 1901, 322 residents were still counted on the island.

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