New interpretation of Eigg cross-slab hints at heightened status for Eigg in Dark Ages Pictland.
When the Royal Commission survey discovered linear groups of Pictish style square –kerbed barrows on the flat area of land below Laig farm, this made Eigg an important site on the Western marches of Pictland, a kingdom based in Eastern Scotland. That there was a secular elite on the island is now confirmed by a new interpretation of one of the six carved stones of Early Medieval date which have been found at Kildonan and are now on display at the Lodge.
This particular slab of pink sandstone presents one face with ringed cross and key patterns in raised relief on one face and a hunting scene on the other. The hunting scene runs down vertically, an orientation not typical of representative scenes on Early-Christian cross slabs. This anomalous orientation of the hunting scene suggests that the slab originally had another use, for a type of shrine structure when the orientation was horizontal.The slab would have then been re-used later in the 9th century for an upright cross-slab, probably taking advantage of the plain dressed surface which would have been the inside surface of the shrine.
Shrines generally held relics of holy people, saints or saintly rulers. The occurrence of a composite shrine on Eigg matches the high status which the monastic foundation established from Iona after Donnan’s death secured in Early medieval times when it came under Royal patronage. A few centuries later it was still important enough to be the site where Ranald became 2nd Lord of the Isles in 1328, in the presence of the Bishop of the Isles and seven priests.
Camille Dressler |
New Pier
Well the day finally arrived when the Loch Nevis was able to berth directly on Eigg. Officially she started operating to the New Pier on the 2nd April but had in fact been using the pier for some weeks prior. Now when you arrive on Eigg you are no longer greeted by the cheery faces of the flit boat crew instead those same friendly faces usher you ashore directly from the warm confines of the Loch Nevis.
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Dugald MacKinnon 10/9/1912 –28/10/2003 With the passing of Dugald MacKinnon in October 2003, it is yet another huge part of Eigg history that has gone, for the island’s oldest resident was also one of its most colourful characters, full of wit and good humour. Dugald was the archetypal islander, resourceful, inventive and enterprising, witty and hospitable, willing to help anyone. From a life spanning the 20th century and a tradition spanning centuries, he had accumulated a store of memories and stories which made every visit to his house a pleasurable and entertaining experience.
Born in Bayview, Cleadale, in a family of 7 children, he briefly worked as a rabbit trapper in his teens before a spell on the mainland, doing farmwork in Kintyre and Mull, working as a ferryman in Gigha. He came back to Eigg in 1939, after narrowly escaping septicaemia in 1938, with a store of anecdotes about the Mitford sisters who were in hiding on Mull for their association with Nazi politics. Dugald started to work as the island ferryman in 1941. Thus for 38 years, it became part of the Eigg visitor’s experience to be ferried to the pier by Dugald and across the island on one of his many vehicles.
Dugald was the first islander to possess a motor vehicle, the famous “chicken coop,” an assortment of parts made up of an old army lorry and a car bought in Morar, in which he started the school run from 1947 onwards and the weekly trip to the shop every Friday afternoon for the crofters’ wives.
Dugald also worked on the island road, installed Calor gas in all the croft houses and as the island’s first telephone engineer, he recalled having to endure many operators’ jokes about omelettes and hard boiled eggs!
Dugald married Katie MacKinnon in 1944 and settled to married life in Bayview where they raised 5 of a family. Their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1994 was an occasion greatly enjoyed by all. This year would have seen them celebrating their Diamond anniversary, but sadly this was not to be.
Camille Dresser |
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WILDLIFE REPORT – by John Chester SWT warden
After a truly lovely Autumn with calm sunny weather lasting throughout September and October it was probably inevitable that the Winter which followed would be one of the wettest and most miserable on record. Rain fell literally almost non-stop from the beginning of November until the end of January while late February brought the heaviest snow for many years to the Island.
One effect of the long hot Autumn was some incredibly late flowering of some plant species. Most exceptional records included the normally Spring flowering Pyramidal Bugle on September 17th and Common Centaury still in full bloom in early November. Indeed hardly had the Autumn flowers disappeared when the first Spring species began to pop up with the first Primrose seen on January 23rd.
Most worrying botanical aspect is the continuing disease amongst the Islands Aspens with many clumps now dying off. An expert from the Forestry Authority will be sought to give guidance on this problem in the Spring.
As usual the surrounding seas were quiet throughout the Winter period though there were a good number of Basking Shark sightings during the late Summer/Autumn. Less dramatically an initial study of the Islands seashore life was completed in the Autumn and a list of species found produced. This study will be enlarged on over the coming Summer.
Autumn bird migration was better than for some years with good numbers of Fieldfares, a moderate passage of Redwings and a few Blackcaps and Bramblings recorded. More exciting records included two sightings of Common Scoter, an exceptional record of Grey Phalarope ( only the 2nd Island record), a Stock Dove, a Turtle Dove (both appearing for the first time since 1994) and that local rarity a House Sparrow!
Winter was inevitably much quieter but did produce the odd “flyover” Whooper Swan and Barnacle Goose, a roost of up to 5 Hen Harriers, 4 Jack Snipe, large numbers of Woodcock and at least 4 Long Eared Owls. |
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In memory of Brigg
I would like to offer my heart felt thanks to the special friends, family and people that have been involved in Mia and my own lives since the loss of Brigg a year ago.
I felt that I had to start the many years to come, by making the 25th of January a day to remember Brigg not in a dark cloud but a cloud full of laughter, as he lived his life to the full at all times and always seemed to achieve what he wanted to do for the time and moment.
The first challenge for the day was to meet for 12noonish at Gamekeepers to have coffee and drams to gather strength for the task ahead. Many folk appeared from different directions and connections, slightly baffled about what was going on and wandering, “who’s idea was this anyway”?
Pascal Carr, very kindly made a gorgeous bench at extreme short notice, after some quick thinking and careful planning we agreed upon a practical bench made out of Douglas Fir, to withstand extreme weather conditions, with the extra twist to be very chunky and heavy! It was then carried up the mud track to Loch nam Ban Mora, to sit where Brigg spent lots of his time thinking and fishing! The whole day was an emotional struggle but a huge release of sadness replaced by a lot of laughter this only brought to me by the |
amount of people coming together feeling the emotion and generating incredible strength to achieve what would have been thought of as an impossible task but that’s the strength that Brigg gave all of us at some point through his bubbly sense of humour and he had the last laugh by the general palavas of the day!
The real thanks has to go to Eigg itself as, being part of a community like this with people all around to assist and support me in different ways needed, takes a huge part of the underlying stress away to now feel the courage, strength and energy needed to look to the future.
Cheers Tasha & Mia |
EVENTS Geology and Landscape in the Inner Hebrides14th to 21st August 2004Tutor: Professor John Hudson Cost £315 phone 01687 482417 or email simon@glebebarn.co.uk
Basket in a day & Pole lathe woodturning workshops Available throughout the summer please contact Catherine or Pascal phone 01687 482482 or email pascal@24thornhill.freeserve.co.uk
Eigg Feis Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th July Contact Camille on 01687 482410
T-SHIRTS
There are some T-shirts remaining of varying sizes and hopefully a new order with all new colours will be arriving soon. Please call Maggie on 01687 482486 or email her at maggiefyffe@islefeigg.org for details. |
