Inchnadamph

Inchnadamph is a hamlet in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name "Innis nan Damh" meaning 'meadow of the stags'. [cite web| url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesf-J.pdf| title=Placenames| author=Iain Mac an Tailleir| publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba| accessdate=2007-09-08] Assynt is a remote area with a low population density and Inchnadamph contains a few houses, a lodge and a hotel.

History

The 'Bone Caves' of Inchnadamph contain relics of Eurasian Lynx, Brown Bear, Arctic Fox, Reindeer (dated to as long ago as 47,000 BP), the only evidence of Polar Bears so far found in Scotland, and human skeletons dated to the 3rd millennium BC. [McKenzie, Steven (10 December 2007) [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7279462.stm New tests on rare polar bear find"] Retrieved 29 July 2008. The original supposition was that this was the remains of a Cave Bear.] Murray, W.H. (1977) "The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland." London. Collins. Murray states the skeletons were dated to 6000 BC.] [ [http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/designatedareas/nnrs/Inchnadamph/Inchnadamph.asp "Inchnadamph Bone Caves "] SNH Retrieved 29 July 2008. This source and McKenzie (2007) mentions dates of 4515 and 4720 BP for the human remains.] The skeleton of a bear thought to be 11,000 years old or more was removed from the caves in 2008. The bones had originally been found by cavers in 1995 deep within the "Uammh an Claonaite" system and will now be examined by the National Museums Scotland, who hope to determine the age and species. It is presumed the animal died whilst hibernating and that its body was later washed further into the underground network. [Restan, Sue (29 July 2008) "Bear skeleton finally taken from cave in Sutherland". Aberdeen. "The Press and Journal".]

The ruins of Ardvreck Castle lie nearby on the shores of Loch Assynt. The castle was badly damaged in a thunderstorm in 1795. The Old Parish Church of Assynt is located in the village and pieces of an old Celtic cross have been found, dating from the 8th to the 11th century. [cite web| url=http://www.scotlandindex.net/inchnadamph/inchnadamph.htm|title= Inchnadamph Area List| publisher=Scotlandindex.net|accessdate=2007-09-08]

Geology

The Moine Thrust runs through the area and the Inchnadamph Hotel is a mecca for geologists. Nearby there is a monument to the work of Ben Peach and John Horne whose work was crucial in the understanding of this, the first thrust fault to be discovered anywhere in the world. The monument's inscription reads: "To Ben N Peach and John Horne who played the foremost part in unravelling the geological structure of the North West Highlands 1883-1897. An international tribute. Erected 1980". The hotel retains a copy of the guest book signed by many prominent geologists of the day who visited during the 1912 British Association for the Advancement of Science excursion to Assynt. [Dryburgh, P.M. "et al" (1995) "Assynt: The Geologists' Mecca". Edinburgh Geological Society.] infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Inchnadamph
gaelic_name= Innis nan Damh
population =
os_grid_reference=
latitude=58.15
longitude=-4.98
unitary_scotland= Highland
lieutenancy_scotland= Sutherland
constituency_westminster= Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
constituency_scottish_parliament= Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency in the Highlands and Islands electoral region
post_town= LAIRG
postcode_district = IV27
postcode_area= IV
dial_code= 01571

ee also

* Knockan Crag
* Geology of Scotland
* North West Highlands Geopark

References