Much archaeological work continues to be done on this area of Scotland discovering the lives of the early peoples and their transformation from hunter-gatherers to farmers (4,000-8000 years ago).
The Ardnamurchan Transitions Project has excavated many sites of interest locally and even discovered the UK’s first Viking burial boat! On Carna the trained eye can spot much evidence of early habitation and cultivation.
The north east side of the ridge is called Bac A’Mhathachaidh meaning ‘Cultivated Bank’ and shows signs of terracing and enclosure. There are around twenty five historic dwelling sites mainly around the south eastern side where the cultivated ‘in-bye’ land exists around the old township Dailachreagain with its ancient ‘head dyke’ or main drain.
A burial ground also exists here with headstones marked from 1707 to 2008. Another settlement at Achadlic on the south west corner has some cultivated fields and several ruins.
There is also recorded ‘bait holes’ on the north and south tips of the island leading some to speculate these were in fact leading lights for shipping, the main way of travel in older times.
