Archaeology of Glen Coe

First People

Humans arrived in Glen Coe around 6,000 BC, as the last ice retreated and forests colonised the valley. These Mesolithic hunter-gatherers left few traces — flint tools, shell middens along the coast — but they were the first to look up at the mountains and call this place home.

By the Neolithic period (4,000–2,500 BC), people were farming the lower slopes, clearing forest, and building the first permanent settlements. The fertile ground at the mouth of the glen, where the River Coe meets Loch Leven, has been continuously inhabited for millennia.

Bronze & Iron Age

The surrounding area has several Bronze Age cairns and standing stones, evidence of a culture that marked the landscape with ritual monuments. The mild, sheltered areas around Ballachulish and the western end of the glen were the main centres of population.

The Ballachulish Figure, discovered in 1880 during peat cutting, is one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in Scotland — a life-sized carved female figure in alder wood, dating to around 600 BC. She was found lying face-down in a pit under wicker, possibly a goddess figure. The original is in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh; a replica stands near the discovery site.

Medieval Clachans

By the medieval period, the glen was dotted with clachans — small clusters of stone and turf houses, each housing an extended family group. These were the settlements of Clan MacDonald.

Archaeological surveys have identified several clachan sites in the glen:

• Carnoch: The chief's settlement at the western end of the glen. MacIain's house stood here — it was burnt in the 1692 massacre.
• Inverigan: A cluster of houses on the south side of the river. Nine men were bound and shot here during the massacre. The ruins of their homes are still visible.
• Achnacon: Another MacDonald settlement midway along the glen. Remains of turf walls survive in the field systems.
• Achtriochtan: Near the loch of the same name. The settlement was abandoned after the massacre but traces remain in the landscape.

The Signal Rock

Above the Clachaig Inn stands the Signal Rock (Tom a' Ghrianain), traditionally said to be the hillock where beacon fires were lit to summon the clan in times of danger. While the romantic tradition may exaggerate its role, it is certainly an ancient gathering place with commanding views along the glen.

A short waymarked walk from the Clachaig car park leads through beautiful oak woodland to the rock — well worth the 20-minute detour.

Visiting

The NTS Glencoe Visitor Centre has displays on the glen's archaeological heritage. For the Ballachulish Figure, visit the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh (free entry). The massacre sites at Inverigan and Carnoch can be visited on foot from Glencoe village.