Archaeologists to excavate Glen Coe 'lost townships'

National Trust for Scotland says a new project will give fresh insights into life in the glen in the 17th Century

Archaeologists are to excavate the sites of three villages in Glen Coe.

The townships of Inverigan, Achnacon and Achtriochtan vanished during the Highland Clearances.

In the 18th and early 19th century communities were moved from their homes, often in forced evictions, to make way for "land improvements".

National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which will lead the archaeological investigation, described the three settlements as "lost" and "forgotten".

In the 1690s, the individual communities were home to as many as 60 people. The sites are now covered in grass, loose stones and heather.

• Call to repopulate cleared land

• Reversing the Clearances bit by bit

• Smashed pot clue to forced eviction

Two replicas of the traditional turf houses once found in the glen are to be constructed as part of the new project.

NTS said the work would also give a "fresh insight" into the Massacre of Glencoe of 13 February 1692.

The massacre resulted in 38 men, women and children of the MacDonald Clan being slaughtered by two companies of soldiers they had welcomed into their homes.

Neil Oliver, historian and NTS president, said: "Never before has this type of work been carried out at Glen Coe,"

The trust is raising £300,000 towards the project.

Mr Oliver said the replica houses would "bring alive the sights, smells and sounds of the 17th Century".