We are still waiting for the loch level to get low enough for the outer ring walls of the island to be exposed so that they can be properly surveyed and recorded.  Rains continue to be relatively heavy but we hope that the team will be able to visit later in the summer.

We have used donations to date to cover the work so far and do need donations and sponsorships to complete the Phase II and III work and progress on toward masonry consolidation and excavation.  Thank you again for all your support!

PLEASE NOTE that we have updated the What's In A Name page with information from Scottish place name experts.  We feel very confident that the island is not named for a cow and is most likely referring to a (malicious) water sprite associated with dangerous submerged rocks ... consistent with those at the south end of the island.  See What's In A Name for opinions from the experts and our interpretation.

Thank You!

Time passes so quickly and there is so little of it.

If you haven't seen the October report, please do.  This is the report prepared for Historic Scotland to summarize the work done in October 2013.  Lots of pictures of the careful, skilled removal of trees, saplings and ivy.

We are looking forward to a significant number of summer guests to the island ... and will be preparing a flyer for some key group visits.  Katherine has committed to the University of Chicago and will finish her last high-school exam (AP Calculus) tomorrow.  The summer flyer will be her next creative endeavor.

We are confirming funding for the remaining two day visit to the island for completion of the Phase II and III field work.   As you may recall, the trip was originally scheduled for April, but we need (hope) to let the loch level get low enough to allow surveying the ring walls observed in June 2012.  Our archaeologists, Fiona, Tom and David, have been very patient and flexible.  We need to fund the remaining visit and the actual "office work" of preparing drawings and reports.  Even though CMSI indicated earlier that it will sponsor the Phase III work, your donations (including those of Clan MacFarlane Worldwide and The Clan MacFarlane Australia, Inc.) have funded most of Phase II and there is still more to do.  We do appreciate all your generous donations and we do need to continue to raise Phase II funds to support our archaeologists in completing the final visits and reports. 

Do see the previous submission ..which was held in in the Drafts folder for some reason.  It reminds us of the sequence of activities and approvals necessary for preservation and excavation.   We have come a very long way.    Thank you!

(The following entry was stuck in the ether somehow for the last month or so ... now released.)
As mentioned in earlier correspondence, the path to preservation passes through several requisite steps.  In order to bolster the masonry to stabilize the castle tower,  the site has to be properly "recorded" by surveying the location, having an expert examine and creating proper drawngs of the standings structures, and combining these with map and narrative to describe the archaeologically signficant features of the site.   The site has to be stable enough that works can be performed without damage to the structures or site and removal of damaging foliage is a first step toward stabilization.  When this work is completed via Phases II and III, the resulst will inform a plan for consolidating masonry and proposals can be made for exploratory excavations.   We are moving quickly to complete Phase III ... yielding composite maps, drawings, and archaeological reports.

The October work revealed that the castle walls were in better shape than expected.  Repointing and/or consolidation of the masonry will preserve the tower for many years to come and should not be less costly than originally expected.  Historic Scotland has agreed to extend the existing Scheduled Monument Consent (approval) to permit cutting of the trees at the base of the south wall of the tower on the next trip and all data needed to complete the requisite reports should be in hand after the next visit.

The Ellan Vhow Preservation Fund will continue to promote preservation and archaeological study of the island and can provide the channels for additional projects to be peformed by other groups or can continue to sponsor projects directly.  The Fund's ties with local archaeologists and with Historic Scotland ...created through the projects enabled by your donations ... can help to ensure approval for additonal works that will preserve this important archaeological site for generations to come.

Thank you again for your support!