A new web site has been created to showcase one of Scotland's most significant cultural and archaeological sites on the world wide web.

Loch Finlaggan, on the Isle of Islay, contains three islands on which lie the remains of buildings dating back to medieval times when Finlaggan was the centre of the realm of the Lord of the Isles.

It was from Finlaggan that Clan Donald ruled over the Scottish western seaboard for over 200 years and, for a period, large areas of the mainland. Recent archaeological excavations have shown that a stronghold was built on one of the islands, Eilean nan Comhairle, during the Iron Age.

The Finlaggan Trust, set up in 1982, maintains the Lords of the Isles Heritage site, and has created the new web site with £5,538 assistance from Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE) - 50 per cent of the total cost of computer equipment and website construction.

Around 3,500 people each year go to the Finlaggan visitor centre, which is voluntarily manned. However, this important part of Scottish history remains largely unknown to the outside world, which is why the trust decided a new website was needed

The Finlaggan website www.finlaggan.com contains information on the historical significance of the Lords of the Isles as well as details and photographs of the artefacts uncovered during a series of three-week archaeological digs conducted each summer from 1990-95.

The most powerful device on the website, however, is the newly-created Islay Cultural Database, which has been created by Dr David Caldwell of the National Museums of Scotland, who managed the archaeological digs, with considerable input from Nigel Ruckley, Roger McWee and his brother Gordon and also from the Museum of Islay Life.

The database contains genealogical records covering the 18th and 19th centuries as well as some earlier references. There are 6,000 Islay place names, complete with variants and Gaelic translations. The cost of accessing the database ranges from £2.50 for 10 individual search results to £500 for a year's research for up to 30 users.

The Finlaggan Trust committee aims to create a regular income stream through the database facility in order to reduce the need for resources of funding bodies from both the public and private sectors.

John Cameron, chairman of the trust committee during the process of the web site construction, expressed appreciation regarding the involvement of AIE.

He said: "We are very grateful to AIE, not only for the financial assistance but for the provision of guidance and expertise on this and other projects over the years."

Ken Abernethy, chief executive of AIE said: "The Lords of the Isles made Finlaggan the centre of influence for the western seaboard in the formative years of the Scottish nation. AIE is delighted to have been of assistance to those whose hard work and commitment has brought this valuable project to life, raising the awareness of, and giving access to, this important phase in the nation's history."