Condition

2
broch, midden, enclosure
Iron Age
MWE9740
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

A battered well-constructed stone wall swings in an arc of about 18m diam below the wall of the modern cemetery, which actually follows the line of this earlier wall and uses it as a foundation. Inside the cemetery at this point there is a substantial mound. We identify the wall and mound as the buried remains of a broch, situated immediately overlooking the natural dyke which forms a protected harbourage at this point on the headland. Between the broch and the edge of the dyke are the remains of a bank which curve west¬wards, and make an enclosure around the broch on this side, with a possible entrance to the west. To the north of the broch, exposed in the steep and eroding edge of the machair, is a midden. We recovered fifteen reddish-brown gritty handmade sherds, one with an applied and impressed cordon, probably of the early first millennium AD. We also found limpet shells, fragments of butchered animal bone, teeth of sheep and pig, and five fish ¬vertebra. (PL.4A,4B) 05/05/2016 ShoreUPDATE site as described.

Location

64794.00
801666.00
27700
56.9841194
-7.5205774

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
General view of the broch mound inside the cemetery 05/05/2016 General view of the broch mound inside the cemetery training1
General view of the broch mound inside the cemetery
General view of the broch mound and cemetery wall 05/05/2016 General view of the broch mound and cemetery wall training1
General view of the broch mound and cemetery wall
General view of the broch mound with cemetery wall on top 05/05/2016 General view of the broch mound with cemetery wall on top training1
General view of the broch mound with cemetery wall on top
Cemetery wall following line of broch wall 05/05/2016 Cemetery wall following line of broch wall training1
Cemetery wall following line of broch wall
Detail of midden material exposed in eroding coast edge 05/05/2016 Detail of midden material exposed in eroding coast edge training1
Detail of midden material exposed in eroding coast edge
Eroding face with broch wall and midden, cemetery wall constructed on top 05/05/2016 Eroding face with broch wall and midden, cemetery wall constructed on top training1
Eroding face with broch wall and midden, cemetery wall constructed on top

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
2623 05/05/2016 training1
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Threats none; stock erosion
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access accessible on foot (footpath)
Local knowledge is well known; has local associations/history
Description A battered well-constructed stone wall swings in an arc of about 18m diam below the wall of the modern cemetery, which actually follows the line of this earlier wall and uses it as a foundation. Inside the cemetery at this point there is a substantial mound. We identify the wall and mound as the buried remains of a broch, situated immediately overlooking the natural dyke which forms a protected harbourage at this point on the headland. Between the broch and the edge of the dyke are the remains of a bank which curve west¬wards, and make an enclosure around the broch on this side, with a possible entrance to the west. To the north of the broch, exposed in the steep and eroding edge of the machair, is a midden. We recovered fifteen reddish-brown gritty handmade sherds, one with an applied and impressed cordon, probably of the early first millennium AD. We also found limpet shells, fragments of butchered animal bone, teeth of sheep and pig, and five fish ¬vertebra. (PL.4A,4B) 05/05/2016 ShoreUPDATE site as described.
Maintain priority 2. The erosion is encroaching upon the cemetery wall immediately to the north of the broch mound, and the archaeological impact should be considered in any future work to rebuild the wall or construct a coastal defence for the cemetery.

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