Condition

6
Dun, promontory enclosure
Prehistoric
4394
MWE4394
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

A fortified promontory with the remains of a dun, with an enclosing stone wall around the edge of the promontory. The promontory has been cultivated with lazy beds in the interior. From site visit on 21st March 20115, pacing of the site measured 41 paces x 33 paces across the widest width and widest length. No stone wall was visible, although it was possibly determinable through the vegetation cover. SMR no. 431 - Dun Mor: the flat grassy top of a promontory, measuring 100ft ESE to WNW and 60ft across, rising about 18ft above a hollow on the landward side, has been encircled by a stone wall, built round the edge. In 1914 the best preserved part, that towards the land, was 6ft wide and 1ft high but most of the wall was obliterated. RCAHMS 1928. As described by RCAHMS. The wall is traceable round the E and N sides, but has evidently gone over the cliff on the W and S. No obvious entrance can be seen. The interior has been cultivated and the lazy beds override the wall on the E. Visited by OS (A L F R) assistant archaeology officer, 23 April 1964. 'The monument...comprises the remains of a dun on a promontory over 30m above sea level. The site was probably fortified in the Late Iron Age and occupation may have persisted until early Mediaeval times. The area to be scheduled is irregular, measuring a maximum of 50m E-W by 50m N-S centred on the dun and following the outline of the cliffs on the N, W and E sides.' HS Scheduling Document 17 February 1992. Scheduled Monument 5366 - Dun Mor,dun,Garrabost Description The monument consists of the remains of a dun on a promontory over 30m above sea level. The site was probably fortified in the Late Iron Age and occupation may have persisted until early Mediaeval times. The dun is situated on a natural mound that drops sheer to the sea on the N and E sides. Part of the dun is encroached upon by a croft to the SE. The stone and turf wall completely enclosing the level summit of the mound has fallen over the cliff in the NW portion. There is a reasonably well preserved portion of wall along the E side: here the wall thickness is c.3.3m and the height c.0.8m. The mound rises 10m above the surrounding land. The central court of the dun is a flat area with shallow lazy-bed cultivation which cuts through the wall in the NE. The overall measurements of the enclosed summit are 35m E-W by 22m N-S. The dun can only be safely approached from the SE. The area to be scheduled is irregular, measuring a maximum of 50m E-W by 50m N-S centred on the dun and following the outline of the cliffs on the N, W and E sides, as shown in red on the accompanying map. National Importance The monument is of national importance as a site of defensive occupation which holds evidence retrievable through excavation that is potentially important to research into aspects of late Iron Age settlement and society in the Western Isles. Other Information RCAHMS records the monument as NB 53 SE 3.

Location

151462.00
933905.00
27700
58.2235489
-6.2344122

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
The surrounding cliffs 21/03/2015 The surrounding cliffs smoricebroom
The surrounding cliffs
Site 3528 from this site 21/03/2015 Site 3528 from this site smoricebroom
Site 3528 from this site
The Dun 21/03/2015 The Dun smoricebroom
The Dun

Submitted updates

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