Condition

6
House
Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age
Shetland

Description

A very well preserved prehistoric house occupies a small terrace, immediately overlooking the cliff edge. It lies some 100m to the SW of LN27, is aligned NE-SW and has a seaward (SE) facing entrance. It is sub-circular in plan and measures 10m wide by 8m long. The retaining earthen and stone bank stands up to 1.75m high in places. The exterior of the bank has stone revetting around the entrance. The interior face has a coursed stone revetment which stands 1m above the level of the floor. The interior is sub-divided into five recesses or cells by means of piers of walling which project from the inner wall face. The piers stand to 0.5m high above the level of the floor, and may be more substantial since the original floor surface lies beneath quantities of collapsed walling and turf. Some of the piers are formed from coursed blocks; all have flat slabs at their terminals. The piers are tied into the inner wall face. The alcoves measure, on average 1.54m long by 1.32m deep. The enclosing bank in the entrance area is wider than elsewhere and may have been buttressed at some time after the initial construction. Outside the entrance, two rows of stones run seaward from the house to the edge of the cliff. They appear to be the remains of walling and to mark out a small enclosure. They extend for about 10m, up to the cliff edge; beyond this point the land slopes for about 25m down to the sea. To the SW side of the exterior, a series of small walls extend from the house to a nearby rock outcrop. They appear to form a series of small enclosures or store areas. This site appears to be of Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age type and may be of later date than house LN27. This site is of high archaeological potential; it is very well preserved and does not appear to have been disturbed since its abandonment. It requires further survey. 24 May 2015 As described. No threat of erosion.

Location

451877.00
1172256.00
27700
60.4308052
-1.0594833

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Wheelhouse with adjoining structure/enclosure on the right (north side), looking SW 24/05/2015 Wheelhouse with adjoining structure/enclosure on the right (north side), looking SW training1
Wheelhouse with adjoining structure/enclosure on the right (north side), looking SW
Closer view, wheelhouse and adjoining structure, looking SW 24/05/2015 Closer view, wheelhouse and adjoining structure, looking SW training1
Closer view, wheelhouse and adjoining structure, looking SW
Detail of internal pier, looking W 24/05/2015 Detail of internal pier, looking W training1
Detail of internal pier, looking W
Detiail of possible stone 'box bed', looking W 24/05/2015 Detiail of possible stone 'box bed', looking W training1
Detiail of possible stone 'box bed', looking W

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