Condition

6
DUN
Iron Age
10306
MWE10306
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

The remains of a dun situated on a rocky point at Eilean an Dunain, Berneray, was recorded in 1914 by the RCAHMS. It was surrounded at high water and consisted of a mass of large stones spread over a roughly circular space c.20m in diameter. A line of walling was traceable in the interior c.6m from the southwest edge, forming a slight curve for c.6m from west-north-west and east-south-east. On the southwest edge of the tumbled stones there was a short section of the wall of a circular building. This site was still visible in 1965 when the OS visited, and it was described as a probable Atlantic roundhouse. The site was as previously described when it was visited during the current survey. ShoreUPDATE 27/02/2016 In general the site was found as described in 1914, though the mass of tumbled stone would make it difficult today to be certain as to its origins (see image 4). It isn't possible to match the remains to the OS description from 1965 'a turf covered circular mound 11m dia and 1.3m high'. Either this formed between 1914-65 and has disappeared since, or the surveyors were actually looking at Eilean an Dunain itself some 50m to the NW, the S end of which does more resemble that description. See Location Plan in images. Three features were noted A - C, see aerial plan view - image 1. Feature A may be the curved line of walling described in 1914, though it is almost impossible to identify on the ground (see image 3). Feature B seems to be a short length of boulder wall orientated N-S c. 3m long and 1-1.5m high (see image 4) and sited on the W side of a small cleared space. At ground level in a number of small areas clear of boulders near the site centre are what may be some embedded flat stone slabs (eg C). A small fragment of pottery was found amongst tide washed debris near the site centre.

Location

89560.00
879970.00
27700
57.7019348
-7.2133632

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Possible mortar or quernstone 27/02/2016 Possible mortar or quernstone training1
Possible mortar or quernstone
Tumbled stone marking site of dun 27/02/2016 Tumbled stone marking site of dun training1
Tumbled stone marking site of dun
General view of site 27/02/2016 General view of site training1
General view of site
Image 4 27/02/2016 Image 4 DavidNewman
Image 4
Image 3 27/02/2016 Image 3 DavidNewman
Image 3
Image 2 27/02/2016 Image 2 DavidNewman
Image 2
Image 1 27/02/2016 Image 1 DavidNewman
Image 1
Location Plan 27/02/2016 Location Plan DavidNewman
Location Plan

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
2494 27/02/2016 DavidNewman
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section Not visible
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge has local associations/history
Description The remains of a dun situated on a rocky point at Eilean an Dunain, Berneray, was recorded in 1914 by the RCAHMS. It was surrounded at high water and consisted of a mass of large stones spread over a roughly circular space c.20m in diameter. A line of walling was traceable in the interior c.6m from the southwest edge, forming a slight curve for c.6m from west-north-west and east-south-east. On the southwest edge of the tumbled stones there was a short section of the wall of a circular building. This site was still visible in 1965 when the OS visited, and it was described as a probable Atlantic roundhouse. The site was as previously described when it was visited during the current survey. ShoreUPDATE 27/02/2016 In general the site was found as described in 1914, though the mass of tumbled stone would make it difficult today to be certain as to its origins (see image 4). It isn't possible to match the remains to the OS description from 1965 'a turf covered circular mound 11m dia and 1.3m high'. Either this formed between 1914-65 and has disappeared since, or the surveyors were actually looking at Eilean an Dunain itself some 50m to the NW, the S end of which does more resemble that description. See Location Plan in images. Three features were noted A - C, see aerial plan view - image 1. Feature A may be the curved line of walling described in 1914, though it is almost impossible to identify on the ground (see image 3). Feature B seems to be a short length of boulder wall orientated N-S c. 3m long and 1-1.5m high (see image 4) and sited on the W side of a small cleared space. At ground level in a number of small areas clear of boulders near the site centre are what may be some embedded flat stone slabs (eg C). A small fragment of pottery was found amongst tide washed debris near the site centre.
None. Remove from priorities as archaeological potential of site has been severely compromised by erosion; little to no intact sediment survives.

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