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Latitude: 58.5035 / 58°30'12"N
Longitude: -6.232 / 6°13'55"W
OS Eastings: 153563
OS Northings: 965022
OS Grid: NB535650
Mapcode National: GBR C607.SB1
Mapcode Global: WGY1P.7JMJ
Entry Name: Dun Eistean,fort and dun
Scheduled Date: 19 March 1992
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM5356
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; Secular: enclosure
Location: Barvas
County: Na h-Eileanan Siar
Electoral Ward: An Taobh Siar agus Nis
Traditional County: Ross-shire
The monument consists of a fortified settlement, probably occupied during the Iron Age and later periods.
It is situated on a flat-topped island, separated from the mainland by a deep ravine. The island measures approximately 100m E-W by 60m N-S. The ravine is about 12m wide. Along the edge of the island are the remains of a strong wall (1.8m wide, surviving to 0.5m high). There were supposedly loop-holes through this wall. In the NE corner
of the island are the ruins of a dun, sometimes called, "Tigh nan Arm" (the House of Arms). It is drystone built with an outer rectangular plan and central oval area. The remains of houses said to have been built on the island by the Morrisons of Ness about 1597 appear as a group of small contiguous hut footings ranged behind the S wall. Also on the S side is a ledge (Palla na Biorlinn) where the inhabitants used to haul up their boats. There is an artificial pond on the island.
The area to be scheduled is irregular measuring a maximum of 140m E-W by 80m N-S, to include the entire island as shown in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because it contains undisturbed structures of late prehistoric and Medieval date which through excavation may reveal information about the nature of the society, the defensive requirments and material culture of the people who occupied them.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NB 56 NW 1.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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