Description

The monument consists of the remains of a galleried dun, of Iron Age date, on an eroding promontory on the NE coast of Pabbay.

The dun has been partly eroded by the sea, but seems to have been a promontory rather than a circuit defence. What survives is a curved wall, running NW-SE, on the landward side of a small rocky promontory. The wall is 4.6m thick and contains in its thickness evidence for a hollow gallery. The ruined wall stands up to 2.0m high, and traces of its inner and outer face, in the form of large boulders, are visible. At the SE end of the wall is what may be one

side of an entrance passage. At the NE side of the wall, and therefore within the defended area, are traces of domestic occupation in the form of midden deposits containing pottery of probable middle Iron Age date.

The area to be scheduled consists of the whole of the promontory above the mean high water level of spring tides. The landward boundary is the lowest part of the neck of bare rock which joins the promontory to Pabbay. The area has maximum dimensions of 75m SW-NE by 65m NW-SE, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a member of the small group of galleried promontory forts in the southern part of the Western Isles which bear an as yet undetermined relationship to the much more numerous sub-circular galleried duns and brochs. Its importance is enhanced by the presence of midden deposits which offer the possibility, through excavation and analysis, of expanding our knowledge of the date and cultural affinities of this little-studied group.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NL 68 NW 1.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland