Description

The monument consists of the remains of an Iron Age galleried dun, a small drystone fortification occupying the summit of a tidal islet. The dun appears to have been oval or D-shaped in plan, 7m by 6m internally within a wall which varies from 1.5m thick on the N (seaward) side to 4.5m on the S (landward) side. The wall on the S contains traces of a narrow upper gallery, and stands to at least

1.6m above original ground level.

The entrance passage is visible in the S wall, and the W side of the entrance passage stands to its full height, while the E side, together with the E side of the dun generally, has suffered from erosion. Traces of an outer defensive wall can be seen immediately above the sea on the S side of the islet. The area to be scheduled is irregular, consisting of the whole of the islet above the high water mark, and measures a maximum of 75m N-S by 30m E-W, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a galleried dun, of Iron Age date. There is clear evidence for the preservation of archaeological deposits both inside and outside the dun, and excavation of these could extract important information relating to domestic and agricultural economy of the middle to late Iron Age. The monument has considerable potential, on its own and by comparison with other nearby sites, to enhance our knowledge of this period in Atlantic Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NF 60 NE 1.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland