Description

The monument consists of the remains of a boundary wall incorporating the remains of at least two structures which may be small houses.

The wall, which is probably prehistoric in date, runs from the cliff edge to the W of Ulishield, along the S flank of the hill almost to the edge of the cliff at Jivy Geo, where it turns sharply to the S and runs downslope to the Burn of Wirvie, a total distance of 550m. It is formed of large upright blocks, and may once have been the footing of a turf or masonry wall. Near its west end it is partly submerged and eroded in a small loch, but the likely route of the wall through the loch is included for the sake of completeness.

After the sharp turn, the section of wall running downslope to the burn is more thickly covered with vegetation than the rest, resembling an earthen bank for part of its course. There are two expansions in the wall which appear to be contemporary, and may be ruined houses. One, the more westerly, is about 13.5m across overall, with an oval interior obscured by rubble but possibly having at least one alcove in the internal wall-face. The second is about 9m across and more ruinous.

The area to be scheduled consists of a strip 20m wide (10m on either side of the centre-line of the wall) and approximately 550m long, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduled area is split into two parts by the road leading to the N end of the island.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as an unusual example of a boundary, which incorporates two possible dwellings or similar domestic structures. This combination of boundary and dwellings suggests that there may be considerable structural complexity preserved within the monument, with the potential to provide important information about the establishment and development of prehistoric agricultural settlement.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Reference:

Hunter, J. R. (ed.) (1987) Fair Isle survey: interim 1984, Bradford University Schools of Archaeological Sciences and Physics Occasional Papers, No. 5 Bradford. No. 675, 719, 720.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland