Description

The monument comprises the remains of one or more rectangular houses and associated buildings. The form of the structures suggests a sequence from Viking or early Norse date through to the Medieval period.

The remains lie in the NW corner of a fenced field, and are extensive. A rectangular house footing, with bowed side walls, runs approximately N-S. This is about 16m by 4m internally. The N (lower) gable wall is obscured, but there are opposed entrances in the long walls towards the S (upper) end. This house appears to have been modified at some date to form part of a building layout running at right angles to the original, and nearby to the SE are the remains of a range of further structures, also aligned approximately E-W, along the slope.

The area to be scheduled consists of the NW part of the field, but excluding the modern fences. This includes the remains of the various structures and an area around them in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive. The area measures a maximum of 80m E-W by 65m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a rare occurrence of a house of probably early Norse date identifiable on field characteristics in direct association with houses of subsequent periods. It gains additional importance as a member of a group of several such sites on the island of Unst.

The important evidence regarding Norse settlement and agricultural economy which this monument can provide could be further expanded by comparative study of the related monuments in the island, several of which are being scheduled at this time. In addition, the evident time-depth of this monument offers an opportunity to study the evolution of settlement forms from the Norse settlement into Medieval times.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HP 50 SE 52.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland