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Berneray Survey
Date 1992
Event ID 577534
Category Project
Type Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/577534
NL 555 802 (centred) The whole of the island of Berneray was surveyed and 83 sites and monuments recorded, of which less than 40 are thought to be of post-medieval date. Possible Norse and Medieval sites include six boat-shaped stone settings, and two multi-period sites at both of which the earliest feature is a large circular mound possibly of prehistoric date, over which small sqarish and ovoid houses were built. These were in turn succeeded by later structures. The only certain Iron Age monument is the galleried 'dun' largely destroyed in the construction of the Barra Head lighthouse (NL 548 802). 'Dun Briste' (NL 548 805) has no surviving remains apart from a double-orthostat wall across the bare headland. Earlier prehistoric remains are thought to include five cists, five suspected burial cairns, and four megalithic chamber tombs, as well as some of the seven circular hut foundations. The overall impression is that Berneray was well occupied in the Neolithic/Bronze Age, less intensively settled in the Iron Age, but may have seen renewed activity in the Medieval period.
P Foster 1992
