Archaeology Notes

Event ID 656330

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/656330

NF19NW 21.14 09968 99482

This drystone structure lies across the head dyke and its door faces down the slope. It is wider than most true cleitean, and though there are no visible traces of attached cells, its general character and position suggest that it is part of a remodelled cellular structure.

The fact that the head dyke abuts it clearly indicates that it antedates the 1830s.

Internally, the building measures 3.35m by 1.91m within walls up to 1.32m thick. The corbelled ceiling rises to a height of 1.52m above the existing floor. A mound outside the doorway drops sharply to the natural slope, and some stones to the N, which form no discernible pattern, may have been associated with this structure.

G P Stell and M Harman 1988.

A survey was carried out by the National Trust for Scotland on over 300 cleitean (singular cleit) on St Kilda. They are double-walled, drystone-built oval or rectangular structures, used primarily for storage of food and fuel resources. Many have survived well after being abandoned in 1930 when the islands were evacuated. The survey recorded their condition, construction and location.

M Taylor 2001