North Uist, Eileann Scalaster
Dun (Prehistoric)
Site Name North Uist, Eileann Scalaster
Classification Dun (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Eileann Scalaster; Baleshare; Carinish
Canmore ID 10290
Site Number NF86SW 6
NGR NF 80939 61141
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10290
- Council Western Isles
- Parish North Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF86SW 6 8094 6113.
(NF 8094 6113) There are the remains of a circular dun, c. 26ft in diameter enclosed by a wall nearly 5ft thick, on the N end of EIleann Scalaster, an islet in the tidal sound between Baleshare and Carinish. What is apparently an entrance on the E runs inwards for 10ft between parallel walls 30 inches apart. Potsherds were found here.
E Beveridge 1911.
The vague outlines of a D-shaped structure, probably a dun, which measures c. 10.0m by c. 8.0m.
The wall appears to have an average thickness of c. 2.3m in the south side, with an external height of c. 1.3m. There is a possible entrance in the east side.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (W D J) 13 June 1965.
Field Visit (9 August 1915)
Some 700 yards to the south-east of this site [Dun na Dise] on Eilean Scalaster, the northern extremity of Eilean Mor, are the foundations of what seems to have been a circular building with an overall diameter of some 40 feet; there are rectangular foundations in the interior, probably of late date.
On several of the tidal islands in the vicinity there are grass-covered foundations of stone structures and a few cairns, but none of them without excavation could be assigned to prehistoric times.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 9 August 1915.
OS map: North Uist xxxix.
Note (1928)
Dun, Eilean Scalaster.
“In the tidal sound which separates Carinish from Baleshare island is Eilean Scalaster at the northern extremity of Eilean Mor, and practically annexed to it unless at high-water. Upon the north end of this islet are the ruins of a circular fort showing a present height of 4 feet and an interior area about 26 feet in diameter, enclosed by a wall nearly 5 feet thick. Its entrance seems to have been from the east, running straight inwards for a length of 10 feet between parallel walls 30 inches apart. Here were observed some fragments of pottery (1)”.
RCAHMS 1928
OS map: North Uist xxxix (unnoted).
(1) Beveridge's North Uist, pp. 181-2.
