Ensay
Burial (Viking), Balance(S) (Bronze)(Viking), Hammer (Viking)
Site Name Ensay
Classification Burial (Viking), Balance(S) (Bronze)(Viking), Hammer (Viking)
Canmore ID 10469
Site Number NF98NE 5
NGR NF 97 86
NGR Description NF c. 97 86
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10469
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
Desk Based Assessment (24 March 1966)
NF98NE 5 c. 97 86.
Martin refers to 'a pair of scales made of brass and a little hammer' which were found in a grave of the Viking period, shortly before 1716 at the W end of the island of Ensay.
The balance scales were of bronze according to Greig, and Shetelig states that they have since been lost, together with the hammer.
M Martin 1934; S Grieg 1940; A O Curle, M Olsen and H Shetelig 1954.
Desk Based Assessment (16 September 1971)
There are records of 3 excavations on Ensay.
1. As recorded in Martin Martin (written 1695) that "there was lately discovered a grave in the West of the island in which was found a pair of scales and a little hammer". (See NF98NE 5).
2. In 1967 and 8, D D A Simpson of Leicester University excavated a cist 400 yards NW (Sic) of the burial ground (See NF98NE 7).
3. Excavation of burials by Prof Miles (See NF98NE 6) (Prof Miles's identification of Simpson's excavation spot puts it in the Atlantic Ocean, therefore Mackenzie's is to be accepted as the more accurate). Information contained in letter from A E W Miles to OS 5 August 1971.
Recorded by OS (SF) 16 September 1971
