Berneray, Sgalabraig
Cairn (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric)(Possible)
Site Name Berneray, Sgalabraig
Classification Cairn (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric)(Possible)
Canmore ID 10495
Site Number NF98SW 5
NGR NF 9101 8155
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10495
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF98SW 5 9101 8155.
(NF 9089 8137) Stone Cist Containing Human Remains found AD 1875 (NAT) OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)
At, or in the immediate vicinity of the OS published site, are the remains of a cairn. It is 14ft in diameter and 1 1/2ft high. On the S edge is a boulder 2ft 9ins high and 7ft in girth, set on end. Some 78ft S is a block of stone shaped like a chair with the back to the S, measuring 4ft 6ins in length, and 1ft 7ins broad, the back being 2ft 9ins high and the seat 1ft 5ins high. About 31ft 6ins to the NNW of the cairn is another standing stone 2ft 6 ins high and 1ft square.
Source: RCAHMS 1928.
At NF 9101 8155 is the cairn described by RCAHMS, now completely grass-covered, and measuring 5.5m in diameter and 0.4m high. In addition to the boulder on its S edge, and the other boulders mentioned, there are six other earthfast stones set on edge in the area, and also two smaller stones set on edge on the NE periphery of the cairn. The find-spot of the cist, now falls in cultivated land, and no information about it was obtained.
Cairn surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (R D) 20 June 1965.
Field Visit (14 August 1914)
Cairn, Borve, Berneray.
On the machair,west of the township of Borve, about 5/8 mile west of the summit of Borve Hill, near the eastern edge of the sand dunes which occupy the flat western portion of the island of Berneray, are the remains of a small cairn of stones, 14 feet in diameter and 1 foot 6 inches in height, on the southern edge of which is a stone boulder 2 feet 9 inches high and 7 feet in girth set on end. Some 78 feet south is a block of stone shaped like a chair with the back to the south measuring 4 feet 6 inches in length, and 1 foot 7 inches broad, the back being 2 feet 9 inches in height and the seat 1 foot 5 inches high. About 31 feet 6 inches to the north-north-west of the cairn is another standing stone 2 feet 6 inches in height by 1 foot square.
The stone cist containing human remains, found in 1875 and noted on the O.S. map, must have been discovered at this site or in its immediate vicinity.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 14 August 1914.
OS map: Harris xxvi (unnoted).
