Harris, Northton
Souterrain (Prehistoric)
Site Name Harris, Northton
Classification Souterrain (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 10505
Site Number NF99SE 5
NGR NF 9873 9027
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/10505
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF99SE 5 9873 9027.
(NF 9873 9027) Erd House (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)
An earth-house discovered many years ago (listed by Thomas in 1867). Efforts were made some time after to locate the entrance, but without success. (RCAHMS 1928)
The OS surveyor describes it as a mound, c. 20.0m in plan and c. 3.0m in elevation. The area is ploughed and although no surface remains were evident, stone implements, pottery, kitchen refuse, etc, have been found by the local crofter.
No serious excavation has been attempted, according to local information.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 1914; F W L Thomas 1870; Information from OS reviser (F R) 15 August 1956.
The site of the souterrain is marked by a sandy knoll. A few months ago the passage was uncovered to the NW of the knoll during drainage operations. The souterrain was found to be in a good state of preservation, and was said to comprise a corbelled chamber approached by a curved lintel-covered passage about 20yards long. Kitchen-midden material, including potsherds (some decorated), deer antlers and a hand quern, was found outside the entrance. The souterrain was covered up again when the drain was completed, and there is now no sign of it.
Site surveyed at 1:2500.
Mr Morrison (J Morrison, Northton, Harris) has a stone axe which came from the souterrain many years ago.
Visited by OS (A A) 3 July 1969.
Sherds, antler, and bone from this site have been given to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) by Mr Morrison.
Information from J Close-Brooks (NMAS).
Field Visit (9 June 1914)
Earth-house, Northtown.
This earth house was discovered many years ago on a slightly rising piece of ground on the neck of land connecting the isthmus of Toe Head peninsula to the mainland of Harris, less than 10 feet above high-water mark and 200 yards distant from the shore to the east. Efforts were made some years after to locate the entrance ,but without success.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 9 June 1914.
OS map: Harris xxii.
