Lewis, Druim Dubh
Stone Circle (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)
Site Name Lewis, Druim Dubh
Classification Stone Circle (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)
Alternative Name(s) Halfway Garage
Canmore ID 72933
Site Number NB33SE 9
NGR NB 3826 3053
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/72933
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Lochs
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
NB33SE 9 3826 3053
An unrecorded stone circle was discovered consisting of an oval or elliptical ring, about 28m long and 21m wide, of 16 megaliths, all of which are prone and none are missing. Nine are totally buried in peat. The buried stones were probed and the whole ring surveyed in July 1992. As many of the stones have an associated cluster of packing stones it is considered that they once stood upright. It is possible that they were all felled in antiquity.
The ring stands centrally on a low but prominent flat topped hillock of solid rock. About 0.5m of peat covers most of the hillock and has built up slight mounds over the buried stones. Peat cutting has taken place in some parts, thus exposing 7 of the stones. In this year's drought 2 of the buried stones were partly exposed by the shrinking peat cover. Bare rock is exposed on several sides of the hillock, which are highest and steepest on the NW side. The land is rough hill grazing with extensive peat cuttings.
The hillock stands on the NW side of the A859 Stornoway to Tarbert road some 50m from the 'Halfway Garage'.
M R Curtis and G R Curtis 1992.
Desk Based Assessment (December 2010 - October 2011)
CFA Archaeology Ltd undertook an assessment of the likely effects on archaeology and built heritage interests (heritage assets) from the construction and operation of the development.
Seventy-one historic features have been identified within the development area. The majority of these are associated with medieval or later land-use and transhumance practices, particularly the seasonal movement of livestock to summer pastures, although there is also some evidence for earlier prehistoric settlement in the area. The majority of the upstanding archaeological remains survive on the high drier knolls within the development area.
The development has been designed to avoid where possible all significant archaeological remains. No substantial direct effects are predicted on any of the historic features; however, a group of shieling huts would receive a direct effect of medium magnitude and slight significance, and a head-dyke and the former Lewis Chemical Works would both receive direct effects of imperceptible magnitude and negligible significance. These effects can be offset by mitigation, including: detailed survey, archaeological evaluation and watching briefs.
Funder: Lewis Wind Power Ltd
CFA Archaeology
