St Kilda, Hirta, Ruaival
Cleit(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name St Kilda, Hirta, Ruaival
Classification Cleit(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 9653
Site Number NF09NE 8
NGR NF 09529 98137
NGR Description from NF 09530 98100 to NF 09521 98164
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9653
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF09NE 8 0952 9816.
At NF 0952 9816, 3.0m from the edge of the cliff on Ruival are two piles of stones 6.5m apart. One measures 3.8m x 3.0m and is 0.4m high; the other has roughly the same plan dimensions, but is only 0.1m high. They are orientated with the longer axis NE-SW. There are faint and uncertain indications of at least two more, a little way on either side of the two. There is just the possibility that these are burial cairns similar to those at An Lag Bho'n Tuath (NF19NW 18), but without excavation, they are possibly only the remains of destroyed cleits.
A little way to the N of these, on the W edge of the Mullach Sgar, are 14 or more turf-covered stony mounds, much larger than any others on the island. As these are strung out in a single line up the edge of the cliff top, it would appear that they were the result of field clearance rather than of a sepulchral nature. They average 5.0m - 6.0m in diameter and are about 1.0m high. The area bears evidence of having been under cultivation.
Visited by OS (J L D) 8 August 1967.
Field Visit (8 August 1967)
At NF 0952 9816, 3.0m from the edge of the cliff on Ruival are two piles of stones 6.5m apart. One measures 3.8m x 3.0m and is 0.4m high; the other has roughly the same plan dimensions, but is only 0.1m high. They are orientated with the longer axis NE-SW. There are faint and uncertain indications of at least two more, a little way on either side of the two. There is just the possibility that these are burial cairns similar to those at An Lag Bho'n Tuath (NF19NW 18), but without excavation, they are possibly only the remains of destroyed cleits.
A little way to the N of these, on the W edge of the Mullach Sgar, are 14 or more turf-covered stony mounds, much larger than any others on the island. As these are strung out in a single line up the edge of the cliff top, it would appear that they were the result of field clearance rather than of a sepulchral nature. They average 5.0m - 6.0m in diameter and are about 1.0m high. The area bears evidence of having been under cultivation.
Visited by OS (J L D) 8 August 1967.
Field Visit (4 September 2007)
A row of five cleits is strung out along the edge of the long steep grass slope that drops W to the cliffs on the S slopes of Ruaival. Only one retains some of its roof lintels (Hirta 500), two are now roofless and in ruinous condition, and the remaining two are robbed down to their footings and survive as little more than grass grown stony mounds (Hirta 2011-12).
(Hirta 499-501, 2011-12)
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS) 4 September 2007
Change Of Classification (12 February 2010)
This group is more readily interpreted as the remains of collapsed cleits.
Information from RCAHMS (ARG) 12 February 2010
