Lewis, Great Bernera, Bosta
Experimental Archaeology Site (21st Century)
Site Name Lewis, Great Bernera, Bosta
Classification Experimental Archaeology Site (21st Century)
Alternative Name(s) Traigh Bosta; Traigh Bostadh
Canmore ID 268694
Site Number NB14SW 2.01
NGR NB 13746 40017
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/268694
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Uig
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
Archaeological Evaluation (1998)
NB14SW 2.01 13720 40019
NB 1375 4000 An archaeological evaluation was undertaken to identify an area of a suitable size, free from archaeological remains, to construct a replica of one of the houses excavated at Bostadh (Neighbour and Burgess 1996). Geophysical survey, using resistivity, electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar, was undertaken to investigate the sub-surface in two areas. No features of archaeological significance were recorded by geophysical survey or trial excavations.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Neighbour, B Glendinning, M Higgins and A Vickery 1998
Ground Penetrating Radar (1998)
NB14SW 2.01 13720 40019
NB 1375 4000 Ground penetrating radar survey.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Neighbour, B Glendinning, M Higgins and A Vickery 1998
Magnetometry (1998)
NB14SW 2.01 13720 40019
NB 1375 4000 Magnetometry survey.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Neighbour, B Glendinning, M Higgins and A Vickery 1998
Resistivity (1998)
NB14SW 2.01 13720 40019
NB 1375 4000 Resistivity survey.
A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Neighbour, B Glendinning, M Higgins and A Vickery 1998
Note (25 November 2004)
A full scale replica of one of the houses excavated by the Centre for Field Archaeology at Bosta beach (NB14SW 2.00) was built to the SW of the original site.
Information from RCAHMS (PM), 25 November 2004.
Field Visit (9 June 2015)
NB 13749 40015 Reconstruction roundhouse, built in 1999 after an iron age village settlement was discovered nearby in 1993, with excavations taking place in 1996. The original houses, which have now been re-covered with sand for protection, are thought to date from 400-800 AD and this house was reconstructed for visitors. The building was at one time thatched and secured with rope and stones for weighting, as described and seen in photographs online advertising the site, however, currently the building’s roof has a turf covering and there are no longer any ropes or stones present. The wooden ‘horns’ at either end of the ridge, usually used to secure ropes to for thatching, are however still present. It is unclear whether the thatched roof has been removed permanently or whether the building is in a phase of maintenance.
Visited by Zoe Herbert (SPAB) 09 June 2015, survey no.231
