Lewis, Breasclete
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name Lewis, Breasclete
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Alternative Name(s) Cnoc A' Phrionnsa
Canmore ID 4149
Site Number NB23NW 1
NGR NB 2103 3549
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/4149
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Uig
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
NB23NW 1 2103 3549.
(NB 2103 3549) Burial Chamber (NR)
OS 6" map, (1965)
There is now no vestige of cairn material, but the remaining stones appear to represent the north half of an oval or circular chamber. There are four upright contiguous stones 2'9" to 3'9" high, their vertical sides fitting fairly closely. There is also a small but apparently earthfast stone 9" high, to the SE. To the SW may be seen the tip of a stone lying almost flat, presumably a fallen stone from the chamber.
RCAHMS 1928.
The remains of a chambered cairn on the top of a small but quite prominent hill.
A S Henshall 1972.
Remains of a burial chamber as described and planned by Henshall. Surveyed at 1/2500
Visited by OS (R L) 20 June 1969.
Field Visit (15 June 1914)
Chambered Cairn (remains of), Breasclete.
On the summit of a small hill, Cnoc a Phrionnsa, to the west of the township of Breasclete, rising about 120 feet above sea-level, some 500 yards north-west of the lighthouse keepers' station at Breasclete, is an almost semicircular setting of four large slabs set on end, and nearly touching. They range from 2 feet 10 inches to 3 feet in height and from 1 foot 7 inches to 2 feet 2 inches in breadth, the convexity towards the north-east, with two small stones towards the east, suggesting the remains of the chamber of a large cairn. All traces of a cairn have been removed with the exception of three blocks of stone of inconsiderable size.(Fig. 48.)
RCAHMS 1928, visited 15 June 1914.
OS map: Lewis xviii (unnoted).
Field Visit (29 August 2009)
The site of this cairn is on the summit of a small hill within an area of rough pasture. As described and planned in earlier accounts, four stones of the chamber remain standing together with two smaller earthfast stones to the SE; one of latter is set at such an angle that it probably did not form part of the chamber. No cairn material is visible, and it is difficult to visualise the shape and extent of the cairn, partly on account of the rocky edge of exposed bedrock that tails off downslope to the W.
Visited by RCAHMS (ARG,SPH) 29 August 2009
