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Barra, Borve, Balnacraig

Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)

Site Name Barra, Borve, Balnacraig

Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)

Canmore ID 9735

Site Number NF60SE 6

NGR NF 6762 0120

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9735

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Western Isles
  • Parish Barra
  • Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
  • Former District Western Isles
  • Former County Inverness-shire

Archaeology Notes

NF60SE 6 6762 0120.

(NF 6762 0120) Dun (NR)

OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

A ruined chambered long cairn lies near the head of a small valley and is alingned north/south with the wider and higher end (about 10ft high) to the south. The edges are difficult to define: the length is about 190ft, the width at the south end about 85ft, tapering gradually then sharply to the north end.

A number of upright stones, on the top of the cairn, form the chamber, but the plan is difficult to define. About 42ft from the south edge a large slab, set transversly to the main axis, projects 4ft and probably represents the west side of a portal, but there is no sign of its partner. The whole site is covered with the foundations of small buildings and enclosures. (A S Henshall 1972)

Scott (L Scott 1947) states in a footnote that the Commission no. 458 (RCAHMS 1928) 'does not appear to be a denuded long cairn and, in its present state at least, indicates a village site with hut circles and other domestic structures'. (He infers that it is similar to Tigh Talamhanta - IA Aisled House, etc. - NF60SE 2).

A S Henshall 1972; RCAHMS 1928; L Scott 1947.

The remains of this chambered long cairn are as described by Henshall. The remains of at least two rectangular buildings and nine shieling-type structures lie along the length of the cairn. They are built of cairn debris, with walls about 0.5m high.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (W D J) 24 May 1965.

Activities

Field Visit (5 June 1915)

Chambered Cairn, Balnacraig.

Near the head of the glen between the hills Grianan and Skaalo, about ¾ mile east of the township of Balnacraig, is a ruined chambered cairn marked ‘Dun’ on O.S. map. It occupies a plateau on the southern side of the glen at an elevation of nearly 300 feet above sea-level. The cairn has been quite dismantled to provide material to build later structures, the ruins of which not only encroach on the cairn, but cover the adjoining ground, especially to the north. The greater part of the cairn has been removed, but a number of large slabs, some set on end and others dislodged, indicate approximately the position and some of the dimensions of the burial chamber. Its walls have been formed of large stones set on end, and the spaces between and above them filled in with drystone building. It has been oval on plan, measuring some 16 feet from north to south. At the southern end one slab remains in position and measures 4 feet 1 inch in height above the stones with which its base is encumbered, and is 4 feet in breadth. Two undisturbed stones at the north end measure 3 feet 3 inches and 4 feet 8 inches in height respectively, and 3 feet 11 inches and 3 feet 7 inches in breadth. There are several other stones set on edge, but they seem to have been shifted from their original position, and two flat slabs, measuring 5 feet 4 inches long, 4 feet 10 inches broad, and 1 foot 7 inches thick, and 5 feet long, 4 feet 8 inches broad, and 1 foot 4 inches thick, lying within the setting, may have formed part of the roof. The mound of stones extends about 40 feet west of the centre of the chamber, but on the east it has been nearly cleared away. Some 20 feet north of the chamber there is a mound of stones, 46 feet in diameter, showing in two places slight indications of the wall of a circular building. Farther to the north of this are the ruins of rectangular buildings, and there are traces of numerous small circular enclosures in the vicinity. These are evidently of late date.

RCAHMS 1928, visited 5 June 1915.

OS map: Barra lxiv.

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