South Uist, Reineval
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name South Uist, Reineval
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Alternative Name(s) Barp Reineval
Canmore ID 9818
Site Number NF72NE 1
NGR NF 75494 25972
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9818
- Council Western Isles
- Parish South Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF72NE 1 75494 25972.
(NF 75494 25972) Barp (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)
A relatively little disturbed chambered cairn is situated on the northern slope of Reineval. It is about 12ft high and is surrounded by a roughly circular peristalith from 65 to 75ft in diameter, of which twelve upright stones, mostly in the NW quadrant, are visible. The edge of the cairn is very irregular with spreads to the W, S and NE. The entrance passage 3ft wide, can be traced for 10 1/2ft on the ESE side.
A S Henshall 1972; RCAHMS 1928.
The chambered cairn is as described above.
Surveyed at 1:10560.
Visited by OS (N K B) 8 May 1965.
Field Visit (20 August 1914)
Chambered Cairn, Barp, Reineval.
Nearly 5 miles north-west of Lochboisdale, on the northern slope of Reineval, at an elevation of 100 feet above sea-level, about 5/8 mile north of Barp Frobost (NF72SE 3), and some 300 yards from the southern shore of Lochan Ath Ruaidh, is a fairly well preserved chambered cairn, almost circular in shape and measuring some 78 feet from north to south and about 73 feet from east to west, its height being about 12 feet. It has been surrounded by a ring of pillar stones set up among the stones on the edge of the cairn, with their tops inclining slightly inwards. Of these six remain in position on the north-western arc, one on the south-west and four on the east. The distance between the standing stones on the north-west arc varies from 4 feet 4 inches to 12 feet, and they measure from 3 to 7 feet in height and from 1 foot 3 inches to 3 feet in breadth.
The surface of the cairn has been disturbed in many places, and towards the east a large slab 6 feet long, 4 feet 8 inches broad, and 1 foot 3 inches thick, probably the cover stone of the chamber, is exposed. A short length of the entrance passage running slightly south of east can be traced, two erect slabs in juxtaposition on the south side being visible. It is some 2 feet 10 inches wide. (Fig. 170.)
RCAHMS 1928, visited 20 August 1914.
OS map: South Uist Iv.
Field Visit (3 March 2010)
This chambered cairn is as described and planned by Henshall. There are several shallow scoops quarried into the sides of the cairn, possibly to create small shelters, and the stones of the peristalith are large slabs measuring up to 1.7m in length and 1.4m in height. Drill holes were observed on at least one of these slabs on the NW arc, and likewise on one of the passage roof slabs located towards the centre of the cairn.
Visited by RCAHMS (ARG,SPH) 3 March 2010
