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Lewis, Port of Ness, Dun Eistean

Western Isles, Scotland ยท Atlas SC2772

Lewis, Port of Ness, Dun Eistean is a contour fort in Barvas, Western Isles, Scotland.

Other names on the record: Tigh Nan Arm.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate rampart form, surface evidence of earthen bank and stone wall, and an enclosed area of 0.48 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a coastal promontory and at 20 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes heather moorland and coastal grassland.

Dating evidence is recorded for after AD 800 (Artefactual). Reliability is recorded as B - Medium.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (5356).

Location

Atlas number
SC2772 (2772)
Country
Scotland
Current county or unitary authority
Western Isles
Historic county
Ross-shire
Parish, community, or townland
Barvas
National Grid reference
NB 5355 6501
Latitude
58.50343
Longitude
-6.23231
Altitude
20 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate
Complete rampart circuit
No
Number of ramparts
1
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 0, SE 1, SW 1, NW 0
Possible original entrances
1
Breaks through the ramparts
1
Enclosed area
0.48 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
earthen bank and stone wall
Enclosing works, excavated
stone wall
Entrance forms
Simple Gap (South)

Landscape

Topographic position
coastal promontory
Aspect
level
Land use
heather moorland and coastal grassland
Water source
pool

Dating

Dating
after AD 800
Dating evidence
Artefactual
Dating reliability
B - Medium

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
rectangular stone structures
Interior excavation
rectangular structures
Finds
pottery, metal, metalworking, animal bones, and lithics
Investigations
1st Identified Written Reference (1865); Excavation (1866); Other (1914); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1969); Other (1992); Earthwork Survey (2000); Geophysical Survey (2001); Excavation (2001); Excavation (2002); Excavation (2005); Excavation (2006); Ex

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
5356
HER
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Western Isles Sites and Monuments Record MWE4417
National record
record NB 56 NW 1; monument 4417
Wikidata
Q31120106

Sources

References

  1. Barrowman, C (2001) 'Dun Eistean, Ness, Lewis, Western Isles (Barvas parish), promontory enclosure and dun; medieval fortification'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 2 (2001), 99-100, fig 40
  2. Barrowman, C (2002) 'Dun Eisdean, Ness, Lewis, Western Isles (Barvas parish), dun and medieval fortifications'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 3 (2002), 119
  3. Barrowman, C (2006) 'Dun Eistean Archaeology Project, Western Isles (Barvas parish), excavation'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 7 (2006), 171-2
  4. Barrowman, R C (2005) 'Dun Eistean Archaeology Project, Western Isles (Barvas parish), fortified settlement on sea stack'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 6 (2005), 144
  5. Barrowman, R C (2007) 'Dun Eistean Archaeology Project, Western Isles (Barvas parish), excavation'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 8 (2007), 195-196
  6. Burgess, C 2008 Ancient Lewis and Harris, Lewis: Hebridean Archaeological Interpretation Programme, 61-2, no. 3 (with plan)
  7. RCAHMS (1928) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Ninth report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles. HMSO: Edinburgh
  8. Thomas, F W L (1890) 'On the duns of the Outer Hebrides'. Archaeol Scot 5 (1890), 365-415