Monument record 906 - SITHEAN MOR, CALLERNISH, NORTH UIST

NF77NW 4 7491 7659.

(NF 7491 7659) Sithean Mor (NAT)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

Sithean Mor, a grass-covered heap of sand 30 yards by 20 yards and 12 to 15ft high upon the outer extremity of Callernish and close to the shore at the west entrance of Vallay Sound.
A cutting from N to S revealed a kitchen-midden reaching a maximum thickness of 2ft, apparently confined to the east end ofthe mound. Underneath there was a solid mass of fine windblown sand. Beveridge suggests that its existence may be due to some original cairn having served as a nucleus.
Finds, including pottery, a few hammer-stones, a sharpening-stone etc., are in the NMAS.
Further kitchen-midden remains lie on level and cultivated ground immediately to the south. A sherd of pottery, a flint and burials have been found at this south edge.
E Beveridge 1911; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1922 and 1935.

Sithean Mor, a grass-covered sandy mound, 22.0m N-S by 36.0m transversely and c. 2.5m high, shows no sign of antiquity, and no middens were seen in the vicinity.
Visited by OS (J T T) 19 June 1965.

RMS GT 406. Square-facetted or bramble-headed pin, found in an earth-house.
L Laing 1973.
Possibly from this site; alternatively from NF77NE 10 or NF77NE 17.

This site is in stable condition, the higher areas facing the west & southwest have exposed patches of sand and stone indicating earlier erosion, however this appears to be stablizing. Occaisional rabbit burrows were noted.
KM (Arch Service CnES) 26/08/2024

Erskine Beveridge, 1911, North Uist: its archaeology and topography, 231, 272-3 (Bibliographic reference). SWE12876.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 93, No. 287 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

PSAS, 1934-5, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 21 (Bibliographic reference). SWE10244.

J Stewart, 1956h, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 15 (Bibliographic reference). SWE9176.

L R Laing, 1973b, Trans Dumfriesshire Galloway Natur Hist Antiq Soc, 71, No. 66 (Bibliographic reference). SWE3785.