Monument record 1095 - CRINGRAVEL, CLACHAN, NORTH UIST

NF86SW 21 8152 6451.

(NF 8154 6451) Standing Stone (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

Although shown by the OS as a standing stone and thought by Beveridge (E Beveridge 1911) to be a chambered cairn, Henshall regards this antiquity as more likely to be a ruined circular house.
Stone walls stand 1ft 6ins above the level of the surrounding peat; outside diameter 31-34ft and interior 17-20ft. Several displaced slabs lie on the east side where was probably the entrance. Outside to the WSW is a probable well, with a length of walling running towards it (Information from MS of A S Henshall's 'Chambered Tombs of Scotland', Vol. 2, 33).
The two large parallel slabs (Standing Stone - OS) set on edge outside the structure to the E and thought by Beveridge to be part of an entrance chamber, are considered by Henshall to be inexplicable in either interpretation of the monument: there is no evidence of the extensive robbing from the centre of the site which the cairn theory pre-supposes.
E Beveridge 1911; Visited by OS (D S and F R) 22 July 1956.

NF 8152 6451. The grass-covered remains of this probable cairn, measuring 10.5m NW to SE by 9.0m transversely, survive to a height of 0.6m Several large slabs of stone lie immediately outside the E periphery, and a further two earthfast parallel slabs measuring 1.5m x 1.9m x 0.3m and 0.9m x 1.1m x 0.2m respectively, are all possibly spoil from the chamber. Numerous other stones were found outside the probable entrance in the E side of the cairn.
No trace was found of the well mentioned by A S Henshall, and only two small earthfast stones were seen of the 'walling' running to the west side of the cairn. Two small oval cells - probably shielings - were seen in the central area of the cairn and obviously post-date it.
A modern cairn, c. 2.0m high, has been built on the N arc.
From its position, it is more likely to be a cairn than a ruined circular house as suggested by Henshall.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (R B) 17 June 1965.

Erskine Beveridge, 1911, North Uist: its archaeology and topography, 251 (Bibliographic reference). SWE12876.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 77, No. 229 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

A. Henshall, 1972a, The Chambered Tombs of Scotland, 534 (Bibliographic reference). SWE3275.

Uist Archaeology Ltd, 2012, WIND TURBINES CRIONGRABHAL (Unpublished document). SWE41228.