Monument record 1280 - LOCH GILLE-GHOID, NORTH UIST

NF97SE 9 9578 7145.

(Area NF 956 716) Occupational evidence has been found in a cave immediately to the NW of Loch Gille-Ghoid, Portain. The cave lies well above the loch in a rocky gap between two knolls, its entrance facing N, and consisting of two openings which evidently communicated within. The access to the E occupied the lower position and formed the main branch of the cave. The floor revealed kitchen midden remains; bones, pottery, shells, etc. The western access led to a floor with ashes and shells more abundant, together with pottery. Complete 'craggans' are said to have been found here.
E Beveridge 1911.

Fragments of very dubious late IA pottery found on, or just below, the floor of a cave beside Loch na Maighdeir, were donated to the NMAS by Mr Neil Whitton (N Whitton, 8th Sept. 1964.
The cave is described as facing N, beside the NW side of the loch, and too small to stand upright in.
Information from A S Henshall (NMAS) to OS, 5 May 1965.

NF9578 7145. This cave is generally as described by Beveridge. The lower cave is a cleft, 1.5m high, 1.0 - 2.0m wide, and at least 8.0m deep; while the upper cave is tent-shaped, 2.4m high, 2.0m wide and 5.0m deep. Profuse midden remains can be seen in both caves.
It is obvious from the description given by Mrs Gunn, a local resident, that the siting of this cave to Loch Maighdeir is in error.
Visited by OS (J T T) 28 May 1965.

Erskine Beveridge, 1911, North Uist: its archaeology and topography, 112 (Bibliographic reference). SWE12876.