Monument record 1334 - NORTHTON, HARRIS

NF99SE 5 9873 9027.

(NF 9873 9027) Erd House (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)

An earth-house discovered many years ago (listed by Thomas in 1867). Efforts were made some time after to locate the entrance, but without success. (RCAHMS 1928)
The OS surveyor describes it as a mound, c. 20.0m in plan and c. 3.0m in elevation. The area is ploughed and although no surface remains were evident, stone implements, pottery, kitchen refuse, etc, have been found by the local crofter.
No serious excavation has been attempted, according to local information.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 1914; F W L Thomas 1870; Information from OS reviser (F R) 15 August 1956.

The site of the souterrain is marked by a sandy knoll. A few months ago the passage was uncovered to the NW of the knoll during drainage operations. The souterrain was found to be in a good state of preservation, and was said to comprise a corbelled chamber approached by a curved lintel-covered passage about 20yards long. Kitchen-midden material, including potsherds (some decorated), deer antlers and a hand quern, was found outside the entrance. The souterrain was covered up again when the drain was completed, and there is now no sign of it.
Site surveyed at 1:2500.
Mr Morrison has a stone axe which came from the souterrain many years ago.
Visited by OS (A A) 3 July 1969.

Sherds, antler, and bone from this site have been given to the NMAS by Mr Morrison.
Information from J Close-Brooks (NMAS).

F W L Thomas, 1864-6, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 171 (Bibliographic reference). SWE7731.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 46, No. 154 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.