Find Spot record 1342 - LANGAY

NG08SW 1 centred 013 816.

A skeleton accompanied by at least 2 bronze 'tortoise' brooches (4 1/4" x 2 3/4"), a pin (4"), and a needle (2"), were stated to have been found in the island of 'Sangay' between Uist and Harris (R Pococke). One of the brooches, together with the pin and needle, were given to Pococke in 1760.
Anderson (J Anderson 1875; 1883), Grieg (S Grieg 1940) and Shetelig (A O Curle, M Olsen and H Shetelig 1954), interpret the site as that of a Viking burial, but numerous ideas have been put forward as to the location, as there appears to be no 'Sangay' between Uist and Harris. Gordon, although satisfied that the word 'Sangay' in Pococke's MS is correct, suggests that the island of 'Langay' (Area: NG 013 816), should be regarded as a possible site.
An exactly similar brooch to that given to Pococke is said to be in the Sir Hans Sloane Collection at the BM, but whether or not it is the other one from the Langay site, is not clear.
R Pococke (MS); 1887; J Anderson 1875; 1883; Vestuta Monumenta; S Grieg 1940; A O Curle, M Olsen and H Shetelig 1954; Soc Antiq Lond 1879.

No further information.
Visited by OS (N K B) 4 July 1969.

Soc Antiq Lond, 1789, Vestuta Monumenta vol. 2, Explanation of Plate XX figs. IX, X (Bibliographic reference). SWE14973.

J Anderson, 1872-4b, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 555 (Bibliographic reference). SWE551.

J Anderson, 1883a, Scotland in pagan times: the iron age: the Rhind lectures in archaeology 1881, 43 (Bibliographic reference). SWE625.

R Pococke, 1887, Tours in Scotland 1747, 1750, 1760, 91, fn 91-3 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5353.

S Grieg, 1940, Viking Antiquities in Scotland, 79 (Bibliographic reference). SWE2901.

A O, M and H Curle, Olsen and , 1954, Civilisation of the Viking settlers in relation to their old and new countries, 73 (Bibliographic reference). SWE2560.

R Pococke, 1998, Journey Round Scotland, ff 164-5 (Unpublished document). SWE13551.