Monument record 2289 - GALSON

NB45NW 2.02 436 594

NB 436 594 A burial was discovered at Galson in March 1996 by a New Zealand couple. The site is exposed in the foreshore as a steep sand dune face, rising over 6m between the shingle beach and a field wall. The erosion face is the site of a well-known cemetery and settlement extending in date at least from the Iron Age to the Norse period. Five or more capstones had originally sealed the cist. Those covering the head and the upper legs had become dislodged, exposing the bones underneath, and much of the N side of the cist had collapsed. The exposed sections were excavated by C Knott. More extensive excavation was subsequently directed by T Neighbour with the assistance of M Cook and C Knott. The remaining capstones, the sides of the cist and the remaining bones were excavated.
Although the bones had been disturbed and the grave had slumped to the N, it was clear that the body had been buried in an extended position. The knees were slightly raised and rested on the N side of the cist. The cist measured 3.5m (E-W) by 1.5m (N-S). Its sides were constructed of upright stones laid against the sides of the grave cut. Two courses of smaller, flat laid stones were placed above these and the whole construction sealed with flat capstones. No grave goods were found.
At least four similar long cist inhumations have been recorded recently from the same level in the erosion face (Ponting 1989), one of which produced a radiocarbon date of 1710+/-70 bp (323 cal AD). It is reasonable to assume that the latest burial will prove to be roughly contemporary.
A full report will be deposited with the NMRS on completion of post-excavation work.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
T Neighbour and C M Knott 1996

M R Ponting, 1989, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 91-100 (Bibliographic reference). SWE24840.

T Neighbour, 1996d, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 104 (Bibliographic reference). SWE38142.

Tim Neighbour, Carol Knott, Margaret F. Bruce, Neill W. Kerr, 2000, Excavation of twolong cists at Galson, Isle of Lewis, 1993 and 1996 (Unpublished document). SWE41029.