Monument record 2694 - RUBHA NAN GILLEAN, VALLAY

NF77NE 37 7680 7600


NF 7657 7595 (NF77NE 15) During fieldwalking for environmental samples, part of a probable cellular structure was located eroding out of an exposed beach section on a southern headland on the island of Vallay. At least four courses of walling were visible protruding from the basal 2m of a c 4m high SE facing section. The lower foundation stones of this probable cell could be traced onto the present beach. A rapid cleaning of c 30m of this eroding section revealed the presence of a hearth deposit, midden spreads and other probable structural features. The exact extent of the structure(s) could not be ascertained due to time restrictions. Finds consist of a few sherds of plain pottery, shell and bone.
NF 7680 7600 A second midden deposit c 0.1m deep was located a few hundred metres E of the above site, eroding out of a S facing section in the vicinity of the wheelhouse settlement of Bac Mhic Connain. Finds consist of shell, bone and one sherd of plain pottery. The whole southern stretch of beach W of Vallay House is under threat from aggressive erosion and it is likely that a more thorough inspection would produce more sites.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
R Strachan and C Clarke 1997

R and C Strachan and Clarke, 1997, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 84 (Bibliographic reference). SWE40611.

Centre for Field Archaeology, 2005, Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, North Uist (Bibliographic reference). SWE41070.