Monument record 8601 - Nisabost, Harris

Human remains were excavated by Carol Knott between 1994 & 1995.

The remains of the skeleton lay in a grave cut c. 0.5m deep. lying at 45% to the erosion face, approximately SW-NE. The grave cut had vertical sides and a flat bottom, c. 0.6m wide. All of the skeleton was present except the skull (removed 1994), upper body and left arm (the top of the left humerus and the spinal column had been visible in 1994). The body lay on its back fully extended, arms by its side. There were several traces of iron beside the body. Remains of a 0.5m long iron object lay near the right leg. Further iron and wood traces were observed on the left side of the spine and around the pelvis. A whetstone was recovered immediately below the pelvis.
The remains lay at the bottom of the grave cut, which had been cut through layers of clean sind-blown dune sand underlying a dark soil level. There was an area of dark stained grave earth in the vicinity of the skeleton, with mixed deposits of shell sand infilling the grave cut above. A sinkage level of dark sandy soil contained a concentration of small to medium-sized stones which may have marked the surface of the grave, sealed by a modern topsoil
The finds were removed for analysis to the National Museums of Scotland by Trevor Cowie
Knott, 1996

Carol Knott, 1996, Burial at Nisabost, Isle of Harris, NG 039 966 (Unpublished document). SWE41028.