Monument record 9953 - VN68 North Vatersay

VN68 (NL628958) An extremely complex site focused on a large, high mound (A) with masses of large stone blocks, but nothing one could designate a 'megalith'. Mound A is 36 x 25 m overall. Clustered around it are at least four oval or cirular structures marked by smaller mounds with heavily embedded stone. B is 9 x 7 m, F is similar size, G is 4.5 x 3 m, and H is 5 x 3 m. To the north are four further structures equally well-embedded, standing on the edge of small stream course and alongside a discontinuous and meandering wall. D which is an oblong structure 15 x 5 m, appears to be earlier than the wall and we believe the wall was built from one existing structure (or ruin) to another. C is rectangular hut 10 x 5 m, I is a more oval structure 4 x 2 m, and E is a circular hut 3 m diam. It has been suggested to us that the underlying mound A might be Neolithic funerary cairn. We are not convinced that the mound is entirely or mostly a stone cairn, and there are no visible megalithic slabs that may have formed a chamber. The alternative, in our view is a major prehistoric stone structure, such as a broch. Mouds B and F are large enough to be round or oval houses, presumably later than the structure from which they appear likely to have derived their building materials, in mound A. Oval huts like G, H and I are thought to be mostly IA but not yet well located within that long era. But some may be mediaeval or early modern. Buildings C and D are thought to be modern, but if they predate the relict wall alongside them, as we believe, they might well have been constructed no later than the early 19th century.

Brannigan and Foster 2000, 43

Keith Branigan & Patrick Foster, 2000, From Barra to Berneray: Archaeological Survey and Excavation in the Southern Isles ... (Bibliographic reference). SWE41033.