Find Spot record 10256 - ECC 11 Eilean Chalium Cille

Summary

Fragment of stone bowl or quern

Location

Grid reference NB 38552 21182 (point)
Map sheet NB32SE
Island Lewis
Parish LOCHS, Western Isles

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

"Situated at the south-east corner of a modern clearance cairn (5.4) the remains of this carved stone dish or quern measure 0.4 x 0.3 metres. Consisting of a scoop or dish 0.2 metres deep in a block of Lewisian gneiss 0.3 metres thick, this artefact has been broken in half at the deepest part of the bowl. Two possible interpretations may be made of this artefact: firstly as a dish quern (a type not seen regularly in the north-west of Scotland); or secondly as a bowl or font. While stone bowls are recorded in the Western Isles, particularly on Norse sites, these tend to be finely fashioned in steatite (soapstone). This artefact is fashioned in Lewisian gneiss, one of the hardest stones available in Europe, and must have required a great deal of effort and skill to form.The proximity of the site of an early Christian church less than 200 metres to the south-west supports the interpretation of this artefact being religious in origin. The second half of this atrefact was not located." (Burgess 2004, 80)


Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2004, Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle (Unpublished document). SWE41054.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Unpublished document: Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004. Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle. Loch Seaforth Head Gazeteer.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jul 21 2004 3:13PM

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