Monument record 11675 - LEWIS, SGIANAILT

NB23NW 79 2043 3698

An enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1854, sheet 18). This site lies within a system of head-dykes (NB23NW 81). The enclosure is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 24 September 1997.
REPORT DATE: 24/01/2002

This feature was misidentified as an enclosure. This is a blackhouse type ruin, identified as roofless on the 1st ed 6" OS. It is situated on sloping ground amongst two naturally occuring rocky outcrops. The outcrop area is distinctive for the depth of well drained soil in between the areas of rock, subsiquently numerous lazybeds are in evidence all around these two high pionts and is in contrast to the surrounding wetland.
The structure is sub rectangular, orientated N/S and comprises of drystone & occaisional boulder, earthen bank construction now mostly grassed over. It appears to to be dug into the hillside to some degree and strangely slopes downward towards the north. Its dimensions are approx 3m X 6m.
Approx 20m to the north of the blackhouse is an associated feature, possibly used for storage. This structure is sub rectangular, orientated E/W and comprises of drystone and earthen bank construction, with an entrance to the east. Its dimensions are approx 1.5m X 3m.

K.Murphy(Archaeologist CnES) 16/07/2019