Monument record 13568 - BAGHASDAIL, South Uist

NF71NW 25 7365 1728

NF 7365 1728 Baghasdal. Settlement mound. The results of the geophysical survey were badly clouded by stone croft boundaries, but some concentrations were visible and interpreted as possible structural remains. Eight trenches were opened.
Trenches 1, 3, 4 and 7 uncovered the remains of walls of unrelated structures, embedded into midden-filled pits. Trench 2 contained the remains of stone and turf curvilinear walls, surrounded by what may be collapsed roofing. Above the wall in Trench 4 was a pit containing the upper part of a horse skull sitting in deposits of burnt peat. Trenches 5, 6 and 8 contained shell and charcoal-rich midden. The results reveal a heavily occupied site of numerous phases.
The site produced a handful of small amorphous iron objects, as well as a small number of denuded ceramics. The few diagnostic sherds include some Middle Iron Age and 'Pictish' material. Many of the non-diagnostic sherds resemble this later Iron Age material, but the connection can only be tenuous. A small number are similar to late medieval wares found elsewhere on the island. (SEARCH Site 191)
Sponsors: Universities of Glasgow, Sheffield, Bournemouth and Southampton, King Alfred's College.
J A Raven 2003

REPORT DATE: 21/02/2005