Monument record 1448 - SANDRAY

NL69SW 3 6375 9137.

(NL 63759137) Dun (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

Dun, "probably broch" on the highest point of a ridge on the south-western slope of Cairn Galtar. There are indications of galleries in the S. half of the structure, and whilst oval in plan excavation may show the interior to be circular. An outer defence can be seen 16 1/2' from the entrance.
RCAHMS 1928.

The remains of this galleried dun are as planned and illustrated by RCAHMS (RCAHMS 1928). It is sub-circular in plan and measures about 16.0m N-E by about 12.0m E-W. The outer wall face is best preserved on the north side where six courses of stones remain to a height of 1.7m. The inside wall face is only visible in places with a max. height of 0.5m. The width of the wall varies around the structure - average width 4.0m. The outer defence wall, almost covered by stone debris, has a
max. height of 0.5m. Much stone debris lies within the dun and on the slopes around its outer wall face.
Visited by OS (W D J) 22 May 1965.

SY70 (NL63769138) Atlantic roundhouse (galleried dun), Iron Age.
Location: On prominent elevated spur formed by faulting along west flank of Cairn Galtar.
Description: A much-reduced unnamed galleried dun. Little can be added to the RCAHMS description (see above), apart from the locally told story that the walls were deliberately pushed down by a party of rabbit catchers to provide material for shelters at the base of the cliff. A shelter (SY130) does exist in the right place, but why rabbit catchers should be working and living at such an elevation is a mystery.
Note: Many structural elements are still visible and worthy of an accurate building survey.
Brannigan and Foster 2000, 73

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 130-1, No. 444 figs. 187-8 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

R W Feachem, 1963b, A Guide to Prehistoric Scotland, 184 (Bibliographic reference). SWE2141.

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