Monument record 348 - AIGNISH, LEWIS

NB43SE 4 4840 3222.
Kitchen midden exposed on the beach near Aignish Church and partly removed by the sea. 'It occupies a restricted area and has blown sand above and below. The thickness of the occupational deposit is about 3ft and the succesion from above downwards is as follows: About 6 ins. mainly of whelk shells: layer of dark earth with fragments of coarse pottery and fishbones: layer with limpet and mussel-shells and bones: layer in which the shells are less numerous but containing some large fishbones. One small stone pestle or pounder was found'. Part of a pennanular brass or bronze brooch, 1.4in. diameter decorated with spirals and interlaced ornament, was found here 10ft below the present surface in 1919 by Mr C B Macleod and was exhibited to the Society of Antiquities of Scotland in 1933 on loan from the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway.
W J Gibson 1934.

Midden material is still visible in the face of the sandy cliff at the point indicated, though modern refuse has also been dumped here, and the lower part of the cliff is now faced by mortared stone to protect it from erosion by the sea.
The pennanular brooch is still in the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway. Visited by OS (A L F R) assient archaeology officer, 23 April 1964.