Monument record 425 - CAISTEAL MHIC CREACAIL, SHULISHADER, LEWIS

NB53NW 1 5430 3667.

(NB 5430 3667) Caisteal Mhic Creacail (NR) (Site of)
OS 6"map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1898)

"This is said to be the site of an old castle tho' that which is pointed out as the ruins does not warrant the supposition... a confused heap of small stones."
Name Book 1848.

"An irregular heap of stones known as Caisteal Mhic Creacail. The remains show none of the characteristics of a ruined dun...but a setting of seven large slabs placed on edge, and two prostrate stones towards the SE edge of the heap , though evidently much disturbed, have the appearance of the ruined passage and chamber of a chambered cairn. Four erect slabs from 1ft 7ins to 4ft 6ins in length and a fallen stone form the northern side of the entrance and curved chamber, while three stones placed on edge from 2ft to 4ft 1ins in length mark the opposite side. The loose stones of the mound have been entirely removed from the eastern part of the structure, but stretching for 70ft towards the WNW from the erect slabs is a tumbled mass of small boulders, and 40ft to the N the ground has a covering of stone 30ft long by 15ft broad".
RCAHMS 1928, visited 1914.

As described by RCAHMS. The entrance passage 2ft to 2ft 6ins wide and 8ft long and the curve of the chamber beyond, are still visible.
Visited by OS (A L F R) Assistent Archaeology Officer, 23 April 1964.

'The monument...comprises of the disturbed remains of a chambered cairn constructed during the Neolithic period (c. 3800-2000BC). The area to be scheduled is irregular, measuring a maximum of 120m N-S by 90m E-W to include the cairn and a surrounding area which may contain archaeological evidence associated with the construction and use of the site.'
HS Scheduling Document 17 February 1992.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 15, No. 52 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

A. Henshall, 1972a, The Chambered Tombs of Scotland, 460, LWS 2 plan (Bibliographic reference). SWE3275.

Name Book (County), 1998, Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 56 (21A), 24 (Unpublished document). SWE4254.