Monument record 1667 - MAOL BHAN, BERNERAY

NF98SW 31 918 835.

Two mounds, measuring c20m diameter and 2m high within dunes at the edge of the machair. Although covered in coarse grass, dark soil, shell, bone and pottery was exposed in animal burrows. The pottery is hand-built and resembles Hebridean, prehistorc (possibly Iron Age) coarse wares.
Record NF98SW 11 referes to a site some 1km SW. The earliest record reports disturbed stonework and abundant midden material. OS, visiting the area in 1965, failed to locate the sites and infers that the sites have been lost to erosion.
The sites, here reported, are substantial, upstanding mounds and are visible from most vantage points overlooking the machair. It is most probable that they were incorrectly map referenced but it remains possible that here are two newly reported sites.
R McCullagh 1991g.

These two sites are now stable, with only a little stonework visible on the surface. They can be distinguished by their vegetation, and flat-topped shape. Each site is c. 40m diameter, and c. 4m high.
MML 30.11.2005

As described by MML, both sites are stable, occaissional stone visible, small piece of slag and ceramic fragment recovered from small eroded section (eastern mound).
KM (Arch Service) 08/08/2024

R McCullagh, 1991g, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 76 (Bibliographic reference). SWE18557.