Monument record 1824 - KILDONAN, SOUTH UIST, 'GEARRAIDH BHAILTEAS'

NF72NW 27 735 265.

A 1:100 plan was made of a multi-period site at Gearraidh Bhailteas, where about a dozen stone-founded buildings cluster on a natural knoll. Observation suggests at least five phases of building and activity, beginning with a group of three enclosures, succeeded by two buildings which are tentatively ascribed an early medieval date. Three structures of the third phase may include a small church. A township at Gearraidh Bhailteas is mentioned in a document of 1498, whilst the site was cleared in 1836. It is thought the fifth, and final, phase structures were therefore probably erected in the 18th century.
Sponsor: University of Sheffield.
A Fleming 1992.

NF735265 In July 1998 excavation and survey were undertaken on the medieval settlement of Gearraidh Bhailteas close to Milton House. The complex of building remains is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. A brief survey of the settlement had been carried out in 1997 during a wider landscape survey. Five trial trenhes were located, to investigate the form of the structures and deposits both inside and outside them. The excavations showed the site to be of several phases. Many sherds of pottery (mainly dating from the 14th to 17th centuries), a bronze pin and hearth deposits were recovered, and a variety of different wall constructions were identified. Samples were taken for environmental analysis. An EDM survey was carried out to allow a more accurate plan of the site to be made, to give topographic information and to tie the settlement into its landscape setting.
Sponsors: Earthwatch, Boston University
Symonds 1998, 104

A Fleming, 1992, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 88 (Bibliographic reference). SWE25422.

Council for Scottish Archaeology, 1998, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41173.