Monument record 1487 - BRUERNISH, BARRA

Summary

Six platforms

Location

Grid reference NF 71640 02520 (point)
Map sheet NF70SW
Island Barra
Parish BARRA, Western Isles

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

NF70SW 2 7153 0263.

(NF 7153 0263) Dun (NR)
OS 6'map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

Some 300 yards SE of the dun (Commission no.455 - NF70SW 1) there is another tidal rocky islet occupied by the remains of a dun, and also connected with the southern shore of Bay Hirivagh by a stone causeway of large dimensions, some 40 yards long.
The building is now a shapeless mass of stone and earth, about 6ft high and about 5ft above HWM. A short arc of the inner face of the wall on the east can be traced, showing that the building was probably circular, internal diameter 30ft; a few stones of the outer face can be seen on the south-east.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 14 June 1915.

Young (A Young 1958) suggest that this site was probably of later date than Dun Scurrival or Dun Cuier (which are possible 4th to 7th century) for, though a characteristic causeway links it with the shore, Scott (Information from Sir Lindsay Scott to A Young) , who examined this (and NF70SW 1) carefully, considered that the existing remains, taking both sites together, were of rectangular buildings, one 30ft by 25ft, the other 25ft square, opening on to courtyards.
Tebbutt reports this structure as being circular.
A Young 1958; Information from C F Tebbutt, 1959.

The dun is as described by the Commissioon and now appears as a sub-circular, grass-covered, earth and stone bank some 10.0m. in diameter. A portion of the eastern arc of dry-stone walling is visible, measuring 2.5m long, 1.5m wide and 0.8m high. The central area
enclosed by the bank is completely obscurred by scrub and a quantity of tumble.
The dun is connected to the mainland by a massive low causeway 70.0m long and approx. 6.0m wide, submerged at all times except low water. Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (R B) 21 May 1965.


Keith Branigan & Patrick Foster, 2000, From Barra to Berneray: Archaeological Survey and Excavation in the Southern Isles ..., 13 (Bibliographic reference). SWE41033.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Bibliographic reference: Keith Branigan & Patrick Foster. 2000. From Barra to Berneray: Archaeological Survey and Excavation in the Southern Isles .... SEARCH vol 5. 13.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jul 28 2005 2:24PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.