Monument record 615 - BALLA, ERISKAY

NF71SE 13 7857 1098.

At least two circular shielings, c. 2.5m diameter, and an associated enclosure, 5m diameter, and an arc of a second enclosure visible here. Visited by OS (J T T) 18 May 1965.

E 282:
This stone structure is situated on a natural platform above the beach of Coilleag. The surrounding vegetation is long grass and marran. Inside the structure only short grass is growing. Larger stones form the nearly round shape (diameter: 5.5 metres) of this structure while within small stones are visible. There is a smaller structure, made of the same kind of stones, to its northern side.
Interpretation: This stone structure could be the possible site of a Bronze Age Burial Cairn, of which only the base stones, forming a circle, survive. It would have originally had a mound.

This interpretation obviously differs very much from the earlier one (shieling). Usually shielings appear outside of the normal settlement area, they are dwellings in the outside grazing area used for the summer months. This site is neither near a grazing area, nor is it far away from the main settlement of Coilleag. These circumstances support the interpretation of a Burial place.
(Eriskay survey, Tessa Engelbrecht)