Condition

1
MIDDEN; WHEELHOUSE (POSSIBLE)
Iron Age
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

A possible wheelhouse and a large midden were recorded at this location. An area of beach c.35m long is covered with a large pile of stone, possibly structural in origin. Within this pile of stone a posthole surrounded by upright stones was discovered as well as a possible hearth, again surrounded by upright stones. Walls could be seen in the sand section and several artefacts were collected. These included pieces of pottery, slag and a hammerstone. This all appears to lie within a rich organic layer containing pottery, shells and animal bone which continues S along the beach for quite a distance. This is possibly the same site as 640. It lies c.1.5m below the top of the dune and the midden itself is c.0.5-1m at this point. 22/09/2014 ShoreUPDATE: As described, but further erosion has exposed clear structural evidence of at least one wheelhouse. This comprises the northern part of the external circular wall, at least 2 internal piers, midden, hearth and floor deposits. There is a further spread of stone and midden a few metres to the north of the main exposure. Archaeological remains extend at least 50m along the coast edge and stone from the structures is spread across the upper part of the beach in front of these exposures. At least 5 mounds can be seen in the hinterland behind the coast edge here. It is possible they are the buried remains of further Iron Age settlement. August 2016 Erosion continues with some of the embedded stones either moved or fallen onto the beach. January 2020 There has been siginificant erosion after the last storm (Storm Brendan, 13th January 2020). Much of the stonework previously exposed has been eroded away, including the obvious pier of the Teanna Mhachair wheelhouse visible in previous photos (e.g. Jan 2019). The storm appears to have also deposited a significant depth of storm beach against the section, obscuring lower deposits at the base of the section. About 10m to the north of the wheelhouse, a new exposure has been created with a wall at its southern edge and considerable shell midden material to the north.

Location

77558.00
861701.00
27700
57.5301285
-7.3895378

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Jan 2020: detail of new exposure of stonework 14/01/2020 Jan 2020: detail of new exposure of stonework rcauger
Jan 2020: detail of new exposure of stonework
Jan 2020: New exposure of stonework and midden 14/01/2020 Jan 2020: New exposure of stonework and midden rcauger
Jan 2020: New exposure of stonework and midden
Jan 2020: Wheelhouse site 14/01/2020 Jan 2020: Wheelhouse site rcauger
Jan 2020: Wheelhouse site
May 2018: aerial view of coastal edge with extensive midden deposit to south of main section 25/05/2018 May 2018: aerial view of coastal edge with extensive midden deposit to south of main section EllieSCHARP
May 2018: aerial view of coastal edge with extensive midden deposit to south of main section
May 2018: aerial view of structures in main section 25/05/2018 May 2018: aerial view of structures in main section EllieSCHARP
May 2018: aerial view of structures in main section
Jan 2019: wheelhouse structures eroding from coastal section 25/05/2018 Jan 2019: wheelhouse structures eroding from coastal section Tom
Jan 2019: wheelhouse structures eroding from coastal section
September 2019 detail of midden in eroding section. Photo: Andrew Cooper 07/08/2016 September 2019 detail of midden in eroding section. Photo: Andrew Cooper PhotoRecord
September 2019 detail of midden in eroding section. Photo: Andrew Cooper
September 2019 structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper 07/08/2016 September 2019 structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper PhotoRecord
September 2019 structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper
September 2019 eroding structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper 07/08/2016 September 2019 eroding structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper PhotoRecord
September 2019 eroding structures in section. Photo: Andrew Cooper
Aug 2016-View from SW 07/08/2016 Aug 2016-View from SW DavidNewman
Aug 2016-View from SW
Structures and midden in section May 2016 22/09/2014 Structures and midden in section May 2016 training1
Structures and midden in section May 2016
General view of the site and coast edge May 2016 22/09/2014 General view of the site and coast edge May 2016 training1
General view of the site and coast edge May 2016
detail showing midden and collapsed stonework in section by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 detail showing midden and collapsed stonework in section by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
detail showing midden and collapsed stonework in section by Susy Macaulay
View along the coast edge showing midden and walling by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 View along the coast edge showing midden and walling by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
View along the coast edge showing midden and walling by Susy Macaulay
Detail of masonry eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 Detail of masonry eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
Detail of masonry eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay
Central part of site between the column of masonry and an orthostat by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 Central part of site between the column of masonry and an orthostat by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
Central part of site between the column of masonry and an orthostat by Susy Macaulay
Detail of the column of masonry, eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 Detail of the column of masonry, eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
Detail of the column of masonry, eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay
Stonework and midden eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 Stonework and midden eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
Stonework and midden eroding from the coast edge by Susy Macaulay
General view of the site in the coast edge by Susy Macaulay 22/09/2014 General view of the site in the coast edge by Susy Macaulay PhotoRecord
General view of the site in the coast edge by Susy Macaulay
Aerial view from S 09/11/2014 Aerial view from S DavidNewman
Aerial view from S
Wheelhouse structures 09/11/2014 Wheelhouse structures DavidNewman
Wheelhouse structures
View of main exposure looking N 22/09/2014 View of main exposure looking N training1
View of main exposure looking N
General view looking SE, main exposure on background. Note spread of stone on upper beach 22/09/2014 General view looking SE, main exposure on background. Note spread of stone on upper beach training1
General view looking SE, main exposure on background. Note spread of stone on upper beach
Closer view of internal structure 22/09/2014 Closer view of internal structure training1
Closer view of internal structure
Closer view of external curving wall 22/09/2014 Closer view of external curving wall training1
Closer view of external curving wall
Remains of wheelhouse, looking E. Curving wall to left (north) of image, internal structures to right (south) 22/09/2014 Remains of wheelhouse, looking E. Curving wall to left (north) of image, internal structures to right (south) training1
Remains of wheelhouse, looking E. Curving wall to left (north) of image, internal structures to right (south)

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3340 14/01/2020 rcauger
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge 11-50m
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access easily accessible - no restrictions
Local knowledge is well known
Description A possible wheelhouse and a large midden were recorded at this location. An area of beach c.35m long is covered with a large pile of stone, possibly structural in origin. Within this pile of stone a posthole surrounded by upright stones was discovered as well as a possible hearth, again surrounded by upright stones. Walls could be seen in the sand section and several artefacts were collected. These included pieces of pottery, slag and a hammerstone. This all appears to lie within a rich organic layer containing pottery, shells and animal bone which continues S along the beach for quite a distance. This is possibly the same site as 640. It lies c.1.5m below the top of the dune and the midden itself is c.0.5-1m at this point. 22/09/2014 ShoreUPDATE: As described, but further erosion has exposed clear structural evidence of at least one wheelhouse. This comprises the northern part of the external circular wall, at least 2 internal piers, midden, hearth and floor deposits. There is a further spread of stone and midden a few metres to the north of the main exposure. Archaeological remains extend at least 50m along the coast edge and stone from the structures is spread across the upper part of the beach in front of these exposures. At least 5 mounds can be seen in the hinterland behind the coast edge here. It is possible they are the buried remains of further Iron Age settlement. August 2016 Erosion continues with some of the embedded stones either moved or fallen onto the beach. January 2020 There has been siginificant erosion after the last storm (Storm Brendan, 13th January 2020). Much of the stonework previously exposed has been eroded away, including the obvious pier of the Teanna Mhachair wheelhouse visible in previous photos (e.g. Jan 2019). The storm appears to have also deposited a significant depth of storm beach against the section, obscuring lower deposits at the base of the section. About 10m to the north of the wheelhouse, a new exposure has been created with a wall at its southern edge and considerable shell midden material to the north.
3325 25/05/2018 EllieSCHARP
Description May 2018 Drone survey carried out January 2019 Site visit Site as described, remains very vulnerable
2722 07/08/2016 DavidNewman
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; active wind erosion (in dunes only); has eroded in the past
Threats stock erosion; visitor erosion; other
Other threats A small excavation has been made into the base of the deposits.
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is well known
Description A possible wheelhouse and a large midden were recorded at this location. An area of beach c.35m long is covered with a large pile of stone, possibly structural in origin. Within this pile of stone a posthole surrounded by upright stones was discovered as well as a possible hearth, again surrounded by upright stones. Walls could be seen in the sand section and several artefacts were collected. These included pieces of pottery, slag and a hammerstone. This all appears to lie within a rich organic layer containing pottery, shells and animal bone which continues S along the beach for quite a distance. This is possibly the same site as 640. It lies c.1.5m below the top of the dune and the midden itself is c.0.5-1m at this point. 22/09/2014 ShoreUPDATE: As described, but further erosion has exposed clear structural evidence of at least one wheelhouse. This comprises the northern part of the external circular wall, at least 2 internal piers, midden, hearth and floor deposits. There is a further spread of stone and midden a few metres to the north of the main exposure. Archaeological remains extend at least 50m along the coast edge and stone from the structures is spread across the upper part of the beach in front of these exposures. At least 5 mounds can be seen in the hinterland behind the coast edge here. It is possible they are the buried remains of further Iron Age settlement. August 2016 Erosion continues with some of the embedded stones either moved or fallen onto the beach.
Continue monitoring
1787 22/09/2014 training1
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; active wind erosion (in dunes only); has eroded in the past
Visibility above ground Not visible
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access easily accessible - no restrictions
Local knowledge is well known
Description A possible wheelhouse and a large midden were recorded at this location. An area of beach c.35m long is covered with a large pile of stone, possibly structural in origin. Within this pile of stone a posthole surrounded by upright stones was discovered as well as a possible hearth, again surrounded by upright stones. Walls could be seen in the sand section and several artefacts were collected. These included pieces of pottery, slag and a hammerstone. This all appears to lie within a rich organic layer containing pottery, shells and animal bone which continues S along the beach for quite a distance. This is possibly the same site as 640. It lies c.1.5m below the top of the dune and the midden itself is c.0.5-1m at this point. 22/09/2014 ShoreUPDATE: As described, but further erosion has exposed clear structural evidence of at least one wheelhouse. This comprises the northern part of the external circular wall, at least 2 internal piers, midden, hearth and floor deposits. There is a further spread of stone and midden a few metres to the north of the main exposure. Archaeological remains extend at least 50m along the coast edge and stone from the structures is spread across the upper part of the beach in front of these exposures. At least 5 mounds can be seen in the hinterland behind the coast edge here. It is possible they are the buried remains of further Iron Age settlement.
Urgent action required. Upgrade to Priority 1*

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