Condition

1
SOUTERRAIN
Iron Age
10127
MWE10127
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

At Kilpheder, coastal erosion has revealed thin layers of kitchen-midden and traces of a slight single wall, which curves in a northerly direction for several yards and seems to represent part of the underground linings of one of the earth-houses indicated by the OS. Finds from the former site include potsherds, hammer-stones, iron slag and a single cut-marked bone. A potsherd and an oval pebble fragment were found. 1911. At NF 7195 7408 a dune has been eroded by the sea, exposing a sand face c. 30.0m long. Midden material, a burnt layer about 1 1/2inches thick and building remains (probably of an earth-house) are exposed in the face. There are insufficient remains to justify survey action. The second earth-house was not located. Visited 1965. An 'Erd House' is recorded at this location on the 1st edition OS map. It is possible that this is the same site as 383. As previously described, a substantial midden layer was visible eroding out of the section at NF 71948 74082. Several pottery sherds were recovered and tentatively dated to the Iron Age. A possible souterrain was also visible within the section as coursed walls. Update 03/12/2015 The site is not as described, there has been a big blow out of the dune, exposing a number of features in plan. Reference to 'Whole site from NW' image uploaded shows the main features now evident which seem to include some not mentioned in the original SCAPE survey in 2005. Reference to older satellite images up to 15 years ago suggests that the coast edge has receded by at least 5m in that time, possibly up to 10m in places. The midden can be seen in the centre of the image as a darker brown area. This is substantial and full of shells of all types, but the original description suggests this was at the coast edge when originally surveyed in 2005. Below and to the W of this (right in the image) are the remains of a stone walled cellular structure eroding out of the seaward midden face. This has a curved back wall in coursed stonework with collapsed forward projecting walls either side, indicating an internal dia. of c. 4m. This is perhaps the 'possible souterrain' referred to in the first SCAPE survey. A few m to the E of this at a higher level (left in image) is the outline of a cruciform plan stone setting c. 10 x 5m with the stone lines c. 1.5m apart. Modern beach sculpture or ??. Towards the S end of the main midden is a single seemingly quarried slab c 1.5m long and 0.3-0.4 m thick lying on top of what appears to be another stone structure. Further S from that, the midden reappears with suggestions of other stone walls nearby.
Update March 2024 Faint indications of cruciform structure/souterrain? form visible. Spread of thin cultural deposits containing fire cracked stone, very fragmented pottery, calcined and burnt bone. Frequent winkle and limpet. Rare slag- like material, could be unrelated. Archaeological deposits and structures at the coast edge of blow out. Stone walls on the landward side are eroded parts of the enclosure 9356. This site is probably the same as Canmore 10117 and Canmore 10122. All these records represent extensive Iron Age settlement remains, investigated in the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

Location

71950.00
874080.00
27700
57.6367836
-7.4994831

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Tumbled section of south wall of -cattlefold- Site 9356, in foreground. Vague alignment of stone could represent a N-S oriented wall which meets the mid point of the cattlefold south wall, looking S. 11/03/2024 Tumbled section of south wall of -cattlefold- Site 9356, in foreground. Vague alignment of stone could represent a N-S oriented wall which meets the mid point of the cattlefold south wall, looking S. joannahambly
Tumbled section of south wall of -cattlefold- Site 9356, in foreground. Vague alignment of stone could represent a N-S oriented wall which meets the mid point of the cattlefold south wall, looking S.
South wall of large square enclosure, -cattlefold- Site 9356 which crosses the north side of the blow out, looking east. 11/03/2024 South wall of large square enclosure, -cattlefold- Site 9356 which crosses the north side of the blow out, looking east. joannahambly
South wall of large square enclosure, -cattlefold- Site 9356 which crosses the north side of the blow out, looking east.
Detail of cobble/boulder alignment, of possible N-S possible wall which meets the mid point of the -cattlefold- south wall. 11/03/2024 Detail of cobble/boulder alignment, of possible N-S possible wall which meets the mid point of the -cattlefold- south wall. joannahambly
Detail of cobble/boulder alignment, of possible N-S possible wall which meets the mid point of the -cattlefold- south wall.
Possible wall, oriented N-S which extends along the blowout and meets the mid point of the south wall of the cattle fold, looking N. Ranging rod next to the better preserved section in the foreground. 11/03/2024 Possible wall, oriented N-S which extends along the blowout and meets the mid point of the south wall of the cattle fold, looking N. Ranging rod next to the better preserved section in the foreground. joannahambly
Possible wall, oriented N-S which extends along the blowout and meets the mid point of the south wall of the cattle fold, looking N. Ranging rod next to the better preserved section in the foreground.
-Cruciform- structure possible souterrain? Looking NW 11/03/2024 -Cruciform- structure possible souterrain? Looking NW joannahambly
-Cruciform- structure possible souterrain? Looking NW
General view from coast edge, showing thin spreads of midden, looking east. Cruciform structure/ souterrain in foreground. N-S stone alignment in background. 11/03/2024 General view from coast edge, showing thin spreads of midden, looking east. Cruciform structure/ souterrain in foreground. N-S stone alignment in background. joannahambly
General view from coast edge, showing thin spreads of midden, looking east. Cruciform structure/ souterrain in foreground. N-S stone alignment in background.
General view, crucifrom structure/ souterrain in foreground and to the left, N-S wall extending across the blowout to meet mid point of large square -cattlefold- enclosure in the background. Looking north 11/03/2024 General view, crucifrom structure/ souterrain in foreground and to the left, N-S wall extending across the blowout to meet mid point of large square -cattlefold- enclosure in the background. Looking north joannahambly
General view, crucifrom structure/ souterrain in foreground and to the left, N-S wall extending across the blowout to meet mid point of large square -cattlefold- enclosure in the background. Looking north
Composite aerial plan view 24/12/2015 Composite aerial plan view DavidNewman
Composite aerial plan view
Stone slab lintel and possible structure 03/12/2015 Stone slab lintel and possible structure DavidNewman
Stone slab lintel and possible structure
South end of midden exposure 03/12/2015 South end of midden exposure DavidNewman
South end of midden exposure
Cellular structure and midden 03/12/2015 Cellular structure and midden DavidNewman
Cellular structure and midden
Balelone, cruciform structure 03/12/2015 Balelone, cruciform structure DavidNewman
Balelone, cruciform structure
Cruciform plan structure from NW 03/12/2015 Cruciform plan structure from NW DavidNewman
Cruciform plan structure from NW
Site looking N 03/12/2015 Site looking N DavidNewman
Site looking N
Midden extension to S 03/12/2015 Midden extension to S DavidNewman
Midden extension to S
Quarried slab 03/12/2015 Quarried slab DavidNewman
Quarried slab
Cruciform plan structure viewed from SE 03/12/2015 Cruciform plan structure viewed from SE DavidNewman
Cruciform plan structure viewed from SE
Cellular structure 03/12/2015 Cellular structure DavidNewman
Cellular structure
Whole site from NW 03/12/2015 Whole site from NW DavidNewman
Whole site from NW

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
4726 11/03/2024 joannahambly
Description Update March 2024 Faint indications of souterrain form visible. Spread of thin cultural deposits containing fire cracked stone, very fragmented pottery, calcined and burnt bone. Frequent winkle and limpet. Rare slag- like material, could be unrelated. Archaeological deposits and structures at the coast edge of blow out. Stone walls on the landward side are eroded parts of the enclosure 9356
2294 03/12/2015 DavidNewman
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; active wind erosion (in dunes only); has eroded in the past
Threats stock erosion
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section Limited visibility in section
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is not locally known
Description At Kilpheder, coastal erosion has revealed thin layers of kitchen-midden and traces of a slight single wall, which curves in a northerly direction for several yards and seems to represent part of the underground linings of one of the earth-houses indicated by the OS. Finds from the former site include potsherds, hammer-stones, iron slag and a single cut-marked bone. A potsherd and an oval pebble fragment were found. 1911. At NF 7195 7408 a dune has been eroded by the sea, exposing a sand face c. 30.0m long. Midden material, a burnt layer about 1 1/2inches thick and building remains (probably of an earth-house) are exposed in the face. There are insufficient remains to justify survey action. The second earth-house was not located. Visited 1965. An 'Erd House' is recorded at this location on the 1st edition OS map. It is possible that this is the same site as 383. As previously described, a substantial midden layer was visible eroding out of the section at NF 71948 74082. Several pottery sherds were recovered and tentatively dated to the Iron Age. A possible souterrain was also visible within the section as coursed walls. Update 03/12/2015 The site is not as described, there has been a big blow out of the dune, exposing a number of features in plan. Reference to 'Whole site from NW' image uploaded shows the main features now evident which seem to include some not mentioned in the original SCAPE survey in 2005. Reference to older satellite images up to 15 years ago suggests that the coast edge has receded by at least 5m in that time, possibly up to 10m in places. The midden can be seen in the centre of the image as a darker brown area. This is substantial and full of shells of all types, but the original description suggests this was at the coast edge when originally surveyed in 2005. Below and to the W of this (right in the image) are the remains of a stone walled cellular structure eroding out of the seaward midden face. This has a curved back wall in coursed stonework with collapsed forward projecting walls either side, indicating an internal dia. of c. 4m. This is perhaps the 'possible souterrain' referred to in the first SCAPE survey. A few m to the E of this at a higher level (left in image) is the outline of a cruciform plan stone setting c. 10 x 5m with the stone lines c. 1.5m apart. Modern beach sculpture or ??. Towards the S end of the main midden is a single seemingly quarried slab c 1.5m long and 0.3-0.4 m thick lying on top of what appears to be another stone structure. Further S from that, the midden reappears with suggestions of other stone walls nearby.
Reassign to priority 1. Recommend expert visit to assess what appear to be exposures not referred to in original survey. More detailed survey and investigation.
Comments Overdrawing of Bing and Google satellite images dating back to 2004 shows head of beach moving steadily backwards between 5 and 10 metres in this area.

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