Description

The monument comprises the remains of a broch, a complex and substantial stone-built roundhouse, dating to the Iron Age (800BC-400AD) It occupies a partially artificial island with a causeway linking it to the loch shore. A number of stone-built enclosures, probably of medieval or post medieval date, abut the broch. The monument is located within Loch an Duin, North Uist, at about 10m above sea level. 

The broch is located on the southeastern end of a sub-oval shaped island. The island, which is a modified natural feature, measures about 35m by 25m. The broch is sub-circular on plan and measures about 19m by 16m internally. The wall stands up to about 2m in height. Features visible within the broch wall include a stair, gallery and long intra-mural chamber. The enclosures have been built against the north side of the broch and appear to have been constructed after the broch was out of use. The causeway runs in an arc from northwest to southeast. It is about 32m long and up to about 3.5m wide, built of stone and utilising a natural islet.

The scheduled area is irregular. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past as a well-preserved island broch with a causeway and evidence for later re-use. It has potential to contribute to our understanding of the construction and function of island structures during prehistory. The later enclosures demonstrate the continued importance of this place. The broch retains a good deal of its original structural features and there is significant potential for the survival of buried archaeological deposits within and around the site. The partially submerged nature of the site means that there is a high potential for the preservation of organic material relating to the site's construction and use that rarely survives outside of waterlogged contexts. The monument can significantly add to our understanding of domestic settlement, society, agriculture and economy during the Iron Age.

The monument is a particularly good example of an island broch and is therefore an important representative of this monument type. It is part of a wider cluster of island duns and brochs in this part of North Uist, including Loch an Duin (NRHE ID 10351), Loch Bru (NRHE ID 10369) and Dunan Dubh (NRHE ID 10376). It can tell us about the character, development and use of defended settlements, and the nature of Iron Age society, economy and social hierarchy in the Western Isles. As a relatively undisturbed high-status settlement site, it can inform our understanding of the Iron Age landscape of North Uist.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/10364/

HER/SMR Reference

https://her.cne-siar.gov.uk/Monument/MWE10364

Source: Historic Environment Scotland