31630: LSFH 29.3 Aird Sithaig – HOUSE (Norse – 1067 AD to 1266 AD)

Summary:

HOUSE (Norse – 1067 AD to 1266 AD)
Boat-shaped house

Location:

NB 27465 16642

Full description:

"Situated at the north end of the Aird Sithaig headland, where it meets the shore, this structure is located under the remains of pre-crofting blackhouse (29.2) and a sheiling/bothie (29.1). Surviving as a curving wall footing or platform on the south side of blackhouse (29.2) this structure is constructed of stone with a possible earth core. It bows out to up to a metre south of the straight face of the later blackhouse wall. The form and location of this structure suggest that it might be the remains of an earlier house pre-dating the blackhouse, possibly boat-shaped in form and ?Norse in date." "Situated across much of the Aird Sithaig headland this group of monuments are noticeable for their close proximity to one another. Two landscapes may seem to have been identified from among the remains. The first consists of a post-medieval/pre-crofting settlement that includes a blackhouse (29.2) and a feannagan field system (29.11). Several cellular structures formed of stone, along the west shore of the headland (29.8 and 29.9) may also date to this phase of activity. The second phase of activity on the site is likely to be one of marine industry, relating to kelp collection and processing. This phase can be seen as a series of cellular structures or kilns that seem to have been cut into the tops of the earlier feannagan (29.4, 29.5, 29.6, 29.7, 29.10,29.13 etc). These cells or kilns are all of similar size and construction and seem to post-date the earlier landscape. It is possible that the bothie/sheiling (29.1) constructed in the western edge of the earlier blackhouse (29.2) may relate to this phase of activity on the site. Pre-dating all of this is likely to be a Norse phase of activity that is visible solely through the remains of a boat-shaped house (29.3) located under the remains of blackhouse (29.2). There are no other remains that can be firmly dated to this possible earlier activity though it cannot be ruled out that some of the cellular structures in the vicinity may date to the Norse phase. How much of the activity on the headland can be associated with elements of the promontory enclosure (30) at its southern end and thought to be medieval in date, is also unclear, though again it cannot be ruled out that some of the features identified in the vicinity actually owe their origins to this phase of activities on site." (Burgess 2004, 39 and 44-45)

References:

Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004. Northamptonshire Archaeology Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle. Part No Loch Seaforth Head Gazeteer.

Acknowledgement:

Information provided by Western Isles Council Sites & Monuments Record, January 2006.