Hebridean Archaeological Sites
Allathasdal, Barra
Main Article
This site was investigated by Channel 4's Time Team in May 2007. Amongst other remains, a well-preserved Iron Age wheelhouse was uncovered, and nearby, a group of earlier roundhouses of Bronze Age date.
The site has been occupied by prehistoric people throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, from almost 2000 BC until the early centuries of the first millennium AD. The earlier phase was revealed to have been a settlement of stone-built round houses, with central hearths, earth floors and, quite fascinatingly, ritual foundation deposits of animal burials. There were also faint traces of ancient ploughing in the underlying soil, telling us something of the lives of these early Hebridean farmers.
Ground-penetrating radar had picked up a strong signal nearby, showing a massive circular building of about 10 meters diameter. Trenches were immediately opened there, and the visiting archaeologists were impressed to see a well-preserved Hebridean wheelhouse emerging from the sand, with its circular interior divided into segments by radial stone walls, and a large open hearth in the centre of the building. This house also had a long entrance passage wa, and a well-defended threshold with bar-holes in the walls. Whalebone ribs were found lying on the floor, which caused speculation that they might have been used as roof "timbers" on this largely treeless island. The geophysics team did manage to dispel a local rumour, however, that a nearby dune contained a Viking ship burial.
Related Events
Some important events in Hebridean history happened at this location. For more details on these events, see the list below, or go to the Interactive Explorer.
SMR Database Entries
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has an extensive online Sites and Monuments Records database, with in-depth details about the historical, cultural and archaeological sites and monuments in the Hebrides. This site is featured in this database, and the list below gives links to read more. These links will open in a new browser window / tab.
