Hebridean Archaeological Sites
Aird ma-Rhuibhe, Berneray (with audio)
Main Article
David Simon
Close to the ferry terminal lie the slight remains of a burial cairn, probably dating to about 700 AD.
This is a rare example of a distinctive group of cairns known as Pictish square cairns, more commonly found in Eastern and Northern Scotland. Built up from the bedrock in a prominent position, a large stone-built platform measuring 3 metres square was raised. There may have been wooden posts set at the north and south corners, perhaps even decorated with Pictish symbols, of which nothing now survives. The grave itself was constructed diagonally between the north and south corners, again built up from the bedrock, and the body would have been laid fully extended within, although no human remains survived. Then a cairn of pebbles was raised over the entire monument.
Surprisingly, the pebbles seem to have been gathered from field clearance in different areas of Berneray rather than from the nearby shore, so they may have had particular symbolic significance.
Two other square cairns to be found in the Outer Hebrides are in South Uist at Cille Pheadair and South Glendale. The burial at Cille Pheadair was dated to about 700 AD, and contained the body of a woman aged about 40. The closest parallels for the Uist burial cairns are found in Shetland.
The Picts were inhabitants of northern Scotland between the 3rd and 9th centuries AD. The heartland of their culture is found in north and east Scotland, but we do not know whether the people of the Hebrides considered themselves to be part of that group of people, or whether the Picts were a distinct people who traded and occasionally settled here.
This cairn was identified in 1998 during archaeological survey in advance of the building of the causeway and the new ferry slipway.
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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.
