Statement of National Importance
Cultural Significance
The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:
Intrinsic characteristics
The monument survives in relatively good condition overall. The enclosing bank and ditch are intact and there is no evidence of disturbance of the interior other than by vegetation: the interior has been colonised by rushes and wild iris. The enclosing bank, though slight in places, appears uninterrupted and is best preserved on the E and W sides. The external ditch is also slight and in places its outer edge is difficult to distinguish from the surrounding landform. There is no visible entrance through the bank or ditch. The topography of the site suggests that the interior has been built up, which may indicate the presence of significant buried remains, including burials or structures, although no features are visible on the surface today.
Cill an-t-Suidhe burial ground appears to belong to a class of circular or near circular ditched enclosures for which an early Christian origin has been postulated. Both the place name and morphology of the site support this suggestion, although nothing is known of the history of the site and it is possible, albeit less likely, that this is a medieval chapel and burial ground or a post-medieval burial place. The place name indicates that there was once a church here and researchers have suggested this is the site of the former chapel of Killean, which is reputed to have stood hereabouts; its dedication was presumably to St John.
There is a high likelihood that significant archaeological features and structures survive in the buried layers, including burials, burial structures, grave-markers and, possibly, the remains of an early church. The site is poorly drained, which means there is high potential for any archaeological remains to be well preserved in possibly anaerobic (waterlogged) conditions. It has been suggested that some burials may have been moved here from the mainland to avoid their disturbance by animals. The monument is of particular interest because it could enhance our understanding of early medieval ecclesiastical sites and burial practices, and could provide information about the health, diet, lifestyle and life expectancy of the early medieval population through scientific analysis of any human remains. The external ditch is also likely to contain important archaeological evidence, including artefacts and palaeoenvironmental information.
Contextual characteristics
This site is closely comparable in scale and morphology to another sub-circular burial ground on Lismore, at Clachan, which lies only 2.6km NNE of Cill an-t-Suidhe. A recent archaeological survey at Clachan has revealed a more complex set of features than anticipated, including a rectilinear structure or building abutting its NW side and a possible platform in the interior. A second chapel site at Killandrist supposedly lies on the shores of Loch Baile na Ghobhainn, about 350m SE of that at Clachan. Another chapel site and holy well is located at Port Moluag, some 3.5km NE of Cill an-t-Suidhe.
Lismore therefore has several ecclesiastical sites in the northern half of the island, including St Moluag's Cathedral, 3.2km NNE of Cill an-t-Suidhe, which would have been the main focus of ecclesiastical life on the island. Cill an-t-Suidhe is positioned fairly centrally on the island and is likely to have been locally important. Another chapel and burial ground lies on the small island of Bernera, just off the SW coast of Lismore, about 5km W of Cill an-t-Suidhe. No early ecclesiastical sites are known in the southern half of Lismore.
The site overlooks a series of cliffs dropping eastwards towards the sea. Higher ground to the W precludes views in that direction, but there are wide views to the E towards Appin and Benderloch on the mainland. The Iron Age duns of Sean Dun and Dun Mor lie respectively 660m to the SSW and 1.1km to the WSW, in similar topographical locations. A massive bronze armlet of Iron Age date was found near to Cill an-t-Suidhe, while digging in advance of building an extension to the farmhouse at Newfield. This type of armlet dates to around AD 80-200 and is often found in votive deposits, which may indicate that the vicinity of Cill an-t-Suidhe also had some religious or ritual significance in pre-Christian times.
Associative characteristics
The site is named as 'Cill an-t-Suidhe (burial ground) (disused)' on the OS second edition map.
National Importance
The monument is of national importance as a good example of a burial ground of probable early Christian date and because the place name 'Cill' indicates there was also a church or chapel on this site at some stage of its existence. Its significance is enhanced as one of several early Christian sites in Lismore and Bernera, which together could elucidate our understanding of the organisation of the early Church. Significant buried archaeological remains are expected to survive, some of which may be well preserved because of the likely waterlogged nature of some deposits. There is high potential for the presence of early medieval and possibly later burials within the enclosure, as well as possibly the remains of a church or chapel. The loss of the site would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand the impact and organisation of Christianity in early medieval Scotland and the character of early Christian burial and ecclesiastical sites.