Description
The monument is a multi-period settlement, dating from the Iron Age (800BC-400AD) to the 20th century. It comprises the remains of an Iron Age broch, which is a complex and substantial stone-built roundhouse, a medieval settlement with an enclosing wall (400-1500AD), and a 19th century farmstead and later remains. The settlement remains lie within the subcircular enclosing wall, defining an area about 48m in diameter on a small modified or artificial island. A causeway connects the island to Eilean Dubh to the north. The monument is located in Loch Dùn Mhurchaidh, at about 5m above sea level.
The broch has been heavily robbed, presumably for the construction of the later features. It is 16.5m in diameter, with walls standing up to 1.3m in height. There is an entrance passage on the northeast and a possible gallery on the north and west. The causeway, which is about 137m long and 3.5m wide, is likely of similar date. The loch level has been lowered since it was built and about 25m of the causeway's northern extent is now on dry land. The remains of a substantial enclosing wall, likely medieval in date, indicates the approximate original extent of the island, which is now slightly larger because of lowered loch levels. The wall measures 1.4-2.1m thick, spread up to about 7.5m, with a maximum height of 2.3m. It has been heavily robbed on the northeast side.
Nine sub-rectangular structures, measuring between 9m and 12m in length, have been recorded within and around the broch. Two, one to the northwest of the broch and the other to the northeast, have sunken floors and appear to date to the medieval period. There may be the remains of a further medieval building within the broch. The remaining buildings likely relate to a 19thcentury farmstead, two of which are typical blackhouses of this period. A wall, measuring up to 2m wide and 1m in height, surrounds the farmstead. A transverse wall across the south end of the causeway and a sheep fold also likely date to this phase of activity. The latest remains on the monument are seven small circular structures around the perimeter of the island, likely to have been used as lambing pens or shooting butts, six boulder-built fishing stances extending into the water, and a naust on the northwest side of the island.
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.
Statement of National Importance
The national importance of the monument is demonstrated in the following way(s) (see Designations Policy and Selection Guidance, Annex 1, para 17):
a. The monument is of national importance because it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past as a multi-period settlement with Iron Age, medieval and later remains. In particular, it adds to our understanding of Iron Age and medieval society in the Western Isles of Scotland and the function, use and development of defended island sites.
b. The monument retains structural, and other physical attributes which make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past. There is significant potential for the survival of buried archaeological deposits. The overall plan and phasing of the monument is clear and understandable. The monument can significantly add to our understanding of domestic settlement, society, agriculture and economy during the Iron Age and the medieval periods.
c. The monument is a rare example of a site with evidence of continuous occupation from the Iron Age to the modern period. It is also a rare example of a medieval settlement on an island with a large defensive wall; It is rare example of a defended settlement on the Uists.
d. The monument is a particularly good example of a broch and of a medieval settlement and is therefore an important representative of these monument types.
e. The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past. It is of significant archaeological interest. In particular, there is the potential for undisturbed archaeological deposits to survive, along with traces of internal structures, artefacts, environmental remains and material for radiocarbon dating. This can help us to date the monument more closely and tell us about the lifestyle of the occupants in each phase of activity, including their daily activities, dress and diet as well as the local economy and links to wider societal changes.
f. The monument makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the historic landscape by its association with a wider cluster of brochs and duns on islands with or without causeways. There is the potential to study the monument in relation to other Iron Age and medieval defended settlements on a local and national scale to contribute to a better understanding of their distribution and chronology, their role in society, exploitation of natural resources and landforms, changing settlement patterns, and economy.
Assessment of Cultural Significance
This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:
Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past)
The monument is a multi-period settlement, including the remains of an Iron Age broch, medieval settlement and 19th century farmstead. These survive as stone footings and ruined structures and walls. The plan of the monument and its phasing are clear and understandable. Though the older remains have been significantly robbed of their stone during later phases of activity, the lower parts of the structures survive. The remains are enclosed by what would have been a massive stone wall likely built during the medieval phase of occupation of this site. It is connected to the larger island to its north, Eilean Dubh, by a stone causeway, which extends over the land at Eilean Dubh.
Due to its drystone construction and characteristic plan, the broch has been broadly dated to the late Iron Age with the potential for occupation into the early medieval period (400AD-1000AD). This is supported by dating evidence from comparable sites such as Nybster,broch on Brough Head (SM569; NRHE ID 9329), An Dun, broch, Clachtoll (SM1831; NRHE ID 4499) and Dun Flodigarry, broch 100m N of Flodigarry Hotel (SM8456; NRHE ID 11388). They represent defended settlements that could have accommodated an extended family or small community.
The medieval settlement is represented by the stone footings of two sub-rectangular structures, a possible structure within the broch, and the large enclosing wall. The rectangular structures appear to be similar to those found at sites such as Springwood Park in Kelso (NRHE ID 58460) and Finlaggan, settlement, burial ground and assembly site, Islay (SM2325; NRHE ID 37691). It has been suggested that the structures here are likely to date to the early medieval period (Raven 2012, 152-3). There is potential for archaeological investigation to confirm the date and phasing of the structures. A settlement in this location is depicted on Blaeu's Atlas of Scotland (1654), suggesting that Dun Buidhe may have been occupied into the 16thor 17th century. The enclosing wall suggest that this settlement was defended and is likely to have been high status. It is considered it the most impressively defended site in the Uists and may have been successively the stronghold of the Clann Ruairidh and the Clann Ragnaill (Raven 2012, 152-3).
There is evidence for continuous settlement and use of this site from the Iron Age through to the 20th century. This site is a rare example of a multiperiod settlement site with visible remains from the Iron Age, medieval, post-medieval and modern periods. Excavations at Iron Age sites with medieval reuse such as Jarlshof, broch and settlement (SM90174; NRHE ID 513) have shown the archaeological potential of these sites. There is potential for this site to add to our understanding of how these sites were reused, how settlement and land management changed over time, and how later peoples responded to the existing remains at this site.
There is good potential for the survival of archaeological features and deposits, including occupation and abandonment debris, artefacts and environmental remains such as charcoal or pollen within the monument. It has the potential to add to our understanding of settlement, land-use and environment during the Iron Age, medieval and later periods, as well as the structure of contemporary society and economy. Study of the form and construction techniques of structures within the monument, compared with other brochs and medieval and later settlements, would enhance our understanding of the development sequence of this site and of multi-period settlements in general.
Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)
Brochs and duns are found throughout Scotland. The National Record of the Historic Environment records 230 brochs and duns in Na-Eilean Siar, predominately positioned in coastal locations or near/within lochs. Some 66 of these have associated causeways. The site is part of a local cluster of duns located on loch islands, both natural and artificial. There are 11 on Benbecula, including Eilean Iain, dun,Loch Eilean Iain, Benbecula (SM5208; NRHE ID 9974), Dun Torcusay, dun 290m ESE of Garry-a-siar, Benbecula (SM5119: NRHE ID 9973), Dun Mhic Uisdein (NRHE ID 10207), Dun Ruadh (NRHE ID 9976) and Dun Aonais (NRHE ID 9977). There is potential to study these sites together to better understand their functions within the local communities, settlement hierarchy and possible chronological development in the area.
Medieval settlement remains are relatively rare in Scotland. There are 12 records of medieval settlements in Na-Eilean Siar in the National Record of the Historic Environment, two of which are on the site of prehistoric monuments: Rudha Shilldinish (SM5253; NRHE ID 4304) on Lewis, and Coileagan An Udal (NRHE ID10330) on North Uist. Medieval defended settlement sites are rare on the Uists, with just two castles (Borve Castle, Benbecula (SM5568; NRHE ID 9962) and Castle Calvay, South Uist (SM5853; NRHE ID 10130)) and one medieval tower house (Caisteal Bheagram, South Uist (SM5358; NRHE ID 9880)) noted in the National Record of the Historic Environment. Study of these sites has the potential to enhance and broaden our understanding of medieval society and community, as well as social organisation, land division and land use, in the Western Isles and more generally.
The monument is constructed on an either completely artificial or heavily modified island within Loch Dùn Mhurchaidh. The water level within the loch is likely to have been higher when the monument was built. Its position in the loch would have acted as natural defences.
Associative characteristics (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)
There are no known associative characteristics that contribute to this monument's national importance.