Fàilte chun làrach-lìn aig Pròiseact Àrc-Eòlais Dhùn Èistean. Tha eadar-theangachadh den Beurla ann an-seo.

REPORTS

Report to the Medieval Rural Settlement Group, CBA

PUBLICATIONS

Barrowman, R (2008) ‘Splendid Isolation: Changing perceptions of Dùn Èistean, an island on the north coast of the Isle of Lewis’ from The Archaeology of Scottish Islands, edited by Noble, G, Poller, T and Raven, J (2008), Tempus, Stroud

Dùn Èistean is a multi-period archaeological site on an inter- tidal sea stack on the north east coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland. Traditionally it is the stronghold of the Clan Morrison. The ruins of two large buildings and groups of inter-connecting cellular structures can be seen amongst the grassy tussocks on the top of the island, as well as an artificial pond and a low turf wall enclosing the site. The most prominent feature of the site is a large circular mound of rubble situated on the highest point of the stack, on the north east side of the site. The topographical survey of the site shows these buildings.

The island would have provided all that was needed for occupation, having its own fresh water supply in the form of the artificial pond, and numerous buildings serving an array of purposes, from storage to sleeping quarters.

Historically and archaeologically the Western Isles in the medieval period differed from mainland Scotland . The Western Isles were culturally Scandinavian and politically part of Norway during the period c AD 800 to c AD 1300. There are a variety of physically similar sites to Dùn Èistean around the coast of Lewis and the southern Western Isles, many of which have been occupied or used at the same time. There is also evidence from these sites of activity in the Iron Age or earlier prehistoric periods, and it is highly likely similar early evidence is awaiting discovery at Dùn Èistean below the later Dun and turf buildings.

With the demise of the Norse political control of the Western Isles in the 13^th century, powerful clans emerged. The local traditions and stories relating to Dùn Èistean, and the Clans of Morrison, MacLeod and Macaulay in particular, emerge from this volatile and often violent period in Lewis’ history.

Dùn Èistean is now the focus of a multi-disciplinary project researching the history and archaeology of Ness .

To see the results of the 2007 excavtion go to the site diaries page.

updated 26th October 2007

Dùn Èistean Archaeology Project, for further information contact DEAP Telephone: 01851 810 377