Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are helping to fund an Archaeological Project which is taking place on Lewis to investigate the many promontory and stack settlements perched around the coast of Lewis, which date back from the Neolithic through to the 17 th Century.
The Isle of Lewis has a very long exposed coastline rich in history that is being heavily eroded by the fury of the Atlantic storms. Exposed stack and promontory sites take the brunt of these storms and are disappearing fast. At the moment very little is known about these sites and this is due to the fact they are so inaccessible.
‘STAC’ Severe Terrain Archaeological Campaign was established in June 2003 as a pilot project to take advantage of the skills and experience of a group of archaeologists with rope access training and climbing skills in order to overcome the risks of assessing and recording such sites.
The work was funded by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Historic Scotland, The Society of Antiquaries and the Russell Trust with help from the SCAPE Trust and the Comunn Eachdraidh Nis. |
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This project proved to be highly successful thus STAC are back to take preliminary steps towards a much bigger project. This summer the team will be surveying sites from Mangersta round to Lochs, creating a database of inaccessible sites for the whole of Lewis.
In future years it is hoped to follow this with small-scale excavations, story collecting and eventually academic and non-academic publishing. Further investigation is needed for Harris and the rest of the Outer Hebrides, but this all depends on further funding.
STAC’S Archaeologists are interested in any local stories in relation to sea stacks and are encouraging people to contribute to this exiting project.
If you know of any local stories which could help STAC with their project please write to:
Dr Chris Barrowman
16 Eorodale
Port of Ness
01851 810 112
Or write to Ian McHardy at: ianmchardy@fastmail.fm
Phone: 07788556758
Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk |
