Site Event/Activity record EWE240 - Excavation and survey at Loch Bhorgastail, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

Universities of Reading / Southampton (2021) - Investigation of insitu layers of the crannog both terrestrial & submeged. Sample results indicate a Bronze Age date for the crannogs upper brushwood & stone layers, with a distinctly Neolithic date for the lower brushwood and timber componet of the islet. A final program of investigation was carried in July 2023 building on the earlier results. Again this comprised of both terrestrial & submeged excavation. The upper brushwood layer was dated to the Middle Bronze Age, and this below this Early Neolithic timber architecture was revealed including wattling. A small amount of Iron Age activity was also identified. The structure was seen to extend beyond the islet to the SE, into the deeper water. The construction of the crannog in this area comprised of layed timber 2-3 logs thick, sitting over loch bed silts. Large stones were also noted and these were potentially used as ballast for the intial construction. Further data was gathered from the site through coring and UAV surveys.