Monument record 1936 - ALLT CHRISAL, BARRA

NL69NW 7.4 6420 9768.

T14: this cairn was also selected for sampling. At about 4m in diameter it proved to be larger that expected beneath overgrowth. It northern third was excavated with a trench 2m by 5m.

The original cairn consisted or rather large gneiss clasts, 30-40cms across and even larger blocks of rock or more regular shape. It seems likely that the latter were tumbled stones from the walls of NL69NW 7.05.
These and the other large stones at the base of the cairn probably represent primary clearance of the land ready for cultivation. Subsequent activity is represented by the mound of much smaller stones which are heaped on the cairn. There is little doubt that the cairn was constructed about the same time as the house at Allt Chrisal (NL69NW 7.06). The only artefact recovered was a flint flake in the topsoil.
K Branigan 1989c; K Branigan and P Foster 1995; NMRS MS/595/3.

K Branigan, 1989c, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 68 (Bibliographic reference). SWE10410.

K. Brannigan & P. Foster, 1995, Barra: archaeological research on Ben Tangaval from the end of the Ice Age to the Crofting Commissio, 35, 49, 51, 163 (Bibliographic reference). SWE33223.