United Kingdom

Dùn Èistean

Norse and Clan Morrison stronghold on a Lewis sea stack

Location

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Historical Context

About

Dùn Èistean is a multi-period archaeological site on an inter-tidal sea stack on the north east coast of the Isle of Lewis, near the village of Knockaird (Cnoc Àrd, Nis) in the area of Nis (Ness) in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is accorded the status of traditional stronghold of Clan Morrison, once a highly powerful family within the Lordship of the Isles, in local oral tradition. The ruins of two large buildings and groups of interconnecting 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.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Clan Morrison occupation and finds

16th–18th centuries

Norse control of the Western Isles

c. AD 800–c. AD 1300

Forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles

late 15th century

End of the clan system after Jacobite Rebellions

18th century

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Storage Structures

Storage Pits
category

Defensive Structures

Defensive WallsFortresses
category

Water Management Features

Reservoirs
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Domestic and Habitation Structures

Houses
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial MoundsLandscaped Earthworks
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

58.50° N, -6.23° E