Dun Bharabhat, Great Bernera

Dun Bharabhat (or Dun Baravat) is an Iron Age galleried dun or "semi-broch" situated on the island of Great Bernera near Lewis in Scotland (grid reference NB15583555).

Dun Bharabhat
Hollow wall of Dun Bharabhat
Shown within Outer Hebrides
LocationGreat Bernera
Coordinates58.21664°N 6.845081°W / 58.21664; -6.845081
TypeBroch
History
PeriodsIron Age

Location

Dun Bharabhat (pronounced 'Varavat') is situated on an islet in Loch Bharabhat on the island of Great Bernera which lies close to the west coast of Lewis.[1] It is to be distinguished from another Dun Bharabhat situated on a small loch near the northernmost point of Lewis.[2]

The broch stands high above the water,[3] and is connected to the shore by a 30 metre causeway.[4]

Description

The building is a D-shaped broch with a wall of uneven thickness.[4] The broch measures 17 metres by 13 metres externally.[4] The walls stand to a maximum height of 3.4 metres.[4] The building is badly ruined, and strewn with rubble. The entrance is on the northwest but cannot be seen.[4] Nevertheless, it is considered one of the best preserved of all the island duns.[3]

A ground level gallery can be seen at the east end of the high wall where an opening shows a small part of it.[4] A stairway is also present in this part of the building.[4] The upper part of the wall contains the remains of two superimposed galleries. The opening of a longitudinal gallery or cell running northeast from the entrance can still be seen at the west end of the high wall.[4] The intra-mural galleries are evident from the shore.[3]

References
  1. Ritchie, J N G (1998). Brochs of Scotland. Shire Publications. p. 52. ISBN 0747803897.
  2. Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Loch Baravat, Dun Baravat (4344)". Canmore. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  3. Dixon, Nicholas (2004). The Crannogs of Scotland: An Underwater Archaeology. Tempus. p. 72. ISBN 075243151X.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Great Bernera, Loch Baravat, Dun Baravat (4089)". Canmore. Retrieved 17 September 2014.

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