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Dun Bharabhat, Great Bernera

Coordinates: 58°13′00″N 6°50′42″W / 58.21664°N 6.845081°W / 58.21664; -6.845081
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58°13′00″N 6°50′42″W / 58.21664°N 6.845081°W / 58.21664; -6.845081

Dun Bharabhat
Hollow wall of Dun Bharabhat
Dun Bharabhat, Great Bernera is located in Outer Hebrides
Dun Bharabhat, Great Bernera
Shown within Outer Hebrides
LocationGreat Bernera
Coordinates58°13′00″N 6°50′42″W / 58.21664°N 6.845081°W / 58.21664; -6.845081
TypeBroch
History
PeriodsIron Age

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).

Location

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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

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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 intramural galleries are evident from the shore.[3]

References

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  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. ^ a b c Dixon, Nicholas (2004). The Crannogs of Scotland: An Underwater Archaeology. Tempus. p. 72. ISBN 075243151X.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Historic Environment Scotland. "Lewis, Great Bernera, Loch Baravat, Dun Baravat (4089)". Canmore. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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Media related to Dun Bharabhat, Great Bernera at Wikimedia Commons