Introduction
by Robert Morrison
rsmorris@bellsouth.net
The Mound over the Keep, before Burning Off the Vegetation
GENERAL INFORMATION
Dun Eistein ("Dun Esh-ten") is the
ancient stronghold of the Morrisons of Ness, the family which held the
hereditary Brieveship at Habost in the Isle of Lewis under the Lords of
the Isles. The Dun is a "sea stack" - an elevated area similar to a mesa
which is isolated from the mainland of Lewis by the sea at high tide; at
low tide the Dun is accessible by foot. Regular human occupation ended
hundreds of years ago, after the Morrisons of Ness were broken by the
MacLeods. The remains of a number of structures are still there, however,
leaving a record of the prior occupants which has been waiting to be
explored.
In 1999 the Clan Morrison Society of
North America undertook a fund-raising campaign. The objective was to
raise the necessary funds (£20,000) for a preliminary archaeological
survey of Dun Eistein. This campaign was successful, and negotiations with
the Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) led to an
agreement for the performance of the work.
DUN EISTEIN 2000
Phase I, the archaeological and
topographical survey and preliminary assessment took place during the year
2000. The island was surveyed in detail, giving precise locations for the
various structures and features on the island. There were three major
objectives:
The analysis of the Dun Eistein
monument and the island landscape is documented to modern standards.
Accurate mapping of the site and
surrounding landscape.
Obtaining safe access to the site.
The work led to the publication of a
report describing the study findings, which has been posted on the GUARD
web site (see Appendix). The report describes the work done in detail,
giving preliminary conclusions about the structures on the site as well as
details on the survey methodology used. The report was summarized in an
article published in Fios, the North Lewis Weekly, on November 17,
2000. This article was written by Dr. Stephen Driscoll, research director
of GUARD, and Dr. Chris Barrowman, the field team leader.
DUN EISTEIN 2001
Phase II of the survey was conducted in
May-June, 2001. This phase consisted of a Geophysical Survey of the Dun,
combined with the excavation of a series of test trenches in promising
locations. To improve access to the site, a Tyrolean Traverse was
installed, allowing the archaeological and geophysical team members to get
on and off the Dun without being dependent on the state of the tides. Dr.
Chris Barrowman, the leader of the field team, posted weekly status
reports on the web site of Comunn Eachdraidh Nis. These reports enabled
the friends and supporters of this work to keep up with what was
happening.
The formal report for Phase II was
issued in May, 2002 and posted on the GUARD web site. The major objectives
for this phase of the work were:
Geophysical Survey
to identify any further archaeological
structures not visible on the surface.
to clarify the extent and morphology
of the visible structures, to help determine where to locate the trial
trenches.
Trial Excavations
to refine our understanding of the
archaeological resource by characterising the nature and extent of
buried deposits and determine whether they could be linked to the
standing structures.
to assess the potential of the
deposits within the lochan (Structure E) for environmental studies and
for waterlogged objects.
The preliminary survey produced a number
of exciting discoveries. It now appears that the "Dun" on Dun Eistein is a
small tower house or "keep", and not the more usual "broch". This keep may
rest upon the remains of an earlier and structure built on the same site.
Glass fragments have been discovered of
a type common in bottles made in Germany in the 16th century. It now
appears that at some period in its history, Dun Eistein may have been a
center for trade and commerce, occupied on a more or less permanent basis
and not just a refuge for use in time of danger. Much more work needs to
be done to confirm this hypothesis, but it seems that there is a real
opportunity to greatly increase our store of knowledge about life in
Scotland during the Middle Ages.
The topographical, geophysical, and
archaeological studies completed to date confirm that Dun Eistein is a
site of great archaeological and historical importance which demands
further investigation. A plan has been developed for further investigation
of Dun Eistein during the years 2002, 2003, and 2004, combined with
additional historical studies to try to determine more about what life was
like on Dun Eistein.
The final reports and other
documentation, including a book oriented to the general reader, will be
developed in 2005 and 2006. The cost of this effort is estimated to be in
the range of $600,000 to $800,00. Most of this money is obtainable from
various governmental bodies and historical associations in the United
Kingdom, but it will still be necessary to raise a substantial sum through
private contributions.
The project has captured the imagination
of the people of Lewis, and is now being enthusiastically supported by
Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (the Ness Historical Society) and by Comhairle Nan
Eilean Siar (the Council for the Western Isles). Sufficient funding has
been obtained to construct a bridge to Dun Eistein from the mainland of
Lewis, along with an approach road. The bridge was dedicated on July 24th,
2002 in a ceremony attended by Morrisons from around the world who were
attending a Gathering of the Clan to learn more about the project. The
tyrolean traverse which was used during the 2001 field season is no longer
be necessary.
The old Clan Morrison Society in
Scotland has been reformed as the Clan Morrison Society of the Outer
Hebrides. The new Society will be the "private sector" body which oversees
the various governmental grants and also receives and disburses the
private contributions. Anyone in the United States and Canada wishing to
help should make checks payable to "CMSNA - Dun Eistein Project" and mail
them to:
Jeff Moore, Treasurer
Clan Morrison Society of North America
2600 W. La Habra Blvd., #143
La Habra, CA 90631
The Clan Morrison Society of North
America is qualified under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code as
an Educational Charitable organization. All contributions are
tax-deductible and will be receipted.
For more information visit the world
wide web:
