Steinacleit Cairn and Stone Circle
Hidden beneath a pillar of peat
The prehistoric monument at Steinacleit was discovered during peat cutting in the 1920s. A pillar of peat remaining on the site gives an idea of the depth of peat at the time – about one metre of vegetation had built up on the site.
Steinacleit comprises an oval enclosure, within which sits a stony mound. It’s never been archaeologically investigated, so we can’t say for certain what purpose it originally served.
Settlement or cemetery?
When first discovered, the site was thought to be a chambered cairn and stone circle dating to about 2000 BC. However, recent excavations elsewhere in the Western Isles have discovered remains of similar structures.
These have proven to be settlements, not cemeteries, dating to about 4,000 years ago. It’s possible that Steinacleit is the house and yard of an early farmer.
Statement of Significance
You can find out more about Steinacleit in our Statement of Significance, part of a series of special documents outlining the history and development of Historic Scotland sites.
Discover more on trove.scot
See archive photographs of Steinacleit, plus archaeology notes and more on trove.scot.