Housebuilder uncovers Iron Age chamber on Isle of Lewis

A 2,000-year-old underground chamber has been uncovered during work to build a house on the Isle of Lewis, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides (an archipelago in Scotland)

The Iron Age chamber is known as a souterrain [Credit: Domhnall Macsuain]

The Iron Age souterrain was revealed during the digging of the foundations for the property in Ness.

Local archaeologists, husband and wife team Chris and Rachel Barrowman, are recording the souterrain.

Archaeologists Chris and Rachel Barrowman at the site of the find [Credit: Domhnall Macsuain]

Dr Barrowman said theories on the purpose of the stone-lined, flat stone-roofed structures included storing food.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "They are usually associated with what are known as Atlantic roundhouses, or wheelhouses, of the later Iron Age.

The souterrain is being recorded by archaeologists [Credit: Chris Barrowman]

"If this one was associated with a roundhouse it is likely to have been cleared away by now."

Dr Barrowman, who was asked to check the site by the contractor building the house using equipment from Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Society), said the souterrain was well preserved.

The souterrain may have been used for storing food [Credit: Domhnall Macsuain]

The archaeologist said he understood it to be the sixth to be recorded in the area.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's regional archaeologist is expected to liaise with the islander building the house on what happens next.

The ancient chamber was uncovered by chance during the digging of foundations for a house
[Credit: Chris Barrowman]

Dr Barrowman said it was likely that, following a full examination and recording of the site, the souterrain would be filled in and covered over to preserve the archaeology and then the construction of the new home would continue as planned.

Source: BBC News Website [February 09, 2018]