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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
Source: BBC News Website [February 09, 2018]