Medieval sheep pen found on Lewis

A medieval sheep fank has been discovered in the Outer Hebrides by water workers.

A Scottish Water project on the Isle Lewis has led to the discovery of the site, thought to be up to 700 years old.

It was discovered close to Gress and made up of linear stone features, pits and postholes, produced over 100 shards of pottery, an unidentified coin, fish and animal bones.

Analysis of the finds has just been received, tentatively dating the site to between the 14th and 16th centuries AD.

It is thought to have been a fank or area for gathering and penning sheep before selection for slaughter for food or shearing, rather than a domestic dwelling due to the layout of the stone features, holes, and banks of earth.

A present-day sheep pen stands near the historic fank.

Alastair Rees, of ARCHAS Ltd, who worked with Scottish Water and Western Isles Council’s Archaeology Service at the site, said: “This discovery was not only very interesting but helps greatly with our knowledge of this time period in the Western Isles.

“The features and artefactual evidence that has been recovered is suggestive of food consumption and the processing of sheep and other animals.”

He added: “We have very little evidence from the medieval period in the Western Isles, partly because of the organic nature of the buildings and possibly because many of the later blackhouse settlements obscured the earlier evidence.”

The site was discovered during a £9.3 million project to renew water mains between Marybank and Tolsta, as well as install a new pumping station and water storage tank.