Monument record MHG54191 - Lithic scatter, Scalpay

At base of south-west facing slope covered in relict lazy-bed cultivation, and at 7 metres OD, numerous pieces of chipped stone were found. These were recovered from animal rubs, tracks and erosion features, 20 metres south-west
of the old wire boundary fence. It is possible that the main centre of the site lies upslope on the 12 metre raised beach platform. The area from which lithics were collected measures approximately 10.0 metres (NW-SE axis) by 8.0 metres, although the actual focus of settlement and the area it covers could not be confirmed during this survey.
The assemblage of struck stone collected from the erosion features comprises chalcedonic silica, quartz, quartzite, rock crystal and Rum bloodstone. The latter material type has its main source on the Hebridean island ofRum, to theouth of Skye. Most of the pieces collected comprised small fraction debitage, although snapped blade fragments and possible crescentic microliths could suggest a Mesolithic date for this site. <1>