Biruaslum

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View towards Bioruaslum off Vatersay

Biruaslum or Bioruaslam is an uninhabited, barely detached islet on the coast of Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides, and part of Inverness-shire.

The islet reaches 236 feet in height and has a ruined prehistoric fort on the southern side. Francis G. Thompson characterizes it as "high and virtually inaccessible";[1] James Fisher mentions a "fulmar flying up and down its tiny cliff."[2]

Cliff-fort

The vertical cliffs on the east side of the islet that separate it from Vatersay protect the site from the sea and a well-constructed wall that is 6 feet wide and 10 feet high in places encloses a substantial semi-circular area. The wall is around 165 feet long and best preserved at the south-east end. Attached to the uphill side of the wall are the remains of a small oval structure about 19m2 in area. The style of the fort is similar to Iron Age structures known from Ireland but the only datable finds so far discovered are of Neolithic pottery.[3][4]

Location

References

  • Branigan, Keith: 'Ancient Barra: exploring the Archaeology of the Outer Hebrides' (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, 2007)
  • Thompson, Francis G.: 'The Uists and Barra' (David and Charles, 1974)
  • Fisher, James: 'Rockall: The Islet of Birds'