Eilean Na Comhairle

Excavations on Eilean na Comhairle in 1993 uncovered massive lime mortared walls, thought to be the remains of a mediaeval castle, On the basis of pottery found there, it is thought that this building may have been a hall-house built in the 13th century, Building 'a' shown on the plan, and overlying it, may have been the meeting place for the Council of the Isles, said to have sat here in the mediaeval period, as archaeological evidence shows it was occupied in the 15th century.

The walls of the castle were founded on rubble, retained around at least the south and west sides of the island by a thick dry-stone wall, evidently the remains of a dun or broch which forms the main mass of the island, This could have been a very significant structure in the Iron Age, An axe head dating from the Stone Age was found here so it would seem that Eilean na Comhairle, a man-made island, had been occupied for 5000 years.

Limited excavation to date has shown that the Council Island is mostly artificial, an accummulation of ruined buildings from different eras.

Above is pictured the remains of the Dun, superceded by the castle with the Council Chamber (a) and other buildings (b,c) on the surface.