Cnip Wheelhouse, 1988

Some pictures (thanks Jutta) of the excavation of the Iron-age wheelhouse at Kneep over several years in the late 1980s.  The wheelhouse was completely buried in the dunes at the edge of Kneep beach but was exposed after erosion from winter storms.   The site consisted of two wheelhouses – one never completed – and was occupied ca. 200BC-200AD.  The main structure consisted of a long passage approaching a semi-subterranean room 7m in diameter with eight radiating chambers, under a corbelled roof.  The incomplete house provided archaeologist with an opportunity to examine building techniques.  The site was subsequently backfilled.

See also information about the site from the Comhairle SMR and detail and context from DW Harding.