Cladh Hallan

Cladh Hallan is an archaeological site in South Uist on the Outer Hebrides with remains of roundhouses whose floors were sunk deep below ground level. The settlement was surrounded by ancient fields where burials took place, and it shows signs of continuous occupation across many generations.

Settlement at this location began around 4000 years ago and showed intense human activity across several centuries. Archaeological excavations between 1988 and 2002 revealed the depth of this early occupation and its importance for understanding Bronze Age societies.

The burial customs seen here show how people preserved their dead in peat bogs and later kept them inside their homes. This practice was likely connected to religious or communal rituals that held meaning for the daily life of those who lived there.

The site is best explored with enough time to take in the various structures and burial fields across the ground. Weather in the Hebrides changes quickly, so waterproof clothing is important to make the visit comfortable.

Scientists found skeletons here that were assembled from body parts of different people, suggesting complex rituals. This discovery shows that residents treated their dead in ways that remain puzzling to understand today.