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1. INTRODUCTION1.1 Background1.1.1 This report is one of several similar studies that have been produced toinvestigate and characterise the state of coastal erosion and the threat thisposes to the cultural heritage sites along the coastline of Scotland. The resultspresented here are based on the results of a coastal assessment survey carriedout in February and March 2005 on North Uist by CFA Archaeology Ltd(Survey 1). The study area (Fig. 1) includes the islands of Berneray andBaleshare and includes the north and west coasts of North Uist from Berneraycauseway to Benbecula causeway. A similar study was undertaken at thesame time by EASE Archaeology on Benbecula and South Uist (Survey 2).1.1.2 In mid January 2005, fierce storms hit the west coast of Scotland. Particularlyhard hit were the Western Isles, and the storms caused severe damage andtragically led to loss of life. Reports had been received that the west coasts ofNorth and South Uist and Benbecula had been affected by the extremewesterly and south-westerly winds. These coasts are largely composed ofareas of sand dune and are therefore highly susceptible to storm damage. Itwas claimed that some known archaeological sites were damaged in thestorms, whilst other, previously unrecorded, sites had been exposed. Thiscoastal zone assessment survey represented a rapid response to the problem.The aim of the survey was to audit the condition and number of coastal sites inorder to help the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar archaeologist devise a strategy formonument management.1.2 Project aims1.2.1 The objectives of this project were:• to increase knowledge concerning the coastal archaeological sites of NorthUist• to identify those sites that are at risk, either presently or potentially in thefuture, from erosion.1.3 Acknowledgements1.3.1 Tom Dawson (SCAPE) is thanked for providing advice during the early stagesof the survey. Mr George MacDonald, Factor for the North Uist Estate, isthanked for allowing land access and land use information. The authors aregrateful to Mary Harman of Scottish Natural Heritage, South Uist Office, forproviding information on the distribution of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.The survey data for Vallay was provided by Tom Dawson of The SCAPETrust: the Vallay survey was carried out by Tom Dawson and KatinkaStentoft, Kelvingrove Museum. Kind thanks to Earl Granville for hisassistance in taking Tom Dawson and Katinka Stentoft to the island andshowing them several sites.. Additional Loch Phaibeil survey data wasprovided by Ronan Toolis of AOC Archaeology.UISN/1051/04CFA