old basket excavated at North Uist beach 14 November 2014 Last updated at 14:27 An artefact thought to be 3,500 years old that was uncovered by the tide on a Western Isles beach has been excavated before being washed away. The prehistoric basket was discovered in an area of shoreline where the sea has been eroding the land at Baleshare in North Uist. Archaeologists have managed to remove the object with help from the local community. It will be examined by AOC Archaeology Group. The basket appears to contain animal bones covered in a layer of quartz pebbles. Deborah Anderson, regional archaeologist with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said it could prove to be a historically valuable find. She said: "I'm delighted the rescue was successful. The archaeologists were brilliant and the local community were so helpful, we couldn't have done it without them.