C14 Radiocarbon Dating - Sample - SUERC-9702

Sample 8028 Context 8091 Along the northern side of the interior of the hut a sub-oval hollow (8090) was encountered measuring 1.03m east/west by 0.48m wide and up to 80mm deep. In the base of this feature a discrete, sub-circular deposit, 0.11m in diameter, of carbonised twigs and pieces of charcoal (8091) was evident. Both features were sealed by a very compact, mixed deposit of dark-brown sandy silt, brown-black humic clay, flecks and small pieces of charcoal and lenses of light yellow sand, all of which appeared to be trampled or pressed together. These layers were in turn sealed by floor deposit 8072, a sequence of post-abandonment deposits (8058 & 8061) and layers of tumble and destruction deposits (8054 & 8055), relating to the collapse of the upper structure of the building after abandonment. Given the composition of the sample it did not appeear to be a burnt stake. It's position and outline were similar to that of deposit 8072 above it, although the hollow was much smaller in extent. Some activity inside the shieling hut may have created the hollow, which was then filled in with carbonised material, subsoil and occupation deposits and finally sealed with the deposition of floor layer 8072. As such, the charcoal recovered relates to an early phase of use of the structure. The dominance of birch and heather, with a small amount of willow does not in itself suggest hearth rake-out. In consequence a discrete burning event within the structrure may be a more appropriate interpretation of the sample.

Canmore ID 24546

Map Number NN64SE

Site type Enclosure(S) (Period Unassigned), Shieling Hut(S) (Post Medieval)

Site number 2

NGR 266271 742769

Council 340

County 24

Parish KENMORE (PERTH AND KINROSS)

Lab Analysis ID SUERC-9702

Lab Preparation Code GU-13877

Material Dated Charcoal (Betula)

Researcher John A Atkinson

Uncalibrated date bp +/- error 345 bp +/-35

Uncalibrated date ad/bc +/- error ad 1605 +/-35

Delta -26.7

Lab Certificate