Test Pit Survey

Date 18 May 2022 - 19 May 2022

Event ID 1163412

Category Recording

Type Test Pit Survey

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1163412

ND 45641 86753 Three test-pits were excavated; (TP2206, TP2207, and TP2208) on areas surrounding The Cairns Iron Age broch site in May 2022.

TP2206 and TP2207 were located on what a previous geophysical survey had identified as a possible quarry. TP2208 was located where geophysical survey had suggested the presence of Neolithic activity. TP2206 was dug to a depth of 1.3m below ground level, with cobbles excavated that were thought to possibly have been used as to create a dry surface. TP2207 was excavated to 0.7m below ground level. TP2208 was excavated to 0.38m below ground level, and was the sole test-pit to produce small finds. Two pieces of Neolithic pottery were found, along with a small piece of burnt bone, thus confirming the presence of Neolithic activity. The depth of TP2206 and TP2207 suggests the quarry activity in the area was more extensive than previously thought, with the quarry being larger and deeper than surmised before excavation.

Archive Orkney HER

Funder: University of the Highlands and Islands

Helen Newton, Martin Carruthers, Rick Barton,

Peyton Flanders, Jem Brewer, Andrew Fitches, Owen Brady, Evan Fray – UHI Orkney College