Trial Trench

Date 30 April 2007 - 4 May 2007

Event ID 558009

Category Recording

Type Trial Trench

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/558009

NC 4415 6599 Trial trenches were excavated from 30 April–4 May 2007 in two buildings on a promontory at Traigh na h’Uamhag, near Durness. The larger building proved to have a substantial, stone-built wall and a cobbled floor containing numerous fire-cracked stones. The smaller building had walls composed of large, upright boulders and well-built coursed masonry, with a carefully laid paved floor. The site had previously

been interpreted as a possible eremitic monastery of medieval date; however, birch charcoal from an occupation deposit in the larger building has produced a radiocarbon date of 370–100 BC at 95.4% probability (SUERC16336).

Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS. Report deposited with Highland Council SMR and RCAHMS.

Funder: Durness Development Group.