The Iron Age in Shetland: excavations at five sites threatened by coastal erosion

Date 1983

Event ID 576348

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/576348

Five sites were investigated as part of a more general response to the threat posed by marine erosion of coastal archaeological sites. In 1983, the then Historic Buildings and Monuments Division (SDD) funded a programme of excavation by their Central Excavation Unit at five Iron Age sites threatened by coastal erosion in Shetland.

Carter, SP; McCullagh, RPG and MckSween, A

People and Organisations

Related Event(s)

Event	Type	Subtype	Notes	Date
576349	RECORDING	EXCAVATION	In 1983, a 7m long section, orientated NE-SW, parallel to and 2m from the cliff edge, was excavated by the Central Excavation Unit as part of an SDD-funded project examining five Iron Age sites in Shetland threatened by coastal erosion. Three phases were identified. Pottery sherds and bone were recovered. A single radiocarbon date from was obtained from Phase 2, demonstrating occupation in the seventh or eighth centuries AD. The excavation was supervised by John Barber. [...]	1983
576399	RECORDING	EXCAVATION	A plane table survey at scale 1:250 was produced of features both ancient and modern present on the Brough Head site. All features were numbered and described in detail, giving where possible the stratigraphical relationships. The south and east sides of the site have been badly affected by coastal erosion with less than half of the broch remaining. A section was drawn across the broch wall where the outer and inner faces survived. A large weathering midden deposit adjacent to the broch was cleaned and drawn. It produced many finds, especially pottery. Finds of pottery were also made in other parts of the site from areas of rabbit and sheep disturbance. [...]	1983
576352	RECORDING	EXCAVATION	In 1983 a section was cut across the ramparts along the W cliffs by the Central Excavation Unit, as part of an SDD-funded programme of excavation at five Iron Age sites in Shetland threatened by coastal erosion. The work was intended to define the nature of the outer and central ramparts and to seek dating evidence for their construction. Both the outer and central ramparts were shown to have stone faces to rubble and soil cores, suggesting that all three ramparts are of similar construction. The excavations revealed evidence of chronological complexity: the central rampart was constucted after the adjacent ditches had, at least partially, infilled and may have replaced an earlier bank. The other rampart may be a later addition, although this is less certain. The only artefact type found was pottery, which was chronologically undiagnostic. The excavation was supervised by Peter Strong. [...]	1983

The Iron Age in Shetland: excavations at five sites threatened by coastal erosion

People and Organisations

Related Event(s)

References