Orkney Smr Note

Event ID 614204

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Orkney Smr Note

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/614204

The ditch section in Trench G was fully excavated to reveal a complete cross-section of the ditch. Overall the ditch in this trench was over 4m deep and 8.5m wide. A sequence of ditch infilling and remodelling was uncovered, similar to that found in the ditch terminal (Trench B in 2000).Further geophysical anomalies on the S side of the central mound at Mine Howe were also investigated. Overall these proved to be natural, however evidence for the enhancement of the mound was revealed along with a small paved ‘alcove’.Several small discrete magnetic anomalies, with similar signatures to the one that represented a furnace revealed in 2003-4, were also investigated. These anomalies however turned out to be the result of modern ferrous debris.

In 2004 as part of the study of the environs of Mine Howe, the Bronze Age barrow on the top of the neighbouring glacial moraine of Long Howe was investigated. Within the cairn makeup several Mesolithic microliths and general flint knapping debitage were recovered. It was thought that these lithics could be associated with several sub circular features down slope from the cairn as revealed by geophysics. Extensive trial trenching over these anomalies showed that they were natural in nature and apart from some further lithics no trace of any in situ Mesolithic activity was recovered.

Information from Orkney SMR [n.d.]