Swordale
Plough (Iron), Vessel (Steatite)
Site Name Swordale
Classification Plough (Iron), Vessel (Steatite)
Canmore ID 14039
Site Number NH69SW 49
NGR NH 617 913
NGR Description NH c. 617 913
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/14039
- Council Highland
- Parish Creich (Sutherland)
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NH69SW 49 c. 617 913
See also NH69SW 52.
An iron plough-share was found with a steatite vessel at Swardale (Swordale: NH 617 913) near Bonar Bridge in September 1880.
Grieg (1940) dates the plough-share to the Viking period but Fenton (1965) suggests that it could be a native type dating from the period 2nd century AD to 10th century AD, possibly with Irish affinities.
It was in Dunrobin Castle Museum (Accession no: 1878.1) until 1967-8, when it was transferred to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS, Information from TS of Catalogue of Dunrobin Museum, by A S Henshall).
The 'steatite vessel' may be the lamp, 5.2ins diameter and 3.1ins high, from Swordale which is still in Dunrobin Museum (Accession no: 1879.2).
S Greig 1940; A Fenton 1965; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1969.
This site was visited during archaeological fieldwork and a desktop survey ahead of a proposed water mains renewal programme in the area. The area is a grass field.
S Farrell 2004.
