Earl's Cross
Shell Midden (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Lithic Implement(S) (Stone)
Site Name Earl's Cross
Classification Shell Midden (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Lithic Implement(S) (Stone)
Canmore ID 15361
Site Number NH89SW 13
NGR NH 8046 9026
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/15361
- Council Highland
- Parish Dornoch
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NH89SW 13 8046 9026
At NH 8046 9026 on a raised beach is an amorphous sandy knoll with mussel shells on its surface which is locally alleged to be an ancient shell midden. It was excavated about 20 years ago by a local man, now deceased, who found it contained large quantities of mussel shells, but no artifacts were revealed.
Visited by OS (A A) 23 May 1971.
Watching Brief (October 2005)
Alba Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Mr. Duncan A McCormick of KWA Engineers to undertake an archaeological watching brief (remedial evaluation) on the site of a proposed housing development at Earls Cross Road, Dornoch
No archaeological features were encounted during the evaluation.
Information from Stewart Buchanan, Alba Archaeology ltd
Archaeological Evaluation (13 February 2008 - 14 February 2008)
NH 80460 90293 Work was undertaken on 13–14 February 2008 prior to a housing development. The evaluation
covered 180m linear, a 10% sample of the total area. It was expected that shell middens would be uncovered at this raised beach site. Significant numbers of worked stone tools were recovered from the middens in the western corner of the site. The middens continued under the dunes outside the boundaries of the development. The finds are awaiting analysis.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Highland SMR
Funder: Mr Ian M Anderson
Nick Garry (Alba Archaeology - Highland - Ltd), 2008
Watching Brief (December 2009)
NH 8046 9025 A watching brief was undertaken in December
2009 at Plot 6 on a housing development. The work followed
trial trenching undertaken in 2008 (DES 2008, 103). Work
revealed no archaeological features or deposits.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Highland Council
Archaeological Unit
