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Kebister, March Dyke
Enclosure (Medieval) - (18th Century), Head Dyke (Post Medieval), Hut (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name Kebister, March Dyke
Classification Enclosure (Medieval) - (18th Century), Head Dyke (Post Medieval), Hut (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Handigert
Canmore ID 171139
Site Number HU44NE 11.01
NGR HU 4600 4526
NGR Description From HU 4555 4526 to HU 4613 4582
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/171139
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Tingwall
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
HU44NE 11.01 From 4555 4526 to 4613 4582, centred at 4600 4536
HU44NE 11.00 Township; Watermill
The March Dyke form the dividing line between the townland and the common grazing. Approximately 1100m in length, it encloses an area roughly 20ha. In places, a quarry ditch, 2.5m to 5m wide and up to 0.50m deep, occurs on its upslope side. Two gaps, interpreted as entrances, occur in its S circuit; a further gap was noted in its E circuit, near Structure 15. The dyke had been erected over an iron-stained, thin podzol profile which was not peat-covered. It consists of peat blocks, each about 0.20m by 0.30m, laid to form a bank some 1.2m wide and 0.45m high. Several displaced peat blocks were noted on the downslope side of the excavated section. The basal course of a stone wall, 0.90m wide, survived on top of the bank, constructed of large, locally derived, unworked stones (quartz, quartzite and sandstone) which would have formed a visible white boundary.
No dating evidence was recovered but the absence of underlying peat growth, the good preservation and its identification as a typical hill-dyke probably signify a post-medieval date. It is suggested that the final hill-dyke may have been constructed at the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century.
O Owen and C Lowe 1999.
The head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Orkney and Shetland (Shetland) 1881, sheet liii), but it is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1973).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 20 March 2001.
The excavation archive from Kebister has been catalogued. The archive consists of manuscripts, photographic material and drawings. Digital and audio archive is available and consists of drafts of the Kebister 1999 monograph, the stone catalogues, the key for the soil maps, mini data cartridges containing 'Kebister modified files' and a recorded conversation with Mr and Mrs Anderson.
Historic Scotland Archive Project (SW) 2001
Field Visit (20 November 2012 - 23 November 2012)
An archaeological walk over survey carried out in advance of the construction of the Gremista Wind Farm identified eight sites within a 100m buffer of the wind turbines and associated infrastructure. Four of these sites lie within 50m from proposed crane-pads and may be affected by the construction work. A peat coring survey carried out at the same time recorded a varied peat thickness across the Development Area from less than 0.1m to 2.75m.
Information from OASIS ID: headland1-142396 (M Dalland) 2012
Field Visit (20 November 2012 - 23 November 2012)
HU 46120 45660 to 45910 45252 (within site boundary)
The March Dyke is associated with Handigarth, an abandoned settlement located some 180m to the west of the site boundary. It was fully surveyed during the excavations at Kebister in the 1980s) (Owen and Lowe 1999). It is approximately 1100m long of which some 460m lies within the site boundary. The dyke is built from turf and stone, and is some 1.2m wide and up to 0.4m high.
HU 45984 45442 to 45951 45450
A 35m long segment of a sub-peat dyke is located some 60m inside the March Dyke. It is 1.2m wide and up to 0.25m high and aligned east-west. The dyke was fully surveyed during the excavations at Kebister in the 1980s.
HU 45965 45361 to 45906 45390 (within site boundary)
This dyke roughly parallel with and located some 80m to the south of Site 6. It is 1.5m wide and up to 0.2m high. The dyke was fully surveyed during the excavations at Kebister in the 1980s and extends beyond the site boundary to the west.
HU 45986 45347
A sub-rectangular enclosure is located some 15m outside the March Dyke. It measures some 7m by 4m internally and is defined by low banks 1.7m to 2m wide and 0.1m high. The entrance is located at the northwestern corner. There are remains of a cross-bank located towards the west end of the structure. The feature was surveyed during the excavations at Kebister in the 1980s. At the time a slot was cut through the bank of the enclosure that indicated that it was turf-built.
HU 45957 45270
A possible hut-platform is located outside the March Dyke on the north side of a knoll some 75m to the south of Site 8. It is defined by a scoop into the hillside with a corresponding bulge down slope forming a near level area some 7m by 6m. The feature was recorded during the excavations at Kebister in the 1980s. A small trench in the interior was excavated at the time exposing a layer of medium stones. The layer was thought to be anthropogenic in origin indicating that this is a manmade feature.
Information from OASIS ID: headland1-142396 (M Dalland) 2012
