Islay, Storakaig
Artefact Scatter (Mesolithic), Organic Material (Bone), Organic Material
Site Name Islay, Storakaig
Classification Artefact Scatter (Mesolithic), Organic Material (Bone), Organic Material
Canmore ID 304908
Site Number NR36SE 68
NGR NR 39632 62641
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/304908
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Killarow And Kilmeny
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
Field Visit (2009)
NR 39632 62641 Donald James McPhee identified chipped stone artefacts eroding from the section of a ditch at Storakaig. With the help of Susan Campbell he collected an assemblage of c200 pieces in the spring of 2009. Steven Mithen inspected them in the summer of 2009 and Anne Pirie then analysed a sample. That sample included numerous platform cores with bladelet removals, as well as several narrow and broader
blades. The artefacts are patinated, some stained yellow, possibly from water or soil conditions. Tools included one truncated blade, and one retouched blade. The assemblage contains numerous clearly Mesolithic artefacts along with a retouched blade that may be Neolithic. Fragments of charred hazelnut shell were also collected from the ditch section, one of which has been radiocarbon dated to 5350 ± 50 BP (Beta
264734). Fragments of bone were also present, including phalange from red deer and horn core from either bovid or sheep/goat. The nature of the association between the chipped stone, charred hazelnut shell and bone fragments remains unclear.
Archive: Islay Museum
Funder: University of Reading
Steven Mithen, Susan Campbell, Donald James McPhee and Anne Pirie – University of Reading
