Sandwick
Cemetery (Post Medieval)
Site Name Sandwick
Classification Cemetery (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 334554
Site Number NB43SW 259
NGR NB 44014 32172
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/334554
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Stornoway
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
Archaeological Evaluation (20 May 2020 - 22 May 2020)
NB 44049 32119 Investigations were carried out to inform potential plans for bringing the Old Sandwick Cemetery back into use. The aim of these investigations were to identify the boundary of the original cemetery, ascertain whether the adjacent grassy field had ever been used as a burial ground and identify any other archaeological deposits. These works took place on 20 to 22 May 2020 and followed on from desk based studies by CnES Archaeology Service and were informed by an earlier geophysical survey report carried out by the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham (2009).
The results of the evaluation identified that the site comprised of four main phases. The original burial ground was located on a sandy hillock and was bounded by the coastal edge and a low sandbank, the adjacent open field had comprised of lazybeds. A main linear drainage feature ran between these two areas and probably exploited a natural feature, it had numerous later phases of attempted drainage improvements added to it. The main drainage feature ran parallel to the cemetery boundary sandbank and defined the stratigraphy between the sand deposits of the hillock and the sediment deposits of the field. A small stone structure was noted close to the road boundary. Two unmarked burials were encountered beneath the sandbank boundary; no burials were found in the field area. All pottery recovered from across the site dated to the 19th early 20th century. The origins of the cemetery, based on cartographic and physical evidence placed the site in the early 19th century. Adjacent to the cemetery the land was utilized in the form of lazybeds; the main drainage feature acting as a distinct interface between the two areas.
Archive: Comhairle Archaeology Service
Funder: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Kevin Murphy – Comhairle Archaeology Service
(Source: DES Volume 21)
Field Visit
Post mediaeval (council) cemetery, with variety of burials including vaults. Burgess and Church 1997, 373-376