Staffin Bay, Fo Foid Na Time

NG 48602 68337 This community led partnership investigated a suspected Mesolithic site above the beach at the eastern end of Staffin Bay, 9–14 September 2015. The trust wishes to develop their Ecomuseum (http://www.skyecomuseum. co.uk/) and enhance knowledge about key sites in the Staffin landscape. This site has long been known as a source of eroding Mesolithic material and was recently recorded in a walkover survey by RoCAS (DES 2014, 113). This coast was also extensively surveyed during the Scotland’s First Settlers Project which identified numerous flint scatters along the bay (NG46NE 34) and is home to the An Corran rock shelter which contained Mesolithic material (NG46NE 19). At the site, the remains of a low circular stone wall overlay an erosion scar which has yielded numerous lithics at the edge of a slight promontory.

Resistance survey and ground penetrating radar were used to define the structures wall and internal area, and also picked up the lazy beds to the S. Topographic survey was used to create a contour plan. Test pits were dug to the S of the site. The topsoil in the pits contained numerous lithics, showing that Mesolithic activity may have occurred over a wide area. A small evaluation trench (5 x 2m) across the wall demonstrated that Mesolithic activity focused on the slight promontory. Several hundred lithics, including flakes, blades, cores, scrapers and debitage, were recovered from a buried topsoil horizon below the structure. This layer survived in pockets amongst bedrock outcrops. Along with the lithics, a small fragment of worked bone was found in the upper part of the same layer. Numerous charred hazelnut shells suitable for AMS dating were also recovered from bulk samples. No evidence for domestic activity, such as hearths or floor deposits, was found and the circular structure (perhaps a small enclosure) and nearby lazy beds, are likely to date to the post-medieval period. This activity has sealed the Mesolithic horizon on the promontory and protected it from erosion, apart from the recent cattle poaching along the edge.

The site may have been one place amongst many along Staffin Bay where hunter gatherers congregated and worked stone, perhaps exploiting resources such as fish and mammals at the river mouth.

Archive: Archaeology Institut e, University of the Highlands and Islands

Funder: Scottish Funding Council (Interface), Highland Council and Carnegie Trust New York

Daniel Lee and Dugald Ross – Archaeology Institute, UHI and Staffin Community Trust

(Source: DES, Volume 16)

NG 48602 68337 Resistance survey.

Archive: Archaeology Institut e, University of the Highlands and Islands

Funder: Scottish Funding Council (Interface), Highland Council and Carnegie Trust New York

Daniel Lee and Dugald Ross – Archaeology Institute, UHI and Staffin Community Trust

(Source: DES, Volume 16)

NG 48602 68337 Ground Penetrating Radar.

Archive: Archaeology Institut e, University of the Highlands and Islands

Funder: Scottish Funding Council (Interface), Highland Council and Carnegie Trust New York

Daniel Lee and Dugald Ross – Archaeology Institute, UHI and Staffin Community Trust

(Source: DES, Volume 16)