Tarradale Shell Middens – Tarradale Through Time

NH 55325 48720 Investigating a number of discrete shell middens is part of the Tarradale Through Time project (DES Volume 19, 133–134; Canmore ID: 365429). During the period of COVID 19 lockdown, small-scale excavations were carried out by two or three socially distanced excavators in the grounds of Tarradale House where moles had brought shells to the surface. Initial test-pitting to ascertain the spread of shells resulted in two 4m² trenches being opened. Excavation showed that the midden had been disturbed in the past by agricultural or horticultural processes. Also, some of the shells had been removed (possibly for fertiliser) and the voids filled in with rubble. In addition to the shells (which are similar to the mollusc finds from other shell middens investigated by TTT) fragments of bone and antler and one piece of flint were found. The antler was dated to 6443–6242 Cal BC (at 95% probability. Although this shell midden is less than 30m from shell midden site 2B with its antler finds, the present shell midden is about 9m higher as a raised shoreline lies between the two sites. The 2B site was dated to the late fifth millennium BC while the current site dates from the second half of the seventh millennium and is consistent with dates from other shell middens at approximately the same height, and presumably, the location was respecting a previously higher sea level at around 15–20m OD.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, NOSAS and private donors

Eric Grant – North of Scotland Archaeological Society

(Source: DES Volume 23)

NH 55350 48700 In October 2017 members of the Tarradale Through Time project evaluated two separate shell midden sites on raised beach features at c9m and c17m OD on the N side of the Beauly Firth, E of Tarradale House.

Site 2B, located c100m to the SE of Tarradale House had been partly investigated by NOSAS in 2015, when an area of cobbling was revealed beneath layers of shell midden (DES 2015, 118-119). Radiocarbon dates obtained from single entity antler and charcoal samples suggested occupation within the period 4461 – 4051 cal BC (at 95.4% probability; SUERC 66328-9)(DES 2016, 117 – 18). In 2017, excavation extended that initial trench for some metres to the W and towards the base of the steep bank (the remnant of the cliff shoreline between the two raised beach levels). The shell midden layers were investigated by excavation using a grid system for the recovery of small finds and wet-sieving and flotation of samples. Hand-retrieved material included frequent fragments of worked and unworked bone, tooth and antler, some struck quartz flakes and three pieces of struck flint.

Four radiocarbon determinations from bone and charcoal in the midden were within the overall date bracket of 4231 – 3643 Cal BC (at 95.4% probability; SUERC 80587 – 80590). A piece of bone from the fill of a ditch thought to cut through the midden gave an earlier date of 4832 – 4619 Cal BC (at 95.4% probability; SUERC 80586). With the dates of 4461 – 4051 Cal BC from the 2015 investigations, it appears that there was settlement (not necessarily continuously) on the 9m raised beach at Tarradale for several hundred years.

At the base of the midden, a number of possible stone settings indicate that structural evidence may be preserved. Significant artefacts recovered from within the shell layers included two antler T-axes (one fragmentary), of which only three are currently known from Scotland (all from central or western Scotland). Other important finds included a fragment of a biserial barbed antler point (ie spear or harpoon) and a handle manufactured from a red deer antler tine. These finds indicate that the Tarradale Mesolithic site is of considerable significance not only in Scotland but within the British Isles and Europe. The addition of two further T-axes to the Scottish inventory changes the finds map by bringing NE Scotland into a distribution that extends from eastern Europe through central Europe, the low countries and Denmark to Scotland.

At Site 2A, a promontory c300m to the E of Site 2B, the location of more possible shell midden sites was evaluated by trenching and test pitting. These excavations showed clear survival of shell middens at both the base and the top of the promontory, ie located on the lower and upper raised beaches (c9 and c17m OD respectively). Test pits on top of the promontory uncovered a shell midden up to 200mm thick at the SE end.

Distinctive horizons were observed within the shell midden, suggesting different periods of formation. Excavation was undertaken in 100mm spits and the soil sieved. A small amount of animal bone and quartz was recovered and an unusual cache of large struck stone flakes and a stone core were found. Two radiocarbon dates from the top of the promontory suggest two separate phases of Mesolithic activity. One test pit gave an animal bone date of 6071-5925 Cal BC (at 95.4% probability; SUERC 80597), the earliest date from the 2017 excavations, while a nearby test pit gave a birch charcoal date of 4352-4261 Cal BC (at 95.4% probability; SUERC 80595). Investigations in 2011 of a shell midden 1km to the W (again located at the higher level) also provided 7th millennium BC dates, leading to the conclusion that Mesolithic occupation in the second half of the 7th millennium BC was located at a higher level owing to the post-glacial marine transgression, but by the later 5th millennium BC, with a lower sea level, the Late Mesolithic occupation of the area was on the recently exposed raised beach.

At the base of the promontory, two trenches were opened on what had been the lower raised beach and extensive shell middens were again revealed, including upper and lower shell midden layers separated by a gravel and cobble interface. The shell consisted of mostly small fragments of mussel, oyster and scallop, with cockle shell present in the lower layer as well as a thick deposit of whole oyster shells. Within the lower shell layer, a thin charcoal and ash layer was thought to represent in situ activity. Small finds consisted of mainly worked and unworked mammal bone and antler and several struck quartz flakes. The paucity of lithic finds from both these complexes of sites suggest that the occupants were short of flint and resorted to using quartz and coarse stone, possibly supplemented by artefacts of antler, bone and teeth in lieu of flaked stone tools.

The c9m raised beach at site 2B continues eastwards for about 60m before disappearing, owing to degradation of the old inter-beach cliff. A trench, 1C, was opened at this eastern extremity. There was much evidence of burning and small quantities of charcoal, bone and marine mollusc shells were found, but no identifiable structures. A piece of pig bone gave a radiocarbon date of 3710-3543 Cal BC (at 95.4% probability, SUERC 80598) similar to the date from a piece of cow bone from site 2B (3766-3643 cal BC, SUERC 80590) raising the possibility of overlap between Mesolithic and Neolithic occupation.

Archive and report: NOSAS

Funder: HLF, HES, NOSAS and private donation

Mary Peteranna, Stephen Birch and Eric Grant – Tarradale Archaeological Project