Helmsdale
Midden (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Helmsdale
Classification Midden (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Helmsdale River
Canmore ID 7452
Site Number ND01NW 36
NGR ND 02 15
NGR Description ND c. 02 15
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/7452
- Council Highland
- Parish Kildonan
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
ND01NW 36 c. 02 15
Possibly on map sheet ND01SW.
At the bottom of the valley of the Helmsdale River, on the top of a bluff 150' above the sea, there occurs a good example of the ancient Kitchen Midden; in which periwinkle and limpet shells are very numerous along with bones of birds, beasts and fishes all mingled with scorched stones and charred wood and buried in black mould to the depth of 18". No implements of any sort were found here except some ovoid flattish, water-worn bits of porphyry and gneiss, which looked handy for hammers, and were probably used for smashing many of the larger bones.
J M Joass 1865.
Close by Helmsdale are the remains of a Pictish village.
D Beaton 1909.
No trace of this midden or 'village' was found during field investigation.
Visited by OS (W D J), 24 March 1960.
