Mousland

An earthen burial mound with a surrounding kerb was excavated in 1990. The central cist contained a cremation of an adult, possibly female. A polished axe lay outside the cist. A radiocarbon date from charcoal within the cist showed the remains to be of early/middle Bronze Age date. The cist and kerb were constructed before the mound, which was built up from successive deposits of turves and soil. Palaeobotanical and micromorphological analyses demonstrate the landscape to have been open grassland and heathland.

J Downes 1994

HY 22150 12700 (centred on) A walkover survey and subsequent geophysical survey were undertaken, 3–4 March and 2–6 June 2014, in the Nether Mousland area by MSc students from the Archaeology Institute. Nether Mousland is a large deserted farmstead (HY21SW 26) with an additional dwelling (HY21SW 27) and surrounding sub-circular head dyke. This coastal basin landscape had previously received little archaeological attention, apart from the excavation of nearby Bronze Age barrow at

Mousland in 1990 (HY21SW 6).

Evidence for prehistoric activity, which was previously unknown at Nether Mousland, consisted of a large mound within an area of rig and furrow (Site 21) and a burnt mound (Site 19). Site 21 consists of a substantial mound (14.3 x 8.6m) with upright stones protruding from the surface on

the W side. The corners of the mound are horned, and it could be the remains of a substantial burial tomb. There is a depression with loose stone to the W of the main mound.

A range of geophysical techniques were undertaken focusing on this potential funerary monument (Site 21), with gradiometer survey extending to cover the mound and sheepfold to the NE (Site 10). Although the results are complicated by later agricultural activity, the combination of earth resistance, gradiometry and GPR suggests that the sub-square mound (Site 21) represents at least two phases of activity although a funerary function is difficult to conclusively identify.

The strength and nature of gradiometer data to the NE suggests that the mound (Site 10) that underlies the sheepfold represents an earlier, more substantial site, probably domestic in origin. It is possible that this has medieval or perhaps prehistoric origins. This site is positioned centrally

within the original head dyke enclosure and could be related. It is likely that there are other prehistoric sites in this area, which has escaped modern agricultural improvements since abandonment in the 1850s.

The burnt mound (Site 19) is located next to the Burn of Selta and consists of an oval grass covered mound (12.4 x 7.7m) with a hollow on the S side with protruding upright stones.

The Nether Mousland Farmstead (Site 1) is surrounded by a head dyke (Sites 6, 16 and 23), which has been extended on the NE and SE sides (Sites 5 and 17). An additional small farmhouse and enclosure (Site 15) is situated outside the northern head dyke (Site 23) and a possible farmstead

is situated to the E (Site 18) within a later phase of head dyke enclosure (Site 17). The farmsteads are located on the periphery or outside of the original head dyke and could be a later phase of inhabitation (post-medieval?). The dyke contains other field boundaries (Sites 7 and 9) and areas of well defined rig and furrow (Sites 11 and 25). The head dyke

appends the larger Mousland Farm dyke to the E, an area which is still cultivated.

A large concrete dam across the Burn of Selta, outbuildings (pump house?) and pipeline (Sites 12 and 13) were used during WW2 for a water supply. The scheme failed and was soon abandoned. A substantial mound (Site 14, HY21SW 29) by the Burn of Mousland with numerous circular pits cut into the side was assessed. The mound was found to overlay peat deposits that are visible in the burn cutting and is likely to be modern. It may be associated with works for the WW2 dam (Site 13).

The walkover survey recorded 25 sites (No. 8 is void, coordinates are centre points):

HY 22066 12622 (Site 21) Prehistoric mound

HY 22316 12704 (Site 19) Burnt mound

HY 22206 12588 (Sites 1, 2 and 3 – HY21SW 26), HY 22100 12869 (Site 15 – HY21SW 27) and HY 22230 12826 (Site 18)

HY 22125 12670 (Site 10 – HY21SW 26) Sheepfold and mound

HY 22071 12534 (Site 6), HY 22276 12771 (Site 16) and HY 22011 12852 (Site 23) Early phase head dyke. HY 22234 12478 (Site 5) and HY 22284 12845 (Site 17) Later phases of head dyke

HY 22099 12565 (Site 7), HY 22099 12587 (Site 9) and HY 21966 12534 (Site 20) Field boundaries plus HY 22063 12791 (Site 22) stone strainer post

HY 22313 12542 (Site 4), HY 22101 12646 (Site 11) and HY 22250 12742 (Site 25) Rig and furrow

HY 22369 12615 (Site 24 – HY21SW 28) Planticrues

HY 22265 12694 (Sites 12 and 13) and HY 22482 12740 (Site 14 – HY21SW 29) WW2 dam and outbuilding

Archive: Archaeology Institute UHI (currently) and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Archaeology Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands

Daniel Lee, James Moore and Martin Carruthers – Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES)

HY 22150 12700 (centred on) A walkover survey and subsequent resistance survey were undertaken, 3–4 March and 2–6 June 2014, in the Nether Mousland area by MSc students from the Archaeology Institute.

Archive: Archaeology Institute UHI (currently) and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Archaeology Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands

Daniel Lee, James Moore and Martin Carruthers – Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES)

HY 22150 12700 (centred on) A walkover survey and subsequent GPR survey were undertaken, 3–4 March and 2–6 June 2014, in the Nether Mousland area by MSc students from the Archaeology Institute.

Archive: Archaeology Institute UHI (currently) and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Archaeology Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands

Daniel Lee, James Moore and Martin Carruthers – Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES)

HY 22150 12700 (centred on) A walkover survey and subsequent gradiometer survey were undertaken, 3–4 March and 2–6 June 2014, in the Nether Mousland area by MSc students from the Archaeology Institute.

Archive: Archaeology Institute UHI (currently) and RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Archaeology Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands

Daniel Lee, James Moore and Martin Carruthers – Archaeology Institute, UHI

(Source: DES)

Mousland

This burial site in Orkney Islands was a focus for funerary practices in the Bronze Age period, between 2200 BC and 1501 BC.

Prehistoric Grave Goods project site ID: 60031

CANMORE ID: 89732

Total no. graves with grave goods: 1

Total no. people with grave goods: 1

Total no. grave goods: 2

Prehistoric Grave Goods project Grave ID: 60015

Grave type: Cist

Burial type(s): Cremation

Grave good: Axe/Axehead

Materials used: Steatite

Current museum location: Orkney Museum (Kirkwall)

Grave good: Arrowhead (Unknown/Unspecified)

Materials used: Chert / Flint [Flint]

Current museum location: Orkney Museum (Kirkwall)

Further details, the full project database and downloads of project publications can be found here: https://doi.org/10.5284/1052206

An accessible visualisation of the database can be found here: http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/grave-goods/map/