In the eastern part of the site, in Trench Q. On the south side of the Trench, excavation of overlying ashy soils and rubble soil has finally begun to reveal a wall that forms part of a structure, likely, a village building outside the broch.
Excavations also continue and in the north side of the Trench Q where a fragment of clay Furnace-lining uncovered today further points to metal working at the site and hints at the potential core of the furnace itself.
In ‘the pit’ immediately to the east of the Broch a large fragment of deer antler was found wedged between the slabs of another new substantial sandstone built wall, and in the Souterrain near the entrance of the Broch, whole animal bones and fragments and antler have been identified. Inside the Broch itself work continue on the upper habitation layers. Later in the afternoon, the Broch was cleared of our tools and archaeologists for aerial pictures taken from a drone.
- Overview of the broch where work continues on the floor deposits
Work also continues in the SW trench extension on the Broch exterior and along with the many bone fragments found in the midden material, a small copper alloy object was discovered. The delicate find was carefully removed in a block with the surrounding soil.
- Excavating in the SW extension
Though dig season is now two thirds of the way complete for 2017, the well in the broch, the remaining habitation deposits, the Souterrain at the Broch entrance, and the structures to the east of the Broch will continue to be worked opening up the opportunity to yield even more information this season.
Gary Lloyd, BA Archaeology student, UHI
