Grids established to allow sampling in the broch
The day of constant rain that interrupted progress yesterday also provided some much-needed moisture for the site. Thankfully it allowed a clearer interpretation of the exposed surfaces and subsequently aid the excavation process.
The overall plan for today was for a continuation of the work within structures A, E and O.
The activity within the broch mainly involved the gridding the North Room into 50cm squares, which would then be 100 per cent sampled.
These samples can then be analysed for environmental and geochemical information that will potentially yield valuable evidence relating to the lifestyles of the broch inhabitants and the use of the area.
Similarly, the Central Room was also gridded and bulk sampled, with marine shells, mammal bones, antler and pottery fragments also recovered as small finds.
Before the ground dried out it was decided that some aerial photographs should be taken to record the current state of excavation on the site, and also obtain some close-up views of the gridded areas within the broch.
Outside the broch, Holly’s team were clearing the “frontage”, which incorporates the area around the souterrain and the section of rubble to the east of the main entrance, which is believed to have been deposited as part of the process of the dismantling of the broch at the end of its use.
This is the area that contained the “Elder assemblage“, which is considered to have been a final, closing deposit for the broch itself. Also within this area is a large midden deposit, rich in marine shells, which has still to be excavated and will provide valuable environmental evidence.
Sean’s team of Michael and Lucijo spent most of the day planning the paved surface that caps Structure O, prior to its excavation to allow investigation of the underlying archaeology. The nearby Structure E was being excavated to reveal the extent of its inner wall structure, which, in the process, revealed a nice antler point that had been worked into something resembling a tent peg.
As part of the regular “toolbox talk” to the UHI Archaeology Institute fieldschool students, Rick gave a practical demonstration of the GPS survey equipment, which records the position of the small finds recovered from the site.
Tom O’Brien
Recent UHI BA (Hons) Archaeology graduate
