The Cairns dig diary - day seventeen

Multiple red deer bones from the midden at the frontage area of the broch. (ORCA)

Red deer remains confirmed outside the broch

A change from yesterday’s rainy weather allowed us to make good progress across the active areas of the site.

The area around Structure E was excavated further and two trays filled of faunal remains from the deposits there – including diagnostic elements of sheep, cow, and pig. Interestingly, red clay pigmented fragments were also found, similar to the red clay found within the South Room of the broch interior.

Two additional strata have been identified today in Structure E as well, including an orange clay surface that is likely more of the old ground surface of the glacial clay till outside/behind the southwest side of the broch, as well as a compacted dark clay layer, a potential surface.

The dark organic rich layer will be soil-sampled tomorrow due to it containing burnt soil and charcoal.

Decorated pottery from the broch 'frontage' area today. (ORCA) — Decorated pottery from the broch ‘frontage’ area today. (ORCA)

Professor Ingrid Mainland, of the UHI Archaeology Institute, assessing the animal bone assemblage from the broch 'frontage' area. (ORCA) — Professor Ingrid Mainland, of the UHI Archaeology Institute, assessing the animal bone assemblage from the broch ‘frontage’ area. (ORCA)

The wall and matrix between the cells of Structure E were excavated today as well. Structure E area may, in fact, have one or two structures, part of these walls have two phases, later walls were built against previous walls.

The lamb skeleton from nearby was also excavated further, and it has been observed that one of the ribs appears to have been broken and had mended within its lifetime.

Today, UHI Archaeology Institute zooarchaeologist, Professor Ingrid Mainland, visited site to help identify animal bones and confirmed the skull near Structure E area belonged to a red deer with its antlers cut off below the coronet base.

She also inspected the animal bone from Holly’s broch frontage midden and the exciting news is that it is full of red deer bone – including articulated portions of legs, probably representing joints of meat.

Vivid floor deposits in Structure T today. (ORCA)

The folks at Structure T at the broch frontage uncovered a rubbing stone associated with the saddle quern today, as well as a pivot stone framing the entrance, and more pottery sherds. More soil samples were taken here today, and an orange clay occupation/floor deposit is being further exposed.

The niche wall with its in-built saddle quern and little stone tool positioned against it. (ORCA)

Door pivot stone and threshold sill-stone of Structure T emerging next to the niche wall. (ORCA)

Inside the broch, the South-east Room has a beautiful red and orange clay occupation layer being further exposed by teams. The red and yellow clay floors match the yellow and red clay that was found rendered on the walls of the adjacent wall-chambers, and the dark charcoal-rich hearth is also being further exposed.

Excavating the floors inside the broch's South-east Room. (ORCA) — Excavating the floors inside the broch’s South-east Room. (ORCA)

The “well” in the broch’s North Room had the water successfully pumped out today in order to further record it tomorrow. Also tomorrow, teams will collect surface samples over the site and continue work on the Structure E area, the South-eastern Room of the broch, and Structure T.