A Roman glass vessel from Structure B2
We were rained-off site today. The combination of the wind and rain was fairly atrocious and would have been detrimental to both diggers and the site. The conditions meant we had to postpone our open day to Monday, July 1, so if you have the opportunity please come and visit us then.
Nevertheless, there are some very exciting star finds to share with you all…
We had been awaiting specialist input on a find made just a couple of days ago during the excavation of Structure B2 (one of the Wag-like buildings).
Two adjoining pieces of translucent greenish glass were unearthed in the lower infill of B2. We can now confirm that these are fragments from a fine, engraved, later-Roman glass vessel. The engraving: wheel-cut/abraded creates linear bands of horizontal decoration around the vessel.
Wags to riches…
We already know that during the occupation of the Structure B complex of structures (the wag-like buildings), the occupants of the site were wearing elaborate bronze pins (a “hand-pin” and a so-called “long-pin” have been discovered so far) and what’s more, it is during this period that some serious metalworking was undertaken on site – as the discovery of over 60 mould fragments for casting bronze pins, brooches, and rings testifies.
This metalworking was also accompanied by major feasting, involving an initial deposition of c.5,500 animal bones. Thereafter, during phases five and six of the site, when the wags were up-and-running, a further c.12,000 animal bones were deposited on top of the initial feasting refuse.
It seems that the phase five Structure B complex was a settlement of some wealth and importance. New types of objects were appearing for the first time at The Cairns during this time, including new styles of pottery, jewellery, gaming equipment, and new and more diverse strains of crops.
The latest remarkable discovery of the late Roman vessel glass is yet another indication of the apparent prestige of the inhabitants of the B complex of buildings and their and awareness of the wider world.
More glass and metal from the soil samples
As if that wasn’t sufficiently exciting, we can also tell you that while we’ve been on site digging, back at the UHI Archaeology Institute in Kirkwall, dedicated staff and students have been processing soil samples from the site and just yesterday they made two really nice discoveries.
Half of a tiny opaque yellow glass bead (a Guido 8 for the typological afficionados) came to light.
It comes from a soil sample in the broch’s west room and brings the total number of glass body ornaments from The Cairns to 11 in total, eight of which, come from the broch interior.
In addition, the sample processors also found a part of a small copper alloy object from a floor context in the west room. The object is probably part of a chain link.
This all goes to show that even in ropey weather, great discoveries can be made away from the site itself!
We wonder what the sample team will find today?
Martin Carruthers
Site director
Just a reminder: if you would like to see our monumental site for yourself, our main open day for the season is this Monday, July 1. Please come along anytime between 10.30am and 4pm.
