BARABHAS 1: DATA STRUCTURE REPORT

A Bronze Age settlement at Barvas (Barabhas) Machair, Isle of Lewis

Trevor Cowie and Mary MacLeod Rivett 2010

With contributions by

Rosemary Cowie

Camilla Dixon

Mary Harman

CONTENTS

Abstract

1. Introduction to site 1

1.1 Background

1.2 Location and topography

1.3 Circumstances and date of work

2. Aims & Methodology

3. Field work results

3.1 Preliminary field work results (surface collection and augering)

3.2 Excavation results

4. Discussion

5. Bibliography

Appendices:

A Context list

B Matrices

C Sample list

D Drawing list

E Photo list

F Finds list and Catalogues

General list

Bone & antler

Pottery

Stone and pumice

G Existing specialist reports

Pottery

Animal bone

Fish Remains

Plant Remains – Camilla Dickson

H Coastal Survey Records

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Towards the north edge of the lower machair plain at Barabhas (formerly Barvas) in the Isle

of Lewis, survey (Cowie & Lane forthcoming) in 1978 revealed a small knoll at an elevation

of approximately 20m OD, badly truncated by erosion accentuated by rabbit disturbance.

When inspected in 1978, eroding out from the flanks of the knoll were fragments of pottery,

bone, pumice, worked stone and quartz, ash deposits, and apparently structural stonework,

combining to suggest the partial survival of some in situ domestic structure (in all

probability the truncated fragment of a larger domestic site, judging by the litter of

redeposited shell, bone etc. on the surrounding deflation surfaces). The pottery, coarse

undecorated ware, appeared on the basis of fabric identification to be `later Bronze Age'.

Earlier prehistoric (ie pre-Iron Age) domestic sites are at a premium in the Hebrides and the

site was therefore given a high priority for excavation despite its fragmentary state.

1.2 Location and Topography

The site was located at c. NB 351 316, at a height of c. 20m OD, towards the northern edge

of the lower machair plain, on the lower slopes of a sand escarpment running NNW-SSE

across the dune system. In some areas this escarpment has been quarried by small scale sand

extraction, in others, eroded.

The site was one of a series of small truncated settlement mounds, formed by occupation

and reoccupation over time in the same location, trapping moving sand. Before excavation,

the knoll was flat-surfaced, with eroding sides and patch grass cover.

1.3 Circumstances and date of work

Excavation on the site was carried out in July 1979. The weather was intermittently

sufficiently bad to stop work, and even dry days were plagued by wind strong enough to

cause significant sand movement and make working conditions difficult. The site was badly

infested with rabbits, and excavation opened a number of ‘live’ burrows, in addition to the

stratigraphic and structural complications caused by abandoned burrows, discussed below in

3.2.

2. AIMS & METHODOLOGY

The initial aims were to:

locate in situ intact deposits, if any, and surviving structural fragmnets

carry out a surface collection of finds in the surrounding area

totally excavate any surviving portions of the site

excavate small test trenches in any other likely locations.

The primary surface collection was undertaken over a grid of 5m squares. It was felt that

further accuracy would be spurious in view of the vertical and horizontal displacement of

the material (where further accuracy was needed, reference could be made to the relevant

quadrant). Collections included identifiable bone, worked stone and quartz, worked bone,

pottery and pumice.

A working baulk was left across the site, unrelated to the grid, in order to facilitate

access, to provide a windbreak, and to provide a cross-section through the intact deposits.

Context records, notes and sketches were kept in a site notebook. Single context recording

sheets were also completed. Multi-context plans were drawn at 1:20, and trench and

temporary sections at 1:10. It should be noted that some stratigraphic information was

recorded either only in the notebook, or on the context sheets, and that descriptions for some

contexts are missing. These issues will be further discussed below (section 3.2 – excavation

results).

A variety of sampling strategies were used. The bulk of the midden deposit was dry or wet-

sieved in toto at least through a 10 mm mesh, and much of it through a 2.5 mm mesh.

Where possible, a bucket from each context was reserved for wet sieving. Where the soil

was too wet for effective dry sieving, it was either dried on sheets, or roughly dry sieved,

then the residue wet sieved.

3. FIELD WORK RESULTS

3.1 Preliminary field work results

Work on Barvas 1 commenced with the establishment of a grid 5m intervals

approximately E-W and N-S. The grid alignment was largely determined by the local

topography, and formed the basis for the surface collection of finds. For the detailed

results of this work, please see the finds list spreadsheet. Collections were made of

identifiable bone, worked stone and quartz, worked bone, pottery and pumice. Flint and

chert were found amongst the worked stone.

3.2 Excavation results

The excavation was made particularly complex and difficult by the degree to which the site

had been damaged by both erosion and rabbit infestation. The excavator concluded that the

assemblages should not be treated as stratified, but post-excavation analysis has shown that

stratigraphic control over the upper part of the site was, in fact, good, and the damage was

largely confined to the lower areas, at the interface between underlying wind-blown sand

and the more compact archaeological deposits. Context descriptions are missing for

contexts 052, 054-060, 072-080, 096, 135, 139, 140, & 143-150, and much of the

information used to construct the stratigraphic sequence has been derived from the site

notebooks. The following text should be read in the light of these issues.

The removal of the overburden of turf (001), and loose, deflated sand (002) revealed the

truncated surfaces of a large spread of layers, of brown or black, humus-rich sand, visible

over the surface of the knoll. Uppermost of these were 014 & 029, both brown sandy

contexts. 029 overlay a black, humic soil 011 which, with 014, overlay a light-brown, wind-

blown sand 016. Potentially contemporary with this group of contexts was 015, a red, sandy

peat ash, which may, however, prove to be contemporary with the underlying group 019 &c,

see below.

016 overlay a small deposit 019 of mottled red, black and brown sand, and a similar layer

034. 031, a black deposit which was probably the same as black and red 037, underlay 019

and 015, and a further black deposit, 035 overlay an ashy pinkish layer 036. 031/7 were

over black sand 032, which contained pot and shell, and was over a further black deposit

040. Both 036 and 040 overlay a mottled sand with many pottery fragments, 033.

A group of post-holes, 048, 047, 046 & 038 were all cut into the black and red 031/7, and

sealed by 002.

033 overlay a very clean layer of wind-blown sand 039, which is equal to 004 and 050, and

which formed a significant stratigraphic break across a large area of the site. It was also

overlain by the following sequences of contexts.

Under 002, 003, a black layer containing midden material covered 010, a reddish, perhaps

ashy sand, itself over a thin brown sandy layer, 017. 017, which only occurred in a small

triangular area at the northern edge of the site, was over 018, a brown and black humus-rich

sand layer, which covered a thin black lens, 020. This overlay 039/004/050.

Also revealed by the removal of 002 was 009, a reddish sand which overlay 007, a black,

humic layer filling a dug feature 030. This feature was also partly sealed by blackish brown

sandy layer 023, which might have been the same as 007, and which lay under brown sand

008. 023 also overlay a black deposit, 027 and under it, 028, a black lens. 030 was cut into

layer 050/039/004, and it is presumed that 028 also overlay these deposits of sand.

The wind-blown sand deposits (050/039/004) sealed a brownish pink sand with large

numbers of shells, 044, which continued in the northern part of the site as 064. Over this,

and under 002 were two contexts, 041, a mottled sand under 042, a pinkish red soil. These

could either be contemporary with 044/064 or contemporary with the later group of ashy

contexts 034 &c. Also sealed by 050/039/004 was 005, a soft brown sand containing

midden material.

044/064 overlay 063, a black, humic sand containing lots of shells, which itself overlay 045,

a pink peat ash, also with lots of shells, very similar to 068, which was also under 044/064.

Above this group of deposits, and under 002 was a sequence the uppermost layer of which,

021, was a brown, windblown sand which can probably be grouped with 002. 021 covered

022 and 024, both black, very laminated, humus-rich sands. These were over 025, which

may have been the same as 043, and was a mottled light brown sand similar to, and possibly

contemporary with 033. Under 025 was a thin, iron-stained reddish orange layer which

overlay 063.

Under 045 was a brown sandy layer with many shells, 061, which may have formed part of

the overlying complex of shelly layers (063, 068, 045). The records are unclear as to

whether 061 overlay 069, which was an extensive brown sandy layer, possibly a deliberately

laid floor, which covered the interior of an oval structure defined by wall 066 (see

discussion section 4 below). The shelly deposits were identified during excavation as two

dumps of material over 069.

088, a layer of mottled black-brown sand, lay under 069, and would appear to have been

contemporary with 049, a small patch of shell or peat ash, and underlying 049, 062, a

laminated layer of black lenses and sand. All three layers overlay 067, which was a

continuation of 055 (for which no description survives) and 006. 067/055/006 was a

fragmentary, black-brown surface, with some iron staining, which appeared to spread over

the whole interior of the oval structure defined by 066.

Outside the oval building, and under 002, a black-brown iron-stained surface 012 was

removed to reveal 094 and 095, ashy lenses of pinkish brown sand containing shells.

Within the building, 067/055/006 overlay 084, a brownish, sandy layer with lumps of black

soil, 085 (black lense) and 086, a light brown sandy layer. These overlay 092, a compact,

black, humus-rich layer, which covered most of the base of the building, but did not touch

the wall 066, from which it was separated by a band of clean sand. Also over 092 was 089,

a patch of pinkish ash, which also lay over 091, a brown sand layer which was present in an

area not covered by 092. 092 overlay a further pink ashy layer, 100, containing some shell

and bone, which lay over clean sand, 093. These deposits appear to derive from the earliest

use of the structure.

A further group of deposits, 109 (yellow peat ash), over 107 (pink peat ash), and 108 (brown

sand) are probably also in the same stratigraphic position, and derive from the earliest use of

the building.

A variety of small, possibly structural features occurred under 067/055/006. A dark sandy

patch, probably a post-hole, abutted a paved stone feature 056. A similar, dark sandy patch,

110, was truncated by rabbit damage but also likely to be a post-hole. 122, a spread of dark

soil and stones adjacent to 056, may well have been a part of 055, or a collapsed part of the

paved stone feature 056, but was extensively rabbit damaged, and its interpretation was

unclear. 141, a loosely constructed line of stones probably over 092, may have been the

footings of an internal partition. 111 & 112 were a further post-hole.

The structure itself was defined by 066, which was a laminated band of apparent degraded

turf, consisting of horizontal bands of humic material separated by sand layers, around a

solid central core of further humic soil. This was interpreted as the degraded remains of a

turf wall. It rested on sterile sand and from the exterior face ran horizontal darker surfaces,

interleaved by clean sand, which probably represented the remains of buried old ground

surfaces, or eroded deposits of midden. 066 was constructed directly onto clean, wind-

blown sand 093. Three stones set upright against the inner face of the wall 066 may have

been edging stones for the wall, but their relationship to the wall and to the interior deposits

of the structure was unclear, as there was an area of clean sand running along the inside edge

of them. This may have resulted from their being dug into place from a higher layer than

the original construction, but unfortunately, could easily also be the result of rabbit damage

to the deposits.

The shape of the structure described by 066 was not clear. 066 ended abruptly at its

northern end, probably as a result of ancient erosion damage, and it could be interpreted as

either a straight wall or, more probably, as part of an oval, curving at the southern end.

Possibly contemporary with the construction of 066, though the relationship is not recorded

clearly and is likely to have been destroyed by rabbit burrowing, was context 142, a stretch

of similar deposit, 1.8m long, located c. 2m southeast of the main structure. The outer edge

of this layered black and brick red humic sand was bounded by four stones, and marks to the

south of the southernmost of these may have indicated the original position of a further two

stones. The turf core of 142 was laid over clean wind-blown sand (093), but the

northernmost of the edging stones lay over a deposit of mottled sand containing large

numbers of shells (151). The relationship of this layer to 066 is not clear from the site

notebooks, but if it derives from the use of the main building, then the ancillary structure

defined by 142 is clearly secondary. However, it may have its origins in an earlier use of the

site; this question remains unresolved.

Within, and later than 142, was a sequence of deposits derived from the use of this ancillary

structure. 150 overlay 142, and is described as a ‘red soil’. Over it lay what was probably

originally a group of deposits, 090, layers of black and red, humus-rich lenses, which were

very disturbed by rabbit burrowing. It was overlain by 091, a compact brownish red layer

with some iron staining, which was under 083, a wind-blown sand. Over this was a patchy,

red-orange to brown sand layer, 065, which itself lay under 002.

002 also covered a further sand layer, 104, which overlay a firm light brown sand which

seems to have been the remains of an old ground surface, above sterile wind-blown sand

093.

The remaining contexts were either rabbit burrows (097-9, 101-3, 117, 121, 124-5, 127-31,

133-7), or deposits for which there has not been sufficient information to determine their

stratigraphic placement.

4. DISCUSSION

Excavation, in July 1979, revealed that, as suspected, the site was in poor condition, and the

results are therefore inconclusive.

The remains of a structure of indeterminate original size and form enclosed the remains of a

possibly paved and peat-ash covered floor (c 5 by 4 metres maximum surviving area) from

which were recovered a scatter of sherds, bone, shell and antler and worked stone. What

evidence there is suggests that the walling consisted of a turf-and-sand core revetted by

stone; there may have been internal post-holes and a partition wall but the extent of the

rabbit disturbance frustrated the recovery of any meaningful picture of the internal

furnishings. The structure appears to have been affected by erosion in antiquity prior to a

second phase of occupation, though the cultural material remained unchanged.

Truncation by wind erosion abetted by rabbit disturbance had thereafter reduced the site to

its present condition: as noted above a dense scatter of redeposited shell, bone and other

debris in the surrounding area suggested that the structure was the surviving fragment of a

once more extensive site.

The dating of the site is still dependent on the tentative attribution of the pottery to the `Later

Bronze Age' (probably around late 2nd/early 1st millennium BC), but radiocarbon dates will

be obtained from antler recovered from the floor deposits. Despite its fragmentary condition

therefore, the site will be of considerable importance if the coarse pottery assemblage can be

assigned to a dateable horizon, since dating of many potentially interesting erosion sites is

wholly dependent on the identification of what are at present largely undiagnostic scatters of

sherds.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Amoroso, E. C. & Jewell, P. 1963. `The exploitation of the milk-ejection reflex by

primitive peoples' in (eds) A. E. Mourant & F. Zeuner, Man & Cattle Royal Anthrop. Inst.

of Great Britain and Ireland. 126-137

Armit, I. (ed.) (1990) Beyond the Brochs, Edinburgh

(1992 a) Later Iron Age Settlement in the Western Isles, University of

Edinburgh PhD. thesis

(1992 b) The Later Prehistory of the Outer Hebrides, BAR 221

Bogucki, P. I. 1984. `Ceramic sieves of the Linear Pottery culture and their economic

implications'. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 3 (1) 15-30.

Colley, S M (n.d) 'The Marine Resource Remains' in J W Hedges et al (forthcoming) 'Trial

Excavations on Pictish and Viking Settlements at Saevar Howe, Birsay, Orkney'

Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

Colley, S M (n.d) Interim Report on Fish Remains from Tuquoy, Westray, Orkney, 1982

Excavations. Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton.

Cowie, T 1979 ‘276 Barvas Machair’, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1979, 47

Cowie & Lane forthcoming

Dahl, G. & Hjort, A. 1976. Having Herds. Stockholm.

Dickson, J. H. 1977. ‘The Botany of Brochs’ Scottish Archaeological Forum 9, pp. 62-65.

Edinburgh University Press.

Fenton, A (1978), The Northern Isles: Orkney and Shetland, John Donald, Edinburgh.

Grant, A. 1975. `Appendix B: the use of tooth wear as a guide to the age of domestic

animals: a brief explanation'. In Cunliffe, B. Excavations at Portchester Castle: Volume I,

Roman 437-450.

Helbaek, H. 1954. ‘Prehistoric Food Plants and Weeds in Denmark’ Danm. Geol. Undevs.

11 R 80, 250-261.

Helbaek, H. 1964. ‘The Isca grain: A Roman plant introduction in Britain’ New Phytol.,

63, 158.

Jessen, K. & Helbaek, H. 1944 ‘Cereals in Great Britain and Ireland in Prehistoric and Early

Historic Times’ Kong. Danske. Videnskab. Selskab. 3, 1-68.

Lane A., 1983 Dark Age and Viking Age Pottery in the Hebrides, University of London

PhD thesis

Legge, A. J. 1981. `The Agricultural Economy' in R. J. Mercer (ed) Grimes Graves,

Norfolk: Excavations, 1971-2 Vol. 1. London: Department of the Environment

Archaeological Report 11, 79-103.

McCormick, F. 1983. `Dairying and beef production in early Christian Ireland: the faunal

evidence' in T. Reeves-Smyth & F. Hamond (eds.), Landscape Archaeology in Ireland

Oxford: British Archaeological Reports Brit. Ser. 116. 253-267.

Mellars, P A and Wilkinson, M R (1980), 'Fish Otoliths as Indicators of Seasonality in

Prehistoric Shell Middens: the Evidence from Oronsay (Inner Hebrides)', Proceedings of the

Prehistoric Society 46, 19-44.

Morales, A and Rosenlund, K (1979) Fish Bone Measurements. An Attempt to Standardize

the Measuring of Fish Bones from Archaeological Sites, Zoologisk Museum, Kobenhavn.

Parker-Pearson, M., P. Marshall, J. Mulville & H. Smith, 2010 Cladh Hallan

http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/research/cladh-hallan/cladh-hallan03.html

Payne, S (1975), 'Partial Recovery and Sampling Bias', in A T Clason (ed)

Archaeozoological Studies, North Holland Publishing Company, Oxford, 7-17.

Payne, S. 1984. `The use of early 19th Century data in ageing cattle mandibles from

archaeological sites, and the relationship between the eruption of M3 and P4'. Circaea, 2,2.

77-82.

Ponting, M. & R., 1979 ‘274 Loch Mor Barvas’, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland

1979, 46-7

Serjeantson, D. unpublished. `The mammal, bird and fish remains from Udal North;

interim report'. In I. A. Crawford, Excavations at Udal North Cambridge University Press.

Sherrat, A. G. 1981. `Plough and pastoralism: aspects of the secondary products

revolution'. In I Hodder, G. Isaac & N. Hammond (eds.), Pattern of the Past: studies in

honour of David Clarke Cambridge University Press. 261-305.

Silver, I A, 1963 'The Ageing of Domestic Animals' in Brothwell, D R and Higgs, E S eds.

Science in Archaeology London 1963, 250-268.

Silver, I. A. 1969. `The Ageing of Domestic Animals' in D. R. Brothwell & E. S. Higgs

(eds.), Science in Archaeology 2nd edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 283-302.

Simonds, J. B. 1854. The Age of the Ox, Sheep & Pig London: W. S. Orr.

Wheeler, A 1978 Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe, Frederick Warne, London.

Wheeler, A and Jones, A 1976, 'Fish Remains', in A Rogerson (ed) 'Excavations on Fuller's

Hill, Great Yarmouth', East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 2, Norfolk Archaeological

Unit, 131-234.

Zeist, W. van., 1970 ‘Prehistoric and Early Historic Food Plants in the Netherlands’

Palaeohistoria XIV pp. 42-173.

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT LIST

Unless otherwise stated all contexts are in area 115/110.

Stratigraphic relationships in this list are stated as in the original context sheets. However,

the following matrix includes information derived from the site notebooks, to clarify areas

of ambiguity. The plans and sections have not been available for consultation during the

writing of this report.

Context

no.

Description Stratigraphic rel.

002 knoll and knoll slopes. Wind-blown sand under turf on

summit of knoll and top layer of unturfed slopes of

mound. Contains eroded midden material; colour from

white to brown; texture of sand. In quad 120/110 layer

contained thin lense c 5 cm thick, rich in shells

(winkles & limpets). This is the overlying clean sand.

Over everything

003 area 115/110 (for all features unless otherwise stated).

Black humic layer, containing midden material.

Possibly once turfed, contains small stones, patchy in

depth and distribution.

over 004, 010

under 002

004 Layer of wind-blown sand. over 005

under 002, 003

005 Soft brown sand containing midden material. Possibly

not continuous over 006, as iron staining visible.

Separated from 006 by a very thin lense of sand

over 006

under 004

006 Black-brown surface with some iron-staining, sandy. under 005

007 Black, humic, circular depression, perhaps a former

eroding edge. Part of 030; poss. continuation of 003,

023

over 030, 004

under 009, 002.

008 Brown sand with midden material on S side of temp.

section REF NO (W side of main baulk).

under 002

009 Reddish sand. Towards stone `line' intermingling of

this layer and black humic soil occur.

over 007

onder 002

010 Reddish sand under black humic soil N side of temp.

section. This layer seen later in the section on the W of

the baulk, dipping sharply from S to N.

over 004

under 003

011 Area 115/115 & 115/110. Black humic soil. May

represent gradual erosion & weathering of the former

`turf' around the stone `line', rather than a single phase

of deposition. Continuation of 003 ?, 032, 022

over 015, 016

under 002

012 Area 120/115. Black-brown iron-stained surface. Sherd

removed.

position not yet

known.

013 Area 115/105. Brown midden material, lower slopes of position not yet

mound. Sherd removed. Probably 055. known

014 Small pocket of brown sand over black, humic layer &

wind-blown sand.

over 016

under 002

015 Red peat ash with some sand, fairly compact. Small

amt removed previously, but found to go under 011.

Further red humic material, although slightly more

sandy, found immediately S of stone line, under mixed

sand and under patches of black humic material. Red

material S of stones contains numerous shells -

possibly 045 here ?

over 011; under

011, 002;

contemporary with

019 ?

016 Light brown wind-blown sand.

over 019

under 011 & 014

017 Thin brown sand layer covering small triangular area in

N.

over 018 to N, and

004 to S

under 010

018 Black and brown humus and sand layer, covering

triangular area in N. Possible floor surface ?

over 004

under 017

019 Mottled brown, red and black surface, possibly

consisting of a thin layer of stained sand. Possibly little

over 1m² in extent.

over 031, 032;

under 016;

contemporary with

015?

020 Thin black humic lense to N of possible wall under 018

021 Brown wind-blown sand (local ?), immediately S of

wall.

over 022

under 002.

022 Black humic layer. Very mixed stratigraphy,

alternation of black and sand layers. Probably natural

infilling of underlying hollow

within 021

023 Blackish brown sandy layer, at max c 6 cm thick,

becoming thinner to the S. Contains numerous stone

fragments (ie crushed into a floor ?). Possibly

contemporary with 022. Soil sample taken for wet

sieving.

over 028 in N

against stone

feature, and 027;

under 008

024 Black humic mixed with large amount of sand.

Over 026, 025

under 022.

025 Mottled light brown sand. Possible continuation of

033? Possibly over more black humic deposit.

Over 026

under 024

026 Red-orange iron-stained sand, thin layer. Dips steeply

W from about 54 cm E from baulk. This slope does not

continue into the baulk, stops c 20cm E of baulk. Small

slippage from this layer against baulk.

Over 063, 045

under 024, 025

027 Blackish sandy layer under 023.Possible continuation

of 004 ?

under 023

028 Thin black lense under 027, 023

029 Brown humic over black humic against E end of over 011

stones. Antler in this. under 002

030 Feature dug through sand, filled with black soil with

small amount of red soil above. Cuts wind blown sand

004. Possibly same as 007 and 009.

over 004

031 Black layer. Possible continuation of 037

over 032, 036

under 019

032 Blackish sand, contains some pot and shell. Possibly

continuation of 011 or 022?

NB rough sketch for layer cards included.

over 033

under 019, 031

033 Mottled sand, many pot fragments. Apparently under

but also over the S edge of 036 - possible if 036

represents an ash lense

over 036

under 032.

034 Area 115/115. Same for following features unless

otherwise stated. Mottled brick-red and black layer,

excavated in Errol [?] trench only.

over 035;

under 019 or 002?

035 Area 115/115. Thin black layer, no finds. Present in N

end of trial section. Possibly a continuation of 034 but

without the brick red.

over 036;

under 034

036 Area 115/115. Flecked (orangish) pink & black specks

(overall pinkish appearance of layer, greasy texture).

Possibly ash deposits. Layer stops short for no apparent

reason.

over 033, but also

appears to have

mottled sand lying

over its edge

under 035, 033, 034

037 Area 115/115. Mixed blackish-red humic soil. Stones c

10 x 12 cm showing under this layer. Layer to E side of

trial trench only. Possibly continuation of 031?

over 032

038 Area 115/115. Possible post-hole. Not noted until

removal of 033, mottled sand. Fill at this stage of

brown soil mixed with sand, see drawing of E section

of trial trench. A 10 cm baulk was left & the E

remainder of 038 was removed. The E and W profiles

of 038 do not resemble a typical post-hole fill.

Apparently dug from 037 - 031 layer?

NB plan drawing present.

Over 037/031

039 Area 115/115. Wind-blown sand, very clean with the

exception of some transitory lenses of black material

(turf ?), and streaks of soft brown sand. Continuation of

004 in N of W baulk.

under 038, 033, 036

040 E of baulk, as are following unless otherwise stated.

This area is contained by a rough semi-circle of stones

(see plan), the fill of which is dark black. The black fill

was thin and lay over mottled sand 033, with some

blackish sand where the two layers met. After removal

of 033, a small cluster of 3 stones was noted, 2 of

which were upright and about 20 cm in height.

over 033.

(CONTEXT REF?)Apparently the packing for a post-

hole but there was very little evidence for this in the

section profile (see drawing).

NB plan and drawing included.

041 Mottled sand over black and clean sand surface.

?

042 Brownish pink/red soil. Contained a limpet shell filled

with pink peat ash, and incorporated a small pocket of

peat ash. Possibly contemporary with contemporary

with 045.

over 041, 062

under 002;

043 Area 120/112. Brown sand, contains numerous shells.

Possibly same as 025?

NB plan included.

044 Brownish-pink sand containing large number of shells.

Presumably lies under or abuts against 033 (which

contained numerous pot sherds but no shells); Possibly

a continuation of 064?

NB also several rough sketches included.

over 045, 063, and

possibly 039

045 Area 115/110 and 120/110. Deep pink peat-ash, very

dense in shells, especially limpets. Almost as many

shells as ash, possibly swept from a hearth?

[detritus discarded in 1996 - reddish colour

pronounced; also comminuted stone component -

gritty/gravelly size noticeable]

Over 069.

046 Area 115/115, as are following features unless

otherwise stated. Post-hole: L 18 cm; W 18 cm; D 8

cm.

NB section drawings included.

Dug into sand from

layer 031 or 032 or

higher layer.

047 Area 115/115 Post-hole.

Dug into wind-

blown sand

possibly from 031

or 037

048 Area 115/115Post-hole.

Dug into wind-

blown sand, and

possibly through

peat-ash from layer

031/037 or higher

layer.

049 Shell layer or second layer of peat ash. On plan small

20 x 20 cm area only

Over 062

Possibly under 061

050 Layer of laminated wind-blown sand and darker lenses

of either dark, grey black humic material or more

amorphous discolourated brown sand.

051 Post-hole, probable/definite. Fill of grey brown

speckled sand, with no distinctions. Homogeneous fill.

052 unused

053 053Sample of grey-brown sand from 053 (numbered as

sample 2, 115/110, dated 19/7/1979) - discarded 1996 -

charcoal stained, with some shell

054-060 unused

061 Brownish sand layer, very dense in shells. On S side of

temporary baulk under 045; possible continuation of

063.

over 062

under 045

062 The amalgamation of layered sand and black-humic

lenses above 066 and 067, (ie the turf wall core and

`upper floor level'). Depth reaches 20 cm in places,

contains some shells.

over 067

under 061, 011B.

063 Area 115/115. Mixed black humic and stained sand

containing numerous shells. Fills and forms part of

oval feature. Over 069 on its S edge, and an 067 - type

layer on its N half

Over 069

abuts 045

064 Area 115/115. Laminated sand in N corner of the `oval'

area (N of temp baulk). This laminated sand has a

concave edge in the W baulk, (later found to be caused

by rabbit disturbance). Possible continuation of 044

equals 044?

065 Red-orange to brown sand sitting on wind-blown sand

in patches, but on the whole transcribing part of a

wandering oval shaped band on the S side of the temp

baulk. Borders 062.

Sample of detritus discarded 1996 - gritty, brown sand

much vegetable material

over 083

under 002

066 Apparently the base of a turf core of a wall. Is in places

up to 15 cm thick, but more often is just c 5 cm thick.

In section the turf `walling' has an irregular appearance.

It consists of 3 to 4 approx horiz bands of humic

material separated by sand layers but which are all

connected to each other by a solid central or terminal

spine of humic material generally dipping downwards

from W to E. Thus the overall stratigraphic depth

which these bands of humic material occupy varies

between about 12 cm to 25 cm. Where sections were

cut through the turf walling a general trend was

noticed:- the wall rested on sterile sand, while on the

exterior face from the connecting spine there run

stained layers representing former land surfaces or

erosion layers. Each of these supposed erosion layers

are inter-separated by sterile sand. A particularly

distinctive layer associated with the lowermost humic

horizon is that of feature 106.

NB The above generalisations concerning the siting of

the turf walling on sterile sand and the association of

Over sterile sand.

its outer face with former land surfaces/ midden

erosion layers also holds true for the turf walling of the

ancillary structure, context 110 (although no ash

staining directly associated).

There is some evidence for the placing of edging

stones at least on the interior of the `wall' - the 3

upright stones still possibly in situ? (grid sq 119/113) -

yet in this case the stones had no relationship to the

interior `floor' layers although they might have been

assumed to have protected deposits. Instead their

interior face is bounded by sand (rabbiting?) or

possibly indicating their intrusion from a higher level.

Immediately S of these stones (119/ 113 and 119/112),

hollows in the sand which showed up clearly against

the black layer 092 suggest the former presence of

edging stones. No trace of stones in N half - instead a

bright red layer on interior (context 112).

Post-excavation appearance - present only on E side of

baulk (no trace at all on W side). Could be interpreted

either as straight wall or as an oval, (ie evidence for

curve at S end - see plan). Ends abruptly in N due to

ancient erosion.

Questions - 1) wall: no. of building phases 1, 2 or 3 ?

2) original height: low bank ? c 1 m ?

3) any superstructure ? (no trace of post holes.

4) purpose: enclosure ? boundary ?

5) if enclosure then: of living quarters, shelter, animal

pen etc.

6) life-span of wall ?

7) if not wall then what ?

067 A thin, fragmentary, black humic layer broken by

patches of sand. Seemed to fill interior of the oval ?

building, to the S of the temp baulk, and appeared to be

present in S half of area N of temp baulk.

Originally thought to have been continuation of 055 W

of baulk and planned as such. But on excavation only

that part of 067 that lay N of temp baulk was found

likely to have been the continuation of 055 (and of 092

N of temp baulk).

N of the temp baulk 067 lay over clean sand on its S

and E edges and over a (if 055) compact ashy (089)

lense for the remainder of its expanse. Some small

Over 084, 089, 085,

possibly over 086

under 062, 063,

069;

possible

continuation of

055, or 006, or

050?

Over 089

under 069

possible

continuation of

088?

stones began to be visible in SW of this area.

S of baulk - In 119/113, layer 067 reached a maximum

of 3 cm depth at temp baulk, where it consisted of solid

black humus. 067 covered a brown sandy layer,

numbered 084. Further S, 067 appeared to be replaced

by a layer consisting of a thin black lense over medium

brown sand (erroneously numbered 085). Yet in the E

baulk section little if any difference could be seen in

the sandy component of 085 and 084.

Second 067 entry - location 118/114 and 118/115.

Black stained layer, ie thin black streak over darkish

sand. Disappears in S end of 118/115.

Detritus of 067 discarded in 1996 - very dark

grey/black colour confirmed - also very noticeable

stony/gritty/gravelly component with crushed pot,

burnt material etc; further detritus sample almost

entirely composed of grit).

068 Area 115/110, 115/115. Pre-excavation - where the

sloping pink peat ash evened out to a level surface it

appeared to merge into a compact pinkish black layer

containing fewer shells. This was removed as 068.

Although in plan, 068 appeared to be the horizontal

continuation of 045, in the N face of the temp baulk

section no relation could be seen with 045. Layers 033

and 044 cover both 045 and 068. Only in the temp

baulk, 045 appears to have been a pit (although

rabbited at base), and is cut through 069. Is 068

spillage from pit 045 ? (although no direct link-up in

section.

Over 069

under 033

possibly under 044

possibly

contemporary with

045

069 Area 115/110, 115/115. A brown sandy layer covering

the sloping sides and floor of the `oval'.

Overlain by 2 apparent dumps of material on its

sloping sides (045 - pink peat ash with great shell

density, and 063 abutting against the N edge of 045

and consisting of black soil (turf ?), and black stained

sand containing large no. of shells - bucket samples of

045 and 063 taken) The level `base' of 069 is overlain

by a pinkish black layer 068, containing some shells

(068 is distinct from 045 and 063 but may represent

erosion from 045 and 063 - 068 bucket sample taken).

Underlying history uncertain - 069, over layers

representing disintegration of `turf wall' 066?

Detritus of 069 discarded in 1996 - brown with yellow

sand WBS grains present, rooted/vegetable matter

Over 067, 092, 088

under 045, 063, 068

possible

continuation of 062

present; grits from decomposed stone

070 not in context book

071 sample of dirty brown sand with some shell (discarded

1996)

072-080 Not in context book

081 Area 120/110. Cleaning of `old land surface' for

photograph. Brownish-reddish layer, with some iron

staining, fairly compact `surface'.

Over wind-blown

sand

under 083

082 Area 117/115. A small (c 50 cm NW/SE x 20 cm

NE/SW), patch of greasy pinkish-brown soil (ie ash-

stained), against the W baulk.

Over a small pocket

of wind-blown

sand, and black soil

and sand

083 Wind-blown sand.

Over 081

under 065

084 Area 119/113, 118/113. Brownish-sandy layer 4-5 cm

thick, and sloping W from group of 3 upright stones.

Incorporates some lumps of black soil. This layer is re-

interpreted in 119/112, therefore see 085 and 086, ie

084 in grid sq 119/113, S of the 2 stones, is equivalent

to the brown sandy lense of 085, overlying 086 in grid

sq 119/112.

Very gritty detritus discarded 1996

Over 092

under 067.

085 Area 119/112. Thin black lense overlying brown sandy

layer c 5 cm thick. This layer disappears in S half of

119/112.

Over 086

under 067

086 Area 119/112. Light-brown sandy layer. Contains pot-

sherds and pot fragments which penetrate the base of

085. This layer disappears in S half of 119/112.

Slight possibility that in S half 119/112 086 was

excavated as part of layer 067.

Brown gritty detritus discarded in 1996

Over 092

under 085.

087 Area 115/119. Post-hole, 15 x 15 cm (measured from

interior faces of stones), depth 38 cm (from top of

tallest stone). Uppermost layer - brown `humic'

containing shells overlying brown sand. Bottoms out

into black `humic' of 066, but also cuts through 066

slightly. 4 stones edge the hole, 2 almost vertical ( one

20 cm in height, the other 28 cm in height), plus 2

stones each 17 cm high, one of which was wafer thin.

Level from which post-hole cut unknown, presumably

not a feature of `turf wall' 066 ?

Over 066

088 Area118/115. Mottled brown-black sand.

Over 092

under 069;

possible

continuation of 067

089 Area 118/114. Small pinkish deposit, flecked with Over 091, 092

black (ash ?). Rather patchy, abuts against clean sand

in S and E, where it meets the sloping side of the `turf

wall'.

under 067.

090 Area 122/111. Brightly stained sand adjacent to red

soil 150 (decayed turf), plastered to inner face of

stones. Contains mixed black and red humic lenses.

NB it was not possible to refine the division of layers

in interior of structure 150, due to the large amount of

rabbit activity alongside and under the `wall'. For the

same reason, the attempt to obtain a section through

`wall' and interior layers was unsuccessful.

Possibly represents gradual erosion of 150?

Detritus discarded 1996 confirmed reddish colour with

bone, shell, stone grit content]

Over sterile sand,

093

under 081.

091 Area 118/114, 119/114. Mixed dirty brown sand layer,

very soft. Almost sterile

Over 093

under 089

092 E of main baulk. Compact black layer. Present mainly

in 118/115 (appears only in the NW corner of

118/114). No distinction could be made between 092

on the base of one oval feature and the black `humic'

material adhering to the sides of the feature, (N area

only). The black material on the sloping sides of the

feature overlay a red and red-black stained layer.

S of temp baulk, 092 did not come into contact with the

turf wall (or with the 3 edging stones). Between the

`wall' and 092 was a band of yellow sand, presumably

indicating the former presence of inner facing stones

(see plan).

Over 093

under 088, 069,

084, 086, 089.

093 Interior of `oval' structure. Golden yellow sterile sand.

Some features visible in this sand - the majority on

excavation proved to be rabbit burrows. See feature

numbers 097, 098, 099, 100, 101, 102, 103.

Over base of layers;

under 092.

094 Area 120/115. Pinkish brown sand containing shells.

Eroded deposits of 045?

Over 106, 066

under unnumbered

layers, see plan 3.

095 Area 120/115. Pink ashy layer in lenses, not extending

over more than 1m². Probably lenses of 094.

Over - see 094;

under - see 094;

within 094 ?

096 No record

097 Area 118/114. Amorphous feature. Between temp

baulk and main baulk a c. 40 cm² area of stained sand

visible, ringed by 6 smallish stones, with one longer

stone within the `feature' itself at right angles to its N

Over 093

under 091

within 093.

edge. Rabbit burrow also visible in interior

Nothing conclusively visible in S and W sections after

excavation. Most of `fill' appears to be sand from a

rabbit burrow. Base uncertain.

098 Area 118/114, 118/115. Amorphous feature of soft

brown sand, diam 10 cm², depth 4 cm.

Over 093

under 091

within 093

099 Area 118/114. Circular feature of light brown sand,

diam 10 cm², depth 13 cm. Fill is mottled throughout.

Possibly a non-existent feature as the surrounding sand

had been disturbed by rabbit burrowing.

100 Area 118/115. Deposit of pink, greasy ash, diam c 30

cm, depth 5-6 cm, on an E-W slope immediately below

stones on outer edge of 066. To left of the pink layer is

a large circular stone sitting on blackish sand. The

stone was removed and a continuous section was cut

through the pink ash and the black sand from N to S

The black sand formed a `pedestal' under the round

stone and seems to have truncated the peat ash. The

pink peat ash contained some shell and bone and would

appear to be a small dump of ash resting on a sandy

slope.

Over 093

under 092.

101 Area 117/115. Amorphous feature of light brown sand,

possibly caused by rabbit burrowing.

Over 093

under 092.

102 Area 117/ 115. Circular, black greasy feature, probably

represents a part of layer 092 which has subsided into a

rabbit burrow. This area of the site was extensively

disturbed by rabbits.

Over 093

under 092

103 Area 118/115. Possible post-hole, diam 8 cm, depth 12

cm. Black shadow protruding from the S side of a

narrow stone.

A box section was taken out. The stone on the N side

of the feature was situated in yellow sand. The blackish

sandy shadow on its S side may be a possible post-

hole, (excavated depth 12 cm). Lighter, mottled sand

on the S side of this blackish sand may be part of the

same feature.

Over 093

under 092

within 093

104 Area 119/116. Wind-blown deposit of soft yellow

sand.

Over 105

Possibly under 002

105 Area 119/ 116. Light brown, firmish sand.

Over 093 & sterile

sand

under 104.

106 Area 120/115, 120/116. Very thin, salmon pink ashy

layer, slopes away from outer edge of `turf wall 066'

Over eroded

midden deposits;

becoming increasingly fragmented to the E, until

finally disappearing.

under 095.

107 W of baulk. Pink peat ash.

108 W of baulk. Brown sand.

Under peat ash

(107?)

109 W of baulk [as are following features unless otherwise

stated]. Yellow peat ash, c 8 cm thick.

Cuts red peat ash.

110 Irregular patch of dark brown sand lying against

background of light coloured wind-blown sand, located

adjacent to S erosion edge on W of baulk; E edge

truncated by rabbit disturbance. Full size therefore

unclear but surviving dimensions 26 cm N-S, 32-33 cm

E-W.

Probably a post-hole, with dark brown sand

replacement staining and discoloured wind-blown sand

and staining representing back-filled post-hole.

Sample discarded in 1996 suggests reddish-brown grit

free sand with some shell (limpets, mussel) and some

pottery fragments. Could therefore be collapsed

material rather than feature fill??

Cuts wind-blown

basal sand;

Possibly under 055

111 Dark patch with circular reddish brown/brown stain

(feature 112), at S end, dimensions c 44 x 36 cm

overall. Fill - mottled peat ash staining, grey and brown

sand: a variegated, mottled profile. Some black humic

staining also.

Post-hole with later smaller post-hole cut through it ?

Excavation revealed re-cut post-hole/ stake-hole.

Sample of brown sand discarded 1996 with quartz

flake, coprolite? Present.

112 See 111.

113 Roughly circular dark sand patch, c 22 cm and abutting

S edge of laid stone feature, 056. One small scrap of

pottery excavated.

Probable post-hole.

114 Stake-hole ? with brown sand fill: 10 x 10 x c 19 cm ;

immediately adjacent to stone laid feature 056.

115 Shallow scoop c 20 x 13 x 6 cm, containing a few

mussel fragments and a hammer stone, with a further

cracked stone. Possibly a stake-hole adjacent - c 7.5 x 6

x 13 cm.

Base of shallow scoop, feature ? to N of 056 adjacent

to baulk. [??]

116 Small, irregularly circular patch c 12 x 10 cm. Dark

brown sand and some charcoal ? staining on surface.

Stake-hole or small post ? Undifferentiated fill 18-19

cm deep as excavated.

117 Darkish patch, 13 x 21 cm, collapsed on excavation

and therefore clearly a rabbit disturbance. Looser, less

compact sand fill would tend to differentiate it from the

more compact undisturbed fills of 110, 111 etc. Top

contained a hammer stone.

118 Circular patch of dark sand, c 14 cm N-S x 16 cm E-W

x 23 cm in depth. Feature loosely filled with dark-

brown sand and many shells (sample discarded 1996

suggests limpets>winkles and some mussel).

Possibly collapse over burrow, or small scoop for

disposal of shells, or replacement fill of post-hole ?

Uncertain - with preference for post-hole.

119 Shallow scoop filled with brown sand. Containing one

shell. No depth to this feature, therefore not profiled, c

10 x 9 x 4 cm.

120 Shallow scoop in the sand with brown sand fill,

including broken shell fragment, c 10 x 10 x 5-6 cm.

Minor disturbance of underlying sand - interpret.

121 Large dark patch adjacent to main baulk. On

excavation clearly very rabbit disturbed, with burrow

extending under baulk on E and back under sand on W.

Stones ring the S edge of the hole suggestive of

packing, c 10-15 cm range.

Possibly a stone packed post-hole, disturbed by

burrowing, but equally burrowing and collapse may

have resulted in tipping in of stones on surface.

Possible brown sand feature on N edge - but could also

be collapse of 055 ? (see section drawing – REF

XXXX).

122 Area of dark soil and stones immediately W of 056

(stone feature), on slight downslope from056. Overall

extent c 62 x 50 cm. Central part darker than `lobate

sides', which had a lighter brown sand, stone free, fill.

Large, deep hole filled with stone and dark brown,

fairly loose soil, bordered by a lobate burrow opening,

and a shallower conical lobe, half sectioned badly.

The feature was partially covered with 050 wind-blown

sand and partly with 055.

It seems possible that 122 is a disturbed feature,

perhaps originally a stone-packed post-hole.

alternatively a collapsed stony spread of 055.

123 Dark soil-filled `sausage' shaped patch.

Immediately W of 056 stone feature.

Possible/probable stake/post-hole.

124 Rabbit disturbance (see plan REF XXXXX).

125 Rabbit disturbance (see plan REF XXXXX).

126 Possible post-hole (stone packed), divorced from in

situ deposits by erosion. `Stone packing', 3 stones on

edge, 20 x 13 cm, 25 x 18 cm, 22 x 10 cm, enclosing

soft fill. Not valid fill.

127 Shallow depression against main baulk, c 36 x 20 cm.

Fill of dark brown sand, some peat ash, shell, pot. Pit ?

Midden debris ? Small stake-hole on SW edge ? c 10 x

9 cm deep (from sand surface).

128 Dark patch, lobate, brown sand next to main baulk, c

35 x 25 max. Excavated into shallow E half, deeper W

half, containing some mussel fragments. Possible post-

hole base with shallow E spread.

129 Elongated dark patch, brown sand, c 40 x 20 cm max.

Not strongly suggestive. Excavated to reveal shallow

elongated scoop, depression. Sherd on base, some shell

- winkle, and two small sherds. One stone in section.

Very base of a post-hole ? Possibly a rabbited collapse

of 055.

130 Very shallow, stained brown, sand-filled depression at

N end of 129 - loose fill continues - rabbit disturbance

131 Pocket of humic black sandy soil, 10 cm diam, 4 cm

depth. Prob natural, root or rabbit.

132 Very shallow pocket of brown sand, containing 2

limpets, 1 winkle, 1 flat stone, c 15 x 13 x 2 cm.

Depression in sand surface, filled with 055.

Under 055

133 Mild depressions, discolourations of sand in pockets

134 Rabbit disturbance possibly of a stone lined feature

(large post-hole?), incorporating finds (pot, shell,

bone), into loose, dark brown matrix lying stumped

into collapse of burrow. Half-sectioned, stones returned

into sand, therefore not a real feature.

135 no entry

136 Rabbit burrow - unequivocally - joins to burrow in NE

quadrant via baulk.

137 Possible packing of post-hole but fill completely

destroyed by rabbit disturbance - or pitching of stone

into burrow, major burrow (136) visible on removal of

fill of burrow.

Stones: large for packing but smaller packing stone

too: 25 x 13 x 15 cm; 20 x 12 x 4 cm; 22 x 12 x 8; and

smaller.

Part of 137, 138 ?

138 3 stones set in a soft, yellow sand fill in a rounded hole

visible after removal of 137: maybe pitching of stone

into rabbit disturbance. Stones: 18 x 12 x 8 cm; 20 x 15

x 6; 14 x 8 x 8.

139 no entry

140 no entry

141 Loosely constructed line of stones resting on black

humic material (turf ?) and some midden. To N,

midden and peat ash badly disturbed by rabbits, as is

the wall. To S, 055 and/or sand meets the stones.

Stone sizes: av 20-30 cm length; mainly very friable

degraded schist or gneiss.

Possibly a partition wall in conjunction with turf

footings?

142 Area121/111, 120/111, 122/111; E area of main baulk,

S of temp baulk. Turf `wall' of ancillary structure.

Survives as a mixture of black and brick red humic

material (laid turves show in places as black against the

red - c 16 x 20 cm).

The turf presumably represents part of the E wall/

boundary of a possibly oval feature, c 2 m SE of the

main `building'. The surviving stretch of `wall' is only

1.8 m in extent. The outer edge of the turf `wall' is

bounded by 4 stones still in position. 2 `shadows' in the

sand adjacent to the S most stone may indicate the

position of 2 further stones. The 2 N most stones are

laid longitudinally, while the 2 to the S, are short in

length and laid with their long-axis at right angles to

the wall. Turf remains covered the sides and upper

surfaces of the stones. There was no turf under the

stones.

(An unsuccessful attempt was made to obtain a section

through the `wall' and interior of the structure,

relationship of wall to interior lost by rabbit

burrowing.)

143-50 No entries

151 Location 122/110, 122/111. Mottled sand layer

containing large number of winkles. In 122/111, the

winkles form a solid pile under the first surviving

edging stone in the N. The distribution of the winkles is

confined fairly rigidly to the width of the stone itself,

(extending only for a few centimetres further N of the

stone). The sand under the remaining outer edging

stones contains a much smaller number of shells.

This layer represents eroded midden material ? or a

deliberate deposit under the outer edging stones ?

NB the turf portions of the `wall' are laid on soft

(sterile) yellow sand. Plan included.

001

002

012

094=095

106

021

022

024

043?=025

026

042

041

029

011

014

016 015

019

037=031

034

035

032 036

040

033

038 046 047 048 003

010

017

018

020?

008 009

023?=007

027 030

028

065

083

081

090

150

142

151

104

105

033

050=039=004

044=064 005

063 068

045

061

049

062

069

088

067=?055=006

067=?055=066

066 085 084 089

092

086

100

093

091

141 113

056

122 112

111

110 109

107

108

APPENDIX C: SAMPLE LIST

Samples were taken from most contexts, as described above in methodology. A separate

sample list was not prepared.

APPENDIX D: DRAWINGS LIST

A drawing list has not been found in the site records, and will be reconstructed once

the drawings are available

APPENDIX E: PHOTO LIST

A photographic list has not been found in the site records, and is presently being

reconstructed by Dr T. Cowie.

APPENDIX F: FINDS LISTS

All finds from Barvas 1 are held in the National Museums of Scotland.

The finds have already been catalogued and cross-referenced, in order to produce the

reports included in Appendix G. The entries in the tables below are therefore ordered by

catalogue number rather than finds number.

A spreadsheet of the original finds lists, derived from the field notebooks, is appended as

a separate file.

BONE & ANTLER

NB Terms such as spatula, point etc are intended to be descriptive, not functional. All

bone implements have been drawn.

Catalogue

No.

Description Context Find

no.

61 Worked bone point; 52 x max 10 x 4 mm 092 518

62 Utilised bone implement, serrated along one edge for

length of 80 mm; cross-section slightly convex ?; 116 x 17

x 7 mm.

044 227

63 Worked bone spatula with blunt-ended tip (width 9 mm,

but damaged); sides shaped for most of the length,

underside smoothed for c. two-thirds of length from tip;

cross-section slightly concave; 101 x max 25 x 3 mm.

007 511

64 Worked bone point (tip damaged), surfaces smoothed, but

bear short, random incisions; cross-section roughly

triangular; 102 x max 21 x max 20 mm, width 6 mm at tip.

009 512

65 Worked bone point with broken tip; edges uneven; 103 x

10 - 11 x 3 mm.

082 517

66 Worked bone spatula with rounded end, other end broken;

cross-section slightly concave; 42 x 16 x 4 - 5.5 mm.

030 513

67 Fragment of worked bone disc, striations on ext surface;

cross-section flat; 45 x 30 x 3.5 mm.

055 514

68 Worked bone point; 31 x max 10 x 2 mm. 055 515

69 Worked bone awl ? with long, tapering point; 52 x max 6

x 2 mm.

055 516

POTTERY CATALOGUE

The Barvas 1 pottery has already been catalogued and cross-referenced, in order to

produce the report included in Appendix G. The entries in the table below are therefore

ordered by catalogue number rather than finds number.

In order to restrict the length of the entry for each item, a number of recurring features

has been excluded from the individual descriptions: these include colour, smoothing and

abrasion of surfaces, and finger impressions, all of which are described in the discussion

which follows the catalogue. [NB sherds which have been drawn are numbered the same

as cat no.]

Storage:

nos 1-48 are in Barvas 1 Pot Box 4

nos 49-61 are in Barvas 1 Pot Box 4 as aer fabric samples

Catalogue

No.

Description Context Find

no.

1 two rim sherds and joining (4) body sherds of jar with

rounded incurved rim; d 240 mm; th 12 mm; fab A3;

abundant `wipe' marks, partly soot-blackened around rims

122

458

2 rim sherd and joining body sherd of jar with rounded,

incurved rim; d 220 mm; th 10 mm; fab A1; strip of

applied clay visible on int rim edge; band of black soot

ending 25-40 mm from ext rim edge

three poss body sherds from same pot

055 163

3 a) two joining rim sherds

b) two joining rim sherds and three body sherds

c) small rim sherd

d) four joining base sherds - all prob from same jar;

rounded, incurved rim; th 11-12 mm; slightly rounded

basal angle; d 140 mm; wall th 12 mm; base th 20 mm; fab

A2; abundant `wipe' marks on a) and b), grass imp on a)

and d)

seven body sherds poss from same pot, also possible body

sherds from archive cat nos 5, 127, 138, 197

a)d) 134

b) 050

c)006

359

359

421

91

4 rounded rim fragment, similar to P3, but different vessel;

th 12 mm; fab B?:

nine body sherds poss from same vessel.

088 408.

5 rim and joining body sherd of jar, with rounded, slightly

incurved rim; th 13 mm; fab A2; traces of fine `wipe'

marks on ext [grass striations]; band of soot-blackening

extending 35 mm from rim edge; construction break c. 30

mm from edge

surface,

unstrat

26,

38

6 rounded, [slightly] incurved rim; th 12 mm; fab A1; ext

soot-encrusted [, and spall marks 7 mm below top of rim]

poss same pot as P7

068 260

7 rounded, incurved rim; th >8 mm; fab A2; rim-edge soot-

blackened

poss same pot as P6

089 350

8 rim and joining bodysherds of ?jar, with rounded,

probably incurved rim (Reconstruction of rim to body

dubious);

d 180 mm; th 10 mm; fab B; ext uneven [and sooting from

rim edge to 50 mm down]; shallow slanted construction

break 53 mm from rim edge

055 270.

9 rounded, possibly incurved rim; th 10 mm; fab B?

cont 055 -

10 four joining rim sherds and six joining body sherds of

upright jar with rounded rim; d c.320 mm; th 14 mm; fab

A2; int surface uneven, ext patchy soot-blackening;

construction break 48 mm from rim edge

three body sherds from same vessel.

033 490

11 rounded, upright rim; th 11 mm; fab A2; int grass

impression, ext soot-blackening

body sherd poss from same pot

023

023

260

166

12 rounded [slightly angular], upright rim; th 10 mm; fab B

[NB find/context?151 in `typed' catalogue]

also poss body sherd

111 488

13 broad, slightly rounded rim frag; th c.12 mm; fab A2; ext

horizontal striations on rim

two body sherds and three abraded frags, one of which

poss rim; all from same vessel

023

023

159

159,

411

14 broad, rounded rim; th c.12 mm; fab A1

three body sherds poss from same vessel

033

033

232

186,

189

15 slightly flattened rim frag; th c.11 mm; fab A2

four body sherds from same vessel.

023 159

16 flattened rim, [slight internal bevel]; th 9 mm; fab B: /

one body sherd poss from same vessel; uneven ext.

cont 045 437,

cf 18

17 flattened rim frag; th c.12 mm; fab A; int organic

impression, ext blackened

003 70

18 slightly flattened rim frag; th 10 mm; fab A2; ext

blackened [and slightly spalled/laminated]

081 162

19 two joining, flattened rim sherds and body sherd; th 11

mm; d c.240 mm; fab A3; ext faint `wipe' marks visible

023 146

20 two joining, flattened rim sherds and body sherd; th

10mm; d 220-240 mm; fab A3; int grass impressions, ext

`wipe' marks:

023 159

[rim frag from bag marked: cont 055/ find 387]

21 two joining rim sherds and a body sherd of open jar, with

flattened rim; th 10 mm; d 240 mm; fab A2; int very fine

horiz striations, [ext smoothed but lumpy

two sherds from the same vessel

cont 011

011

/ find

176

236

22 flattened rim [with very slight internal bevel]; th 11 mm;

fab A2?; ext blackened, [encrusted residue present]

068 256

23 flattened rim frag; th c.10 mm; fab A2?; ext blackened 041 238

24 flattened rim frag 023 260

25 irregularly flattened rim; th 10 mm; fab B; ext patchy

blackening on rim edge and body; construction break 36

mm below rim edge

004 76

26 broad, angular, flattened rim frag; th 13 mm; fab B; ext

blackened, fine `wipe' marks on rim edge

006 92

27 angular, flattened rim fragment; th c.11 mm; fab A2 023 159

28 broad, angular, flattened rim frag, [organic mark ext]; th

c.12 mm; fab B?

one body sherd from same pot; th 12 mm

033 226

29 broad, slightly flattened rim, with rounded ext rim edge

and int edge angular; th 13 mm; fab A2?; ext soot-

blackening commencing 11 mm from rim edge

057,55 354

30 broad, angular, flattened rim with slight internal

expansion; th 12 mm; fab A2

three body sherds and one poss base [with thick ext

protrusion] from same vessel

007

007

281

135

31 flattened rim sherd, with slight int expansion, and two

joining sherds; th 13 mm; d 240 mm; fab A2; int faint

striations, construction break 35 mm below rim edge

[rim frag and four small frags from same pot]

007 80

32 angular, flattened, int expanded rim; th 9 mm; d 240 mm;

fab A3; ext faint `wipe' marks on rim and wall, soot-

blackening commencing 21-28 mm from rim edge, poss

seed impression, [slight lamination]

084 401

33 angular, int bevelled rim; th 11 mm; fab B?:

one body sherd poss from same pot; th 13 mm.

016 149

34 angular rim, with slight int bevel, th 12 mm; fab B;

[organic temper (chaff)]

009 173

35 angular rim, with slight int bevel [and slight lamination];

th 12 mm; fab A1

023 159

36 slightly angular rim, with int bevel; th 12 mm; fab B:

one body sherd poss same vessel

023a 184

37 slightly angular, very uneven rim, with slight int bevel; th

10 mm; fab A2

030 372

one body sherd poss from same pot.

38 flattened rim with slight int bevel; th 11mm; fab B; rim

edge blackened

twelve body sherds:

and five frags: poss from same vessel.

033

033

033

189

189,

232

206

39 angular rim fragment, with slight internal bevel; fab A2 055 412

40 a) two joining rim sherds and body sherds of jar, with

angular, slightly internally bevelled rim; th 14 mm; d

c.240 mm; fab A2; int patchy blackening on body wall, ext

blackened up to 27 mm from rim edge; shallow, slanting

construction break 28 mm from rim edge.

b) large part of wall of same pot with start of basal angle,

basal angle gently flaring; wall th 14 mm, base th not

known; int patchy soot-blackening and encrustation, ext

fine `wipe' marks visible:

[18 base sherds and frags, and 5 bodysherds, all very

fragmented, poss from same vessel

068

033

256

490

41 flattened rim frag, with slight int bevel; th 8 mm; fab B:

poss same vessel as: find 488 ?

080 425

42 a) rounded rim sherd, with slight external lip, short neck

and slight shoulder; poss from necked jar; d c.100-120

mm; th 7 mm; fab D; int rim edge blackened, ext

blackened:

b) 13 body sherds of same vessel; th c.5-8 mm; int and ext

patchy soot-blackening and/or encrustation

069

055,

069

481

474,

481

43 two poss rim frags:

a) one small, flattened with slight internal bevel; appears

to have been pinched

b) three sherds from second rim, prob rounded; th >11 mm

(these two entries previously P55 & P51).

Unstrat

033

from

bag 5

490

44 two joining sherds with start of slightly flaring basal angle

on int; wall th 11 mm; fab B; int patchy blackening, ext

very fine `wipe' marks, organic impressions

three body sherds poss from same vessel; th 16/17 mm

091

092

415

172,

173,

175

45 three joining base sherds, plus two base sherds and two

wall sherds (not joining) of pot with flaring base and flat

bottom; d c.120 mm; wall th 17 mm; base th 16 mm; fab

A2; int and base ext faint organic impressions, [base rough

005 109

and pitted]

46 two joining base sherds of flat-bottomed pot, with flaring

base and slightly protruding foot; wall th 12 mm; d c. 180

mm; base th 18 mm; fab C; int traces of organic

impressions, [slightly laminated, base pitted on ext]

six body sherds poss from same pot; all similar to vessel

P53.

unstrat find?

47 two joining base sherds and body sherds of flat-bottomed

pot, with flaring base; wall th 17 mm; d c.180 mm; base th

c.18 mm; fab A2/B

068 260

48 probable base sherd, with slight protruding foot and flaring

wall, underside of base is concave, (poss grooved?);[

resembles a carination]; wall th 16 mm; base th not known

[poss c.20 mm]; fab A2; ext and underside of base partly

blackened, horizontal striations visible

{Drawing to be changed}

023 166

49 base made up of numerous sherds and frags; large part of

wall and small portion of basal angle with slight foot and

prob flat base; wall th c.10 mm; fab A

also >10 frags from same vessel.

003 110

50 base sherd; flat base, slight foot; base th c.15 mm; fab A:

two body sherds poss from same vessel.

017 99

51 base sherd with floor missing; slight ext protrusion, poss

foot; wall th 13 mm; fab A:

ten body sherds poss from same vessel.

030 372

52 base sherd; flat base; wall th 13 mm; fab A? (no large rock

grits); organic impression on ext, poss seed impression

010 84

53 small base sherd; slight foot, flat base; wall th c.12 mm;

base th c.15 mm; fab A?

092 353

54 base sherd; flat base, simple basal angle; wall th 11 mm;

base th c.13 mm; fab ?;

poss same pot as P52?

045 -

55 body sherd with steeply sloping construction break; th 12

mm; fab A2/B?; ext partly blackened, some organic

impressions

004 76

56 two joining body sherds with shallow sloping construction

break, (resembles a rimsherd); th 12 mm; fab A2?; ext

mostly blackened with soot encrustation

{still to be drawn}

033 189

57 body sherd with shallow sloping construction break,

(resembles a rimsherd); th 11 mm; fab A?

{still to be drawn}

071 435

58 body sherd with - shaped construction break; th 12 mm;

fab B; int blackened:

106 362

{still to be drawn}

59 body sherd with seed impression; th 15 mm; fab B?; seed

impression 7 mm long; 3.5 mm wide; faint lines running

lengthways

{still to be drawn}

044 282

60 basal sherd, broken at base, but slight foot protruding; 14

mm wide:

{still to be drawn}

189 458

61 Rim? added by Doug MacBeath 1996

42,

115/110

240

Fabric samples including finds nos

107

123? from context 055

139or159

165? from context 087

180

186

195

252

262

281

370

378

433

435

Samples of raw clay including finds nos

46

277

397

431

440

453

CATALOGUE OF STONE

The Barvas 1 stone has already been catalogued and cross-referenced, in order to

produce the report included in Appendix G. The entries in the table below are therefore

ordered by catalogue number rather than finds number.

Cat nos with a prefix `P' have been drawn.

Cat.

no.

Description Context

no.

Finds

no.

Box

no.

PS1 Stone smoother (broken), smoothed surface has fine

multi-directional striations; surviving end pitted; 126

x 98 x 63 mm.

045 467 Box

1

PS2 Utilised stone, heavily battered at broad end,

resulting in detachment of flakes; slightly abraded

(flattened), at narrow end; small area of abrasion on

both faces, probably from use as an anvil; d 17 mm

and 15 mm; 177 x max 80 x 40 mm.

055 389 Box

no 1

PS3 Utilised stone, roughly egg-shaped, with one end

bevelled in two directions, due to abrasion; 80 x max

72 x max 66 mm.

115 345 Box

no 1

PS4 Utilised pebble, battered at both ends; oval in shape;

80 x 55 x 50 mm.

117 344 Box

no 1

PS5 Utilised stone, battered at both ends; oval in shape;

145 x 105 x 80 mm:.

SC 492 Box

no 1

PS6 Utilised stone, battered at broad end and slightly

battered at narrow end; 206 x 80 (tapering to 55) x 60

mm.

SC 495 Box

no 1

PS7 Utilised stone with one surface smoothed; oval in

shape; damaged at one end; 290 x 180 x 90 mm.

SC 494 Box

no 4

PS8 Utilised stone, with band (max 30 mm wide), of

abrasion around wider end; egg-shaped; 100 x 86 x

62 mm.

U/S - Box

no 1

PS9 Utilised stone, with one surface smoothed and a band

of abrasion c. 25 mm wide around c. two-thirds of

the circumference; 130 x 112 x 62 mm.

U/S - 1

PS10 Utilised stone with a narrow ring of abrasion around

c. two-thirds of the surviving edge; circular in shape,

with large flake missing from one surface; 130 x 130

x c. 60 mm.

122 464 1

S11 Utilised stone, slightly battered at one end, slightly

abraded at other; elongated oval in shape; 188 x 60 x

61 - 50 mm.

045 346 1

S12 Stone rubber, one face smoothed; 293 x 185 x 96 mm

SC 044 ?

to

check].

4

The following cat nos. relate to unworked stone

finds unless otherwise stated.

S13 Chert flake; prov none. SC 002 2

S14 Frag of quartz, unworked [chuck?] prov B/O. SC 004 3

S15 Three frags quartz; two frags other [granite],

unworked [chuck?]; prov C/2.

SC 009 3

S16 Three frags quartz, unworked [chuck?]; prov C/0. SC 010 3

S17 Quartz flake; 20 mm; prov B/1. SC 012 3

S18 Three frags quartz, one def unworked; 20 - 45 mm;

frag flint; 35 mm; prov B/2.

SC 013 2&3

S19 Two frags quartz, unworked [chuck?]; prov C/1. SC 015 3

S20 Two flint flakes; five frags quartz; two other,

unworked [chuck?]; prov E of baulk.

003 019 2&3

S21 Two frags quartz; one piece chert; no prov. SC 024 2&3

S22 Hammerstone; struck flint; prov B/3. SC/02 030 2

S23 Frag flint; 20 mm; prov C/3, C/4, O/3. 003 032 2

S24 Three stone frags, unworked [chuck?]; prov C/3. 003 034 3

S25 Flake/`thumbnail scraper', flint; no prov. 003 040 2

S26 Three stone frags, prob natural, unworked [chuck?];

prov B/2.

SC 046 3

S27 One frag quartz, unworked?; prov B/1. SC 047 3

S28 Hammerstone/ pebble; no prov. SC 049 2

S29 Four frags quartz, unworked [chuck?]; 10 mm; frag

flint; 15 mm; prov A/13.

SC 051 2&3

S30 Two frags quartz, unworked [chuck?]; max 30 x 30

mm; prov A/13.

SC 053 3

S31 Quartz flake; three flakes flint, at least one worked;

prov B/3.

SC 055 2&3

S32 Two pieces of stone; prov 110 - 110. SC 061 ?

S33 One lump, prob natural; one flake quartz, poss

worked; prov 95 - 100.

SC 063 3

S34 Hammerstone; frag quartz; prov 115 - 110. 003 071 2&3

S35 Hammerstone pebble; quartz frag, prob unworked;

quartz flake; prov 115 - 110.

004 072 2&3

S36 Two frags quartz, prob unstruck; prov 95 - 105. SC 075 3

S37 Flint flake; prov 115 - 110. 007 081 2

S38 Quartz frag, prob unstruck?; prov 115 - 110, 120 -

110.

011 127 3

S39 Piece struck quartz (flake); prov 115 – 110. 011 140 3

S40 Flint flake; one frag quartz, prob unworked; prov 115

- 110.

023 142 2&3

S41 Two small quartz frags, one flint frag; prov 115 -

110.

011 148 2&3

S42 Poss worked piece quartz?; prov 115 - 110. 024 157 3

S43 Two pebbles; one cracked pebble, poss utilised; prov

115 - 110.

023 158 2

S44 Worked flint flake; prov 115 - 115. 019 198 2

S45 Very small quartz frags, prob not struck; prov 115 -

115.

036 208 3

S46 Flint flake; prov 115 - 110. 037 224 2

S47 Frag stone, natural flake ?; 30 mm; prov mixed

laminated sand.

050 286 2

S48 Five frags quartz, all unworked [chuck?]; 20 mm; fl

[?] frag 25 mm; four other frags 10 mm; prov 115 –

115.

002 295 ? 2&3

S49 One stone flake, poss struck; one piece quartz; see

also pumice find 328a; prov 115 – 115.

002 382 2&3

S50 Stone; 80 mm; two frags 20 mm; prov 115 – 110. 050 384 3

S51 Piece cracked quartz pebble, poss struck ?; frag

other, poss natural [chuck?]; prov 115 - 110.

057 399a 3

S52 Stone flake with poss feature; see pumice find 402;

prov 115 - 110.

030 402a 2

S53 Stone frag; prov 118 - 114. 068 418 3

S54 Utilised quartz pebble; 70 mm; prov 118 - 115. 088 432 3

S55 Quartz frag; prov 118 – 114. 089 460 3

S56 Long rough stone; 165 x 45 mm; prov unknown. 122 465 2

S57 worked stone, large frags struck from edges and one

side; 160 x 140 mm.

`peat ash

layer'/

466 2

S58 Quartz frag; prov Nth temp baulk. 069 489 3

S59 Quartz pebble, damaged one end; 120 x 70 mm. SC 493 2

S60 Pebble frag, poss struck ?; 100 x 130 mm; prov 119 –

110.

055 525 2

S61 Flint flake; 25 x 30 mm; prov 117 - 110. 107+ 109 526 ?

S62 Two quartz frags, not worked; 5 mm; prov Nth of t

baulk.

069 527 3

S63 Two pebbles poss utilised; 60 mm; two prob natural

stones.

US (bag 1) - ?

also added by Doug MacBeath 1996

stone probably from a bucket sample

U/S (bag

1)

- 2

CATALOGUE OF PUMICE

NB Cat nos which have a double `P' relate to drawn sherds i.e. published cat.

Storage:

All pumice is in stone and pumice box no. 5, except cat. nos. 17 & 27, which are in box no. 4

Cat.

No.

Description Context

no.

Finds

no. PP1 Irregular pumice disc with central perforation; d 11 mm

narrowing to 3.5 mm; made from one face only; surfaces

smoothed; 29 x 25 x 10 mm

011 118

PP2 Small lump of pumice with two grooves in one surface;

grooves measure 32 x 8; 22 x 5 mm; 48 x 34 x 25.

015 085

PP3 Irregular pumice disc, with angled sides and roughly

central, incomplete perforation; d at surface 4 mm; all

surfaces smoothed; 38 x 36 x 13 mm

021 145

PP4 Irregular lump of pumice, with one groove, measuring 52

x 6 mm, and a tentative right angled groove (2 grooves

meeting?), measuring 14 + 12 mm x width 8 mm, where

surviving; 84 x 70 x 47.

030 428

PP5 Irregular, cone-shaped lump of pumice, with three

surfaces (including base), smoothed; base 34 x max 31

mm; h 19 mm.

SC 025

P6 Irregular lump of pumice with at least 4 slight grooves, 3

of which are on one surface; grooves measure 15 x 3; 30

x 2; 11 x ?; 33 x 6 mm; 61 x 55 x 45 mm:

002 382a

P7 Smoothed lump of pumice, apparently broken; 49 x 51 x

48 mm.

002 022

P8 Five unworked lumps of pumice; 35 x 30 x 20; 30 x 27 x

20; 35 x 24 x 16; 25 x 15 x 11; 33 x 30 x 15 mm.

002 022,

382a

P9 Unworked lump of pumice: 54 x 45 x 35 mm. 033 036.

P10 Irregular lump of pumice, possibly utilised; one surface

concave and smoothed; 45 x 22 x 17 - 21 mm:

004 113

P11 Four unworked pieces of pumice; 22 x 15 x 15; 32 x 24 x

16; 16 x 13 x 9; 16 x 10 x 4 mm.

007 293,

281a,

287

P12 Large lump of pumice with two possible grooves,

measuring 63 x 10 (curved around surface); c. 58 x 15?

mm; 100 x 90 x 72 mm.

011 124

P13 Large lump of pumice (prob natural), with 4 grooves; 37

x 4; 34 x ?; 41 x 9; 30 x 7 mm; 160 x 140 x 111 mm.

011 491

P14 Unworked lump of pumice; 70 x 53 x max 43 mm.

011 230

P15 Small lump of pumice with 2? surfaces smoothed; 25 x

18 x max 17 mm.

023 159

P16 Small fragment of pumice, with one surface smoothed; 20

x max 17 x 11 mm.

023 114

P17 Large, irregular lump of pumice with possible groove,

measuring 45 x 11 - 13 mm; c. 182 x 157 x 115 mm.

030 258

P18 Roughly triangular lump of pumice with surfaces

smoothed or worn; 37 x max 30 x 20 mm.

030 402

P19 Lump of pumice with rounded, smoothed surfaces,

heavily worn/ smoothed at rounded end, broken; 41 x 46

x 33 mm.

030 402

P20 Irregular lump of pumice with asymmetrical perforation

in one face (max 13 x 16 mm at surface); 45 x 31 x max

30 mm.

050 473

P21 Small lump of pumice with two opposing surfaces

possibly smoothed; 30 x 21 x 19 mm.

055 459

P22 Lump of pumice with concave, worn/ smoothed area; 51

x 45 x max 36 mm.

057 399

P23 Small, unworked lump of pumice, with worn/ smoothed

apex; 33 x 38 x 21 mm.

068 or 069 342

P24 Unworked lump of pumice; 72 x 84 x 42 mm. 070 278

P25 Two irregular lumps of pumice, unworked; 113 x 72 x

33; 55 x 21 x 18 mm

SC 25 &

56

P26 Lump of pumice with two slight grooves in one surface

measuring 30 x 6; 30 x 5 mm; 54 x 47 x 35 mm.

cont US find

343

P27 added by Doug Macbeath 1996:

--2 fragments of possible burnt pumice

? 293

APPENDIX G: EXISTING FINDS REPORTS

These finds reports are included as presented, without editing, in order to give a clear

understanding as to the present state of all the evidence, and to enable an accurate

assessment of the further needs of the material.

POTTERY REPORT

Rosemary Cowie

The Barvas I pottery assemblage comprises of some 800 sherds weighing 10,700 g, of

which 44 are rim sherds and 13 are base sherds. All the pottery is hand-made and

undecorated. None of the body sherds show any diagnostic features, and for this reason,

have not been catalogued separately. Eight of the body sherds do, however, show

construction breaks and four of these sherds have been catalogued to show the different

types of construction break represented in the assemblage (55-58).

The fabric of the pottery varies from coarse to very coarse. Fabric groups have been

identified on the basis of representative sherds selected for thin-sectioning.

(Insert fabric groups)

The most frequent colour combination shown by sherds in the assemblage is that of an

orange exterior, with a grey core and interior. Sherds with orange interiors and exteriors,

with light to dark grey cores, are also fairly common. The assemblage also contains a

number of fully oxidised sherds, which are brick orange in colour, and a few reduced

sherds which are grey throughout. Colour can, of course, vary widely over individual

sherds, not to mention over an entire pot. Black staining occurs frequently on both

interior and exterior surfaces of sherds. It is present on the exterior surface of sixteen of

the 44 rim sherds, a fact which may relate to the method of firing used,[where the pots

were inverted.]

In general, the exterior surface of the pottery, and frequently the interior surface also,

have a smooth finish. A high degree of smoothing, however, is apparent on only four of

the rim sherds (21, 32, 34, 35), these being fattened or angular rims. In some cases a type

of brush appears to have been used to finish the pot surface: bands of horizontal

striations appear on certain body sherds (5, 13, 20) [poss created from grass smoothing],

while a number of rim sherds bear a variety of rough, criss-cross wipe marks on their

exterior surfaces (32, 40 b, 44). Finger impressions are widespread, especially on rims

and bases.[On one sherd (59), a possible seed impression lies on the exterior surface.]

Construction breaks are visible on only seven of the rim sherds and eight of the body

sherds. Three types of break are represented: a gentle slope from exterior to interior (56,

illus x..), a steep slope from exterior to interior (55, illus x..), and a - shaped

construction break, of which there is one clear example from the assemblage (58, illus

x..).

The 44 rim sherds appear to represent a minimum of 42 pots, but this figure may well be

inaccurate, owing to the high degree of variability characteristic of the rims of prehistoric

pots. In addition, the majority of the rims from the assemblage are too fragmentary to

permit an accurate assessment of form or fabric. The rim sherds can, however, be

divided into two broad categories- rounded rims and flattened rims- with a single

exception, discussed below.

The rounded rims, of which there are 14, in turn fall into two categories - incurved and

upright. the incurved group contains 7 examples (1-7), and two possible examples (8, 9).

Five of the group have parts of the body wall surviving (1-4, 8), and are of `jar' form.

The upright rim group is best represented by 10 (illus x..). Nos 11 and 12 may be of

similar type to no 10, and nos 13 and 14 are broader, rounded rims, but again possibly

upright in type. The last four rim sherds mentioned are unfortunately too fragmentary to

permit a more accurate description.

There are 27 flattened rim sherds and these can be subdivided into three general groups:

The first group contains eleven examples of rims which are roughly horizontal, with the

width of the rim edge ranging between 8-10 mm (15-25) [one possible flat rim is much

narrower at 6 mm (61)]; the second group comprises seven examples (26-32, three of

which, 30-32, all have some degree of internal expansion), which are again roughly

horizontal but with the width at the rim edge ranging between 11-15 mm (average width

13 mm); the third and final group, containing eight examples , is characterised by its

angularity and the possession of a slight internal bevel (nos 34-41), and the rim with

ranges from 8-12 mm (average width 10 mm). In general, the flattened or angular rims

appear to have a higher degree of smoothing than the rounded rim sherds. Only three of

the 27 rims, however, have part of the wall profile surviving (illus x..).

Lastly, mention must be made of the one rim sherd (42), which does not fall into the

categories outlined above. This is a rim of everted type, apparently coming from a small

necked jar (illus x..). It is thin-walled and quite dissimilar in fabric from the rest of the

Barvas I assemblage.

Turning now to the base sherds, there are 13 examples (3d, 40b, 44-54), but in only two

cases (3, 40), does a substantial portion of the base survive. The basal angle is normally

of a gentle, flaring type, and some of the base sherds (eg 46), have a slight protruding

foot, probably owing to a combination of finger-tipping and the protrusion of large grits.

The underside of the base tends to be flat, unsmoothed and occasionally pitted, but one

probable base sherd (48, illus x..), is an exception to this in that the small fragment of

underside which remains, is not only smooth, but appears to have been grooved.

THE ANIMAL BONE, with particular reference to mammals.

Mary Harman

All the bone was examined, and groups from different squares and levels were sorted

into mammal, bird and fish bones, which were weighed. All rabbit bones, mainly from

surface collection groups, were ignored, being replaced in their bags but not weighed or

listed. All weights are given in grammes. All identifiable pieces from each layer were

listed, and both these and unidentifiable fragments were weighed.

The material from surface collection cannot well be compared with the bones from the

excavation as it contains a smaller proportion of fish and a larger proportion of teeth to

other mammal bones than that from the excavated groups; this is probably partly due to

the collection methods, as the surface material was not sieved, but may also occur

because bones other than teeth, particularly fish bones, are likely to decay more rapidly

on an exposed surface than when buried, and in addition, fish bones, being small and

relatively light, are liable to be blown away. All the excavated spoil was sieved in 1/4"

mesh sieves.

In the identification of the mammal bone, rib fragments and vertebrae have been listed as

large (cattle size) or small (sheep size) but normally were not further identified, and have

been included in the counts of total numbers of bones under cattle and sheep. It is

possible that some of the bones identified as sheep are from goats, though no evidence of

goats was recognised.

Most of the bone is remarkably well preserved, though some of the pieces from Barvas I

were fragile and required conservation. There was a high proportion by weight of

splinters and long bone shaft fragments which were not identifiable, and this unusually

high proportion may be attributed partly to the rigorous collecting methods.

The ages of the animals have been assessed where possible from the size, and the state of

epiphyseal fusion and of tooth eruption, based on the criteria published by Silver (1963,

250-268).

BARVAS I

The site yielded very little bone, scarcely enough to come to many conclusions

concerning the economy of the inhabitants of the site. It is clear from Table 1, showing

the total weights of bone from different classes of animals found on the site, that fish

bones account for a fairly small proportion of the amount of bone excavated, and most of

that (352g) came from a single feature (069) which was exceptional in producing more

fish than mammalian bone. In all other features, both bird and fish bones form a

negligible contribution to the total quantity.

Table 2 shows that the majority of the identifiable bone came from cattle and sheep, pig

and red deer being represented by a few fragments. Different parts of the body of cattle

and sheep seem to be fairly evenly represented with no emphasis on meat or waste

bones, and the bones are derived from animals of different ages: very young, juvenile

and mature.

It seems reasonable to conclude that if this sample is representative, cattle and sheep

were of prime importance in the pastoral economy, with a few pigs also, and small scale

exploitation of game and fish. Two, possibly three, of the pieces of antler found were

cast, and may indicate deliberate or casual collection for use, but the deer bones suggest

hunting, though they may have come from a chance cadaver. The fragment of bone

from one of the larger whales may have been taken from a stranded animal.

TABLES

Table 1. Barvas I: Total weights in g. of bone from different classes.

Mammal Bird Fish

Identified Not

identified

Total

Excavated 1,737* 1,397 3,134 15 419

Surface

Collection

832 656 1,488 6 25

* + 325g cetacean bone

Table 2. Barvas I: Excavated levels: numbers of fragments derived from

different parts of the skeletons of different species

found on the site.

Cattle Sheep

L Undet. R L Undet. R

Skull 1 8 2 3

Maxilla 3 3

Mandible 3 1 2 3

Tooth 32 33

Vertebra 5 8

Rib 13 30

Scapula 3 4 1 1 2

Humerus 2 1 1 3 1 2

Radius+ulna 2 4 2 3

Metacarpal 1 5 1 6 2

Pelvis 2 1 3 1

Femur 1 2 1 6 1

Tibia 1 1 5 7 3

Astragalus 2 1 1

Calcaneum 1

Scappho

cuboid

1

Metatarsal 2 8

Phalanx 1 2 1 2 2

Phalanx 2 2

Phalanx 3 2 2 1

Total 104 158

+ Pig: vertebra 1, ulna R, metapodial 1.

Red Deer: antler 4 fragments, phalanx 1 L, phalanx 2

L+R.

Cetacean: fragment from large whale.

Surface collection: total numbers of fragments from different species.

Cattle: 54, Sheep: 82, Pig: 1, Red Deer: 1.

FISH REMAINS FROM BARVAS MACHAIR, LEWIS, HEBRIDES

Sarah Colley and Clive Denby

INTRODUCTION

Sampling

All excavated soil was wet or dry sieved through a 10-mm mesh. In addition a sample of

each layer, usually one bucketful, was wet sieved through a 2.5mm sieve. Tables I and

II show differences in the recovery of species and sizes of cod dentary and premaxilla

(the most common measurable bone) from the two mesh sizes for Layers 08, 09 and 45

(Area A). These layers produced the most fish bone and the widest range of species and

the pattern of recovery from them is representative of the site as a whole.

The 10mm mesh was as efficient in recovering the main species as the 2.5mm mesh. In

addition a much wider range of species and sizes was recovered in the 10mm fraction.

These results are in direct contrast to those obtained from sieving experiments elsewhere,

where a smaller mesh size resulted in the recovery of more species and smaller sizes

(Payne 1975, Wheeler and Jones 1976). The discrepancy can be explained in terms of

sample size. The majority of excavated soil from each layer was passed through the

10mm mesh, while only a small amount was passed through 2.5mm. This small sample

was not representative of the range of variability in the whole layer and consequently

unusual species and less common size categories were missed.

However, an unknown number of very small species could originally have been present

and passed unnoticed through both mesh sizes, even the 2.5mm. A maximum mesh size

of 1mm is recommended by the authors for the recovery of very small fish remains.

Identification and Recording

The fish were identified to species or group and skeletal element or part of fish using the

modern comparative collection of fish skeletons at the Faunal Remains Project,

University of Southampton. Unusual or difficult specimens were taken to the Fish

Section at the British Museum (Natural History), London.

Fish of the cod family, Gadidae, predominated throughout, and within such a group not

all skeletal elements are equally diagnostic to species. Therefore only those gadoid

bones considered to be most diagnostic and which could be usefully measured were

identified to species. Other less diagnostic elements were assigned only to the group

Gadidae and to the exact skeletal element or part of the fish. For example, most

elements of the neurocranium were classified as skull bones and no attempt was made to

distinguish different types of branchial bone. All other non-gadoid bones were identified

as far as possible to species or group and skeletal element. These different levels of

identification are outlined in Figure 1.

Where appropriate the major head bones were assigned to the left or right side of the

body and each fragment was examined for signs of butchery, gnawing and pathology.

The state of fragmentation and condition of the material (where burnt or eroded) was

noted. A series of measurements were taken on gadoid bones identified to species, to the

nearest 0.1 mm. These were selected from those suggested by Morales and Rosenlund

(1979), Wheeler and Jones (1976) and by Pirjo Lahtipera (pers. comm.) and were chosen

for the following reasons. Firstly, they could most often be taken given the fragmentary

nature of much of the bone. Secondly, they were unambiguous and easily replicable and

so were considered useful for comparison with material from other sites. Finally some

of them could be used directly to reconstruct fish sizes based on work already published.

Additional measurements which are not included in the analysis were also taken and are

listed in the archive. Although vertebrae were identified to species they were not

measured. Thoracic vertebrae were however assigned to one of three size categories (see

Figure 1).

All the data were recorded in coded form on standardized recording sheets which form

the archive upon which this report is based. Copies of the archive are available on

request from the authors.

BARVAS I FISH BONES

Excavations at Barvas I revealed the fragmentary remains of an indeterminate structure

and enclosed floor level, thought likely to date to the Bronze Age. A dense scatter of

midden material in the surrounding area strongly suggests that the site was originally

more extensive. However, the very poor state of preservation and the fact that the area

was disturbed by rabbit burrows made archaeological interpretation very difficult.

Fish remains were recovered from disturbed surface layers before excavation and from

23 archaeological contexts. These contexts were identified during excavation as discrete

pockets of material but their stratigraphic relationship is unclear, making comparison

between layers impossible. One context, Layer 69, produced the bulk of the fish

remains. This was a dense pocket of midden and peat ash in the make-up of the former

stone revetted wall of the structure. It seems likely that Layer 69 survived because it was

protected by the wall, while other more exposed layers outside the structure were eroded

away (T Cowie, pers. comm.).

Table III shows the number of fragments identified to species or group from surface

material, Layer 69 and all other contexts grouped together. A total of 775 fragments

were examined of which 22% were identifiable to species. 87% of the material came

from Layer 69. Apart from a single unidentified parasphenoid in Layer 55, only three

species were represented. 70.8% of the identified fragments were cod (Gadus morhua)

followed by 26.3% ling (Molva molva) and only 2.9% saithe (Pollachius virens).

Apart from Layer 69 the sample sizes are so small that comparison between contexts is

meaningless. In Layer 69 bones from different parts of the skeleton were present in

proportions suggesting whole fish. One bone showed signs of butchery, namely a ling

caudal vertebra with a superficial knife cut running medio-laterally across the ventral

side, which could have been made when the fish was filleted.

So few bones from Barvas I were measurable that no firm conclusions can be drawn

about the range of sizes represented in the material. The 17 cod and 4 ling

measurements listed in Table IV were compared with those taken on modern

comparative fish of known length and weight to provide an approximation of the original

size of the fish. The ling measurements compare with large fish having lengths in the

region of 115cm upwards. The cod measurements mostly compare with those from fish

with lengths around 1m with a few smaller specimens around 70cm. None of the five

saithe bones were measurable but they represent medium or large fish probably in excess

of 0.5m in length.

Figure 1 Barvas Fish Remains - Levels of Identification

SAMPLE

GADOID ALL OTHER BONES

Identified to group only: Fragments*

Skull bones

Facial bones

Brunchial bones

Upper pharyngeals

Basihyal

Epihyal

Interhyal

Scapula

Coracoid

Pelvis

Pterygoid

Operculum

Suboperculum

Interoperculum

Basioccipital

Identified to species where

possible - otherwise Gadoid

Hyomandibular

Urohyal

Maxilla

Cleithrum

Postclavicle

Supraclavicle

Ethmoid

Preoperculum

Symplectic

Precaudal vertebra

Caudal vertebrae

Identified to species and

measured (see below) Articular

Dentary

Premaxilla

Quadrate

Parasphenoid

Vomer

Otolith

Ceretohyal

Palatine

Post-temporal

Identified to species and size

categorized Atlas vertebra

Thoracic vertebrae

Identified to species or group

and skeletal element or part

of fish

Size estimate based on

comparison with modern

material from fish of known

size and weight

* N.B. Gadoid branchiostegals,

fin rays and spines were

counted with fragments.

Measurements Following (1) Wheeler and Jones 1976, (2) Morales and Rosenlund 1979, (3) Pirjo Lahtipera (pers. comm.). Articular - greatest

medio lateral breadth of articular surface (2); Dentary - anterior height* (2), depth across proximal edge of foramen (1); Premaxilla - greatest length

of ascending process and articular process* (2), width across base of ascending and articular Parasphenoid - smallest medio-lateral breadth (2);

Vomer - greatest medio-lateral breadth (2); Orolith - greatest length; Ceratohyal - smallest height *(3); Paletine - greatest width of articular; surface*

(3); Post-temporal - height of ventral articulation* (3); length of ventral articulation* (3). Size categories (atlas and thoracic vertebra) - height of

centrum - Tiny - less than 2mm; Small 2-5mm; Medium - 5-15mm; Large greater than 15mm. * Listed in the archive only and not included in the

analysis.

Table I

Representation of species in samples sieved through 10mm and 2.5mm

Species

Gadoid

Cod

Ling

Saithe

Ballan wrasse

Haddock

Conger eel

Hake

Herring

Plaice

Torsk

Angler fish

Flatfish NFI

Gurnard NFI

Cottid NFI

Rockling NFI

Flounder

Mackeral

Shore rockling

Spurdog

_____________

Total no. of species

present

Layers 08

10mm 2.5mm

X X

X X

X X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

_____________

10 6

Layers 09

10mm 2.5mm

X X

X X

X X

X

X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

_____________

15 4

Layer 45

10mm 2.5mm

X X

X X

X X

X X

X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

_____________

12 5

Table III

BARVAS I. Fishbone totals for species and contexts

Species Surface All

Contexts

(except

069)

069 Total

Cod 8 1 115 124

Ling - 20 26 46

Saithe 3 2 - 5

Total frags

indent to Sp

11 23 141 175

Gadoid

frags ident'

to anat

5 13 84 102

Total frags

indent. to

sp. and/or

anat

16 36 225 277

Unidenti

fied

fragments

16 32 450 498

Total No of

Fragments

32 68 675 775

Table IV

BARVAS I

Fishbone measurements (mm)

Cod

Otolith length 19.3

17.9

15.2

Vomer width 28.0

29.4

Dentary depth 8.9

Premaxilla width 15.2

13.8

12.4

15.0

10.8

Parasphenoid width 9.8

Quadrate width 14.7

Articular width 13.4

13.0

13.1

11.8

Thoracic vertebrae 1 small

3 medium

2 large

Ling

Parasphenoid width 6.8

Quadrate width 13.6

13.1

Articular width 16.7

Thoracic vertebra 2 medium

1 large

PLANT REMAINS BARVAS MACHAIR, LEWIS

C DICKSON

Two samples from the Bronze Age deposits, Site I, yielded three genera.

Site I

Hordeum vulgare L. emend (hulled six-row barley). Eight grains of barley were

identified; three with adherent pale fragments are of hulled barley, the others lack pales

probably due to the poor state of preservation.

The only other identifiable remains are one nutlet of Carex sp. (sedge) and Rumex sp.

(dock or sorrel).

APPENDIX H: COASTAL SURVEY RECORDS

Coast erosion survey: extract from draft gazetteer

B 94 MM 2

Aird Barvas

NB 3542 5315

Shieling-huts, cultivation, field wall Three shieling-huts are situated on a knoll c 30m from the cliff edge at NB 3542 5315,

and these are probably associated with areas of cultivation on the slopes to the NE

running down to Feadan Codal, and beyond. The dimensions of the huts, from S to N, are

c 7 by 4-5m; 3 by 3m and 4 by 4m; their walls are of indeterminate width in each case

due to collapse. Altitude: 30m.

A substantial embanked stone wall, c 2-3m wide, running inland from NB 3540 5313

marks the northern margin of the former cultivated land of Barvas township.

PM/MOD/U

B 95 MM 2, DM 6

Barvas Machair North

Centred NB 353 523

Deflation areas, field walls, cultivation, pottery scatters Large areas of active erosion are present on the northern rim of Barvas machair. Apart

from a few `mesa' type knolls, the vegetated surface has been stripped to the original land

surface directly overlying rock and till, on which there are numerous stretches of field

wall and other more indeterminate walling, rectilinear features and traces of cultivation.

Where the machair deposits still survive, the exposed faces (up to 1.5m in height) suggest

that there have been earlier ephemeral phases of stabilisation. Altitude: between 30-40m

contours.

Centred NB 3536 5243: the original/underlying ground surface consists of dark gritty

stony sand resting on greenish boulder clay, and has been exposed by erosion over a large

area c 100 by 150m within which a few residual knolls of turf-capped windblown sand

still survive. The area contains cultivation ridges (oriented roughly N-S), traces of several

stretches of orthostatic field walls at various orientations, and also two low clearance

cairns c 5m diameter. A stony area near the lazy bedding could be the amorphous remains

of clearance or of indeterminate structures. A scatter of shell and abraded pottery

probably represents spread of redeposited midden material. Undiagnostic sherds totalling

213.1gms were recovered in 1978.

Centred NB 3520 5210: this deflation area contains an indeterminate rectilinear structure

and further stretches of field wall.

Two phases of activity may be represented, the earlier represented by a large cleared area

associated with field banks and stone clearance heaps, which are apparently traversed by

a later series of field banks. Traces of similar features were located in smaller areas of

erosion to the N of the burial ground and probably represent the continuation of the same

agricultural complex.

PM/MOD/U

B 96 MM 2, DM 6

Cladh Mhuire

NB 3530 5173 but NB 3531 5173 on map

Burial ground, church (site) The site of Cladh Mhuire probably occupies a knoll within the burial ground, but no

traces of the structure are visible. The extended cemetery is still in use. Altitude: c 30m.

NB 35 SE 7

Martin 1716, 27; ONB 8B, 35-36; RCAHMS 1928, 10, no 25

MED/PM/MOD

B 97 MM 2, DM 6, POT E.16-22

Barvas Machair

NB 3516 5190

Settlement, midden, deflation surfaces Large areas of active erosion are present N and NW of the burial ground (B 26) where

there are a series of well-developed dunes up to c 10m in height which have formed on an

old ground surface directly overlying rock and till. Much rabbit activity was apparent.

Midden material had been noted by the OS in a large hollow measuring c 50 by 40m

within the dunes; when examined in 1978, there was a spread of redeposited midden

material including pottery (totalling 269.5gms), shell, bone and iron-working debris. This

spread of unstratified material appeared to lie in bare sand on the original ground surface

overlying till; elsewhere in the hollow, however, was what appeared to be an undisturbed

bench of midden material associated with indeterminate but clearly structural stonework.

Where exposed, the matrix of the midden was composed of reddish brown sand with

plentiful shell, especially limpet and winkle. In a further area which had been partially

recolonised by plants, a line of stones suggested further structural material might still

survive in situ.

In view of the recovery of diagnostically Norse sherds, this site was investigated further in

1979 (= Barvas 1979/2), since surface indications suggested the survival of only a

remnant shelf of midden material, perhaps protected by some walling. In the event

however, excavation revealed that the site was substantially more intact and richer in

deposits than first suspected. The site can now be seen to consist of a mound of dense

midden deposits up to c 1.5m thick, encapsulating at least two structures of indeterminate

size and form. Partial excavation indicated that these were probably sub-rectangular with

double-skinned walls, the cores being filled with turf and redeposited midden.

Diagnostically Norse pottery indicates a 10/11th century date.

Although the contractors' operations have not as yet encroached on the area of the Norse

settlement, the environs of this site have been altered radically as a result of recent sand

quarrying by DH McLeod Ltd. The area requires urgent re-assessment.

NB 35 SE 16

DES 1979, 47; Cowie forthcoming

VIK/PM/MOD