User:Elknell/sandbox3

= Burn of Swartigill = The Burn of Swartigill is an Iron Age site at Thrumster, Caithness. The Burn of Swartigill is a unique site that gives info about life in iron age that does not centre on brochs. first investigated by The site was first investigated by members of the Yarrows Heritage Trust and CFA Archaeology in 2004, after structures were noted eroding from the bank of the burn. community dig, local people are involved at all stages of process and lcoal volunteers recieve basic training and help with dig.

''In 2012, concerned that valuable archaeological evidence could be lost the trust recorded the eroding section. They discovered the remains of structures and deposits containing ceramics, which appeared to be Iron Age in form. ''

''In 2014, ORCA Archaeology undertook a geophysical survey of the site, combining magnetometry, earth resistance and ground penetrating radar. This confirmed the likely presence of substantial structures and evidence of occupation at the site. ''

''ORCA returned in 2015 to do some small exploratory work and the excavation has continued to expand from there. In multiple seasons of excavation the team, including professional archaeologists, local community volunteers and students, have uncovered the remains of a settlement that spans over a thousand years – from c350BC until AD945. ''

2015, mass of stoneworj and well preserved features were unearthed, suggested that the linear wall lines seen in geophysics survey, may reflect long building with axis ar right angles with stream. aditionally, well built circular structure, possibly an early rougndhouse. possible drain feature identified, indicating water management (more intensive than that for purely domestic use.)

''The Burn of Swartigill is situated within the Yarrows, an area recognised for the excellent preservation of cultural heritage sites dating from the Neolithic to the Medieval period. ''

''The late Iron Age settlement site of Thrumster is approximately 1km to the west of the site, further upstream of the Burn of Swartigill. The Thrumster site is characterised as a “wag”, which is defined as a post-broch structure, mainly found in Caithness, and characterised by a rectangular building form possessing two rows of orthostats forming a central aisle. The settlement is visible as a low mound, approximately 20 metres in diameter, with the remains of solidly constructed drystone wall footings visible in the top. ''

''Two broch sites are situated within close proximity to the site. ''

''The broch of Thrumster Mains is 1.3km to the south-east of the site and the Broch of Yarrows, along with a range of complex secondary structures including “wags”, is 2.5km to the south-east on a spur on the edge of the Loch of Yarrows. ''

''The Burn of Swartigill site is also near two medieval farmsteads, which sit within an identified medieval farming landscape. ''

''The first is approximately 30m to the north-west of the site and is comprised of a heavily robbed-out range with a smaller building and a set of run rig cultivations. The second is on the southern edge of the meltwater channel, approximately 160m to the south-east of the site. This farmstead is also comprised of a heavily robbed building and has an enclosure situated immediately to the east, with field system composed of pens and embankments to the south and east. ''

''It was initially thought that the Swartigill Burn site represented a mill dating from the same period as the Swartigill township, and was included in the original record for this site. ''

discovery of valiable artefacts such as small beads, bronze decorative objcet, fragments of bangles. suggests that at least some of the inhabitatts of swartigill had resrouces to obtain and status to display them. suggests that swartigill might be highter status that might be initialy expected. swartifill located on wet boggy zone, away from best arable farmlend. buildings are also not waht are usually though of when think of iron age, not brochs, instead thin walled buildings, low profile, very different from conspicous brochs. tucked in valley of swartigill burn. despire appeatense, not low level settlemtnt, may have been lower in social hierarchy, perhaps outlying settlemnt associated with broch at thrumster mains, located a km se.

The site
''two roundhouse type structyres, as well as a souterrain. These buildings were designated as Structures A, B and D. There were also traces of other buildings, either partially truncated or concealed by the later roundhouses and souterrain. These were designated as Structure C, E and F. ''

misc, sort later
2022, half of a decorated glass bead, dark translucent blue with yellow spirals originally on three sides. would be officially classed as guido class 13, n spiral, dates to some point between 200be and 200 ce. beads like this found in ivernsesshire and morayshite, where roman glass was recucled to make them. beads do not appear to be made in n atlantic region of scotland, likely imports. similar bead found at mine howe and Bowermadden broch, where similar beads were found. marker of social status and identity, large and decorated would have been powerful statement. found in sw extension of site, which was opened to explore extent of structure E.

2022, three blue glass beads, each about 2 mm across. found while wet sieving. annular. glass beads, relatively common find in n scottish iron age sites, but swartigill beads are from class of tiny beads coming to light relatively recently, class known as miniscule beads. small and growing group have been found in scotland and n england. cheminal analyses show raw material was almost always recucled roman glass. small enough that would be difficult to see on own, likely part of more complex assembage of beads, multistrand necklaces or embroidered to textiles garments.proximity to eachotehr and physical similarieies means were likely a single peice of jewelry or embroudered object. found in infoll of construction trench built to accomodate structure a, parts of which date to last few centuries bce. may be part of pattern found across iron age scottish sites, placement of arteacts or animal remains during est of new buildings, may not be a loss, might instead be intentional. beads also recovered in souterrains at the cairns and windwick

whetstones and quernstones found. fragments of lignite bangle, fairly common acessory found on iron age settlement sites

2015, copper allow triangle fragment, possible setting for enamel or glass paste inlay, relatively valuable item like a brooch. hints at social status of swartigill settlemtnt during iron age.

eastern sid of site, flagstone surface surrounds the buildings on the e side, some type of courtyard. judging by depth of peat later, and buildipp of material in area, likely wet part of settlemtnt, managed by placing laters of flagstones and cobbles, which sank into the mud and made a stable surface. revealed in 2021, cobbled surface discovered.

Structure B
''A sub-circular building. Radiocarbon dates for the occupation surface in the centre of this structure placed activity in the Early Medieval period, between the mid-9th and early 10th century. Some of the finds from this building provided clues about this later phase of activity, such as a bar-shaped whetstone with a distinctively Viking appearance. ''

''This re-use of the structure appears to have occurred quite late in the life of the settlement. The walls of Structure B were significantly reduced, with rubble partially infilling the building. The rubble was cleared to create a temporary living space, with a hearth and post-holes to support a roof. ''

''This may represent very transient activity. Perhaps a place for a farmer to rest while their livestock took water from the burn or a convenient camping spot for folk working out in the landscape. ''

''This location has been used in this way for hundreds of years and into modern times. Locals speak of having picnics and campfires in this sheltered spot while peats were being cut out on the moor. ''

2022, a hearth was discovered below the floor surface. center point of activity in later phase of occupation. samples of laters surrounding the hearth contained large quantities of burnt animal bone. hearth is constructed of semicircular arranglent of edge set stones, most formal hearth in this site, could repsent a constistent period of occupation of structure b.

radiocarbon dating of charred barley grain samples recovered in 2021 tell that floor surface dates to late 9th early 10th c, end of late iron age. this surgface may relate to later reuse of partially ruinous shell of building as makeshift shelter later.

center of sure. curving drystone wall on n side, partially contiguous with s wall fo structure a. s wall is less regular than n side. evifence for internal divisions are evident along s and e side of interior. arrangment of stureutal features in se corner form a small cell set back from reat of the interior space. at some point in history, building was abandoned, ribble acculuated across interior as walls degrades. later stage, some of te rubble was cleared to accomodate a living area. post setting found in the rubble may indicate the building had a makeshift rood at this stage. floor surface associated with this period was compacted silt, inclusions of crushed and degraded stone, druable floor. hearth at center, large accumulationso of charcoal in w and s areas, ask rake. rubble and infill of structure was sealed by same deposits that overlay str a, indicating that structure was fully abandoned by mid 1st c ce, no dates for occupation of structure.

Structure A
''The souterrain passage. We have confirmed that the cell at the west end of the souterrain is a later addition and the passage was originally linked to other buildings to the west. '' well preserved passage structure, flagstone surface incorporated drain feature. incorporated surfaces and wallsof earlier buildings. radiocarbon dating from deposits sealig upper elements of structure a date to between 198bc and 47 bce, middle iron age.

Structure C
''A small chamber with edge-set stone – the remnants of an earlier building incorporated into the later walls and entrance passage of Structure D. It is possible this chamber could significantly pre-date the other buildings on the site, but there is much work to do to investigate the feature and determine its date and function. ''

edge-set stones, may represent part of the site that predates iron age settlement.

fragmentary remains of a structure, defined by upright slabs forming rectangular space. most intact slab has fossilised lake or riverbed. outer extent of c is not well defines as inner walls. inner walls made of large boulers and smaller rubble. appears to be truncated by later features, inc str d. reminiscent of chamer of stalled burual cairn, may be seen as evidence for early prehistoric funerary monument predating iron age inhabitation of site.

Structure D
''A building with similarities to Structure B, another building which has been extensively modified. Both have hearths set within a horseshoe shaped kerb and were originally accessed through a passage leading to the east. The flagstone surfaces of these passages are linked with the courtyard area on the east side of the settlement. ''

accoring to radiocarbon dates, occupied between 7th and mid 8th cent ce, late iron age. traces of modifications and anexxed features found in excavation of s half of building

first uncovered in 2019, excavation continued in 2021 and defined shape of structure and confirmed that it was partially contiguous with s wall of str b. entrance to e, appears to incoportate mods of earlier structural features, and was blocked off at some point during building's use. infilled w ribble, large quantities of burnt stone which is unisial. birnt stone often found in modden and layers around sites

Structure F
''The earliest dated elements of the site, which were abandoned during the early Iron Age. The rubble that infilled this structure is interspersed with large amounts of prehistoric pottery. '' prehistoric pottery, substantial amound found in n of site (?) representing small number os vessels, imprinted finger decoration around the rim. samples from deposits in area returned radiocarbon dates to sometime between 366-192 bce, end of early iron age, period in which begin to see development of brochs.

nw, small stone-lined cist, ash rich deposits found nearby. materials from deposit have frequent inclusion of cramp and burnt bone, may represent area of funerary activity.

Structure G
''We are just starting to investigate the upper layers of this building. At some point Structure G was linked to Structure D, but in its later life the shell of the building was re-used and incorporated into later Structure E, with a roughly laid cobble surface supporting a large grinding stone ''

structure e
small reclangular feature built from large stone blocks, built partially over structure d. appears to be a simple enclosure possibly related to ag activity on floodplain in medieval period source