Condition

1
ORGANIC MATERIAL, INTERTIDAL PEAT, SUBMERGED FOREST
Prehistoric, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

Peat shelf exposed over a large area in the intertidal zone. There is a cluster of cultural material (bone and struck quartz) at 77275, 849695, and an area of submerged forest including roots, brushwood fragments, twigs and small branches at 77175, 849667. Lower down the beach closer to the low water mark, there is a more substantial area including collapsed trunks and root systems (area of smaller trees roughly centred on 77360, 849526, an area of larger trees further down the beach still around 77361, 849437) . Rare survival of such a diverse and extensive area of preserved wood remains, and plant macrofossils (reed and reed roots) in association with archaeological material. A possible saddle quern was found at 77232, 849629.
In May 2018, the SCAPE Trust, UHI and local volunteers surveyed and sampled the submerged forest as well as remains of stone walls, possible buildings and other archaeological remains in the intertidal zone. The forest comprised mostly willow with some birch and occasional Scots Pine. Radiocarbon samples from woody peat that contained tree remains returned mid-late Mesolithic dates of 6051-5914 calBC (SUERC-85846) and 6066-5931 calBC (SUERC-85850) at the base and early Neolithic dates of 4338-4084 calBC (SUERC-85851) and 4043-3947 calBC (SUERC-85852) from the top. The archaeological remains comprised fragmentary stone walls and a possible hut circle and a unique Early Bronze Age in situ butchery site, of cut and chop marked bones of an individual bovid associated with struck quartz lithics. Radiocarbon dating of the peat below the stone walls returned a Neolithic date of 3519-3365 calBC (SUERC-85843), but the remains could be substantially younger. The peat within which the animal butchery site was buried dates to 2136-1950 calBC (SUERC-85844), and the bone itself 1875-1627 calBC (SUERC-85843). Reference: Hambly, J and Timpany S (2019) A submerged forest, intertidal archaeology and a Bronze Age butchery site at Lionacleit. The story so far. Hebridean Naturalist Journal of Curracag Outer Hebrides Natural History Society Number 19.

Location

77275.00
849695.00
27700
57.4225578
-7.3783970

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
May 2018: Volunteers recording and sampling trees at Lionacleit 18/05/2018 May 2018: Volunteers recording and sampling trees at Lionacleit EllieSCHARP
May 2018: Volunteers recording and sampling trees at Lionacleit
May 2018: aerial view of fieldwork at Lionacleit submerged forest 18/05/2018 May 2018: aerial view of fieldwork at Lionacleit submerged forest EllieSCHARP
May 2018: aerial view of fieldwork at Lionacleit submerged forest
General view from coast edge over intertidal peat shelf 19/05/2016 General view from coast edge over intertidal peat shelf training1
General view from coast edge over intertidal peat shelf
General view of peat shelf on foreshore 19/05/2016 General view of peat shelf on foreshore training1
General view of peat shelf on foreshore
Detail of root system in peat 19/05/2016 Detail of root system in peat training1
Detail of root system in peat
Detail, example of wood embedded in peat 19/05/2016 Detail, example of wood embedded in peat training1
Detail, example of wood embedded in peat
Detail of quernstone 19/05/2016 Detail of quernstone training1
Detail of quernstone
Area of concentration of cultural material 19/05/2016 Area of concentration of cultural material training1
Area of concentration of cultural material

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3337 18/05/2018 EllieSCHARP
Description May 2018: SCAPE, UHI and local volunteers surveyed and sampled the submerged forest as well as remains of stone walls, possible buildings and other archaeological remains in the intertidal zone. Post-excavation analysis is in progress.
2639 19/05/2016 training1
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Coastal defence Yes
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Access vehicular access
Description Peat shelf exposed over a large area in the intertidal zone. There is a cluster of cultural material (bone and struck quartz) at 77275, 849695, and an area of submerged forest including brushwood fragments, twigs and small branches at 77175, 849667. Lower down the beach closer to the low water mark, there is a more substantial area including collapsed trunks and root systems (area of smaller trees roughly centred on 77360, 849526, an area of larger trees further down the beach still around 77361, 849437) . Rare survival of such a diverse and extensive area of preserved wood remains, and plant macrofossils (reed and reed roots) in association with archaeological material. A possible saddle quern was found at 77232, 849629.
Assign priority 1. Recording and sampling project with local community to obtain dates, pollen profile and species ID.

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