Condition

3
MIDDEN
Medieval, Post-Medieval
109422
Fife

Description

Layer of mussel and limpet shells mixed with rough pottery and bone fragments and raised beach deposits covered by c.0.5 metres of topsoil. The face of the deposit may be eroding but not due to marine action; the midden is located above the high water mark on a sandstone platform. The date of this deposit is uncertain and its condition is fair (Photograph included with report). See entry NT49289955 for threats, research and recommendations. ShoreUPDATE 17-10-2015: Frequent mussel, limpet and winkle shells in a dark grey soil matrix containing ash. The midden is partially exposed in a generaly well-vegetated coast edge over a distance of c. 3m. It is c. 1m in thickness. Two large sherds of medieval/early modern green-glazed pottery from a jug were noted.
UPDATE May 2021 A 15-20m long exposure of 2-3m deep soil above raised beach deposits, containing frequent shell and rare pottery fragments revealed in May 2021, showing site is more extensive than originally recorded.

Location

361679.00
707811.00
27700
56.2612419
-2.6201925

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Showing locational context 13/05/2021 Showing locational context joannahambly
Showing locational context
Close view 13/05/2021 Close view joannahambly
Close view
Base profile 17/10/2015 Base profile training1
Base profile
Base showing glaze 17/10/2015 Base showing glaze training1
Base showing glaze
Base showing pinching 17/10/2015 Base showing pinching training1
Base showing pinching
Pottery interior 17/10/2015 Pottery interior training1
Pottery interior
Pottery exterior 17/10/2015 Pottery exterior training1
Pottery exterior
Detail of midden 17/10/2015 Detail of midden training1
Detail of midden
Section looking WSW 17/10/2015 Section looking WSW training1
Section looking WSW
To show site location looking ENE 17/10/2015 To show site location looking ENE training1
To show site location looking ENE

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3476 13/05/2021 joannahambly
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Unsure
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Access easily accessible - no restrictions
Local knowledge don't know
Description Currently vegetated but even though above high tide mark definitely in reach of marine processes during windy and stormy conditions.
2247 17/10/2015 training1
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? has eroded in the past
Other threats Natural slope erosion
Visibility above ground Not visible
Visibility in section Limited visibility in section
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge don't know
Description Layer of mussel and limpet shells mixed with rough pottery and bone fragments and raised beach deposits covered by c.0.5 metres of topsoil. The face of the deposit may be eroding but not due to marine action; the midden is located above the high water mark on a sandstone platform. The date of this deposit is uncertain and its condition is fair (Photograph included with report). See entry NT49289955 for threats, research and recommendations. ShoreUPDATE 17-10-2015: Frequent mussel, limpet and winkle shells in a dark grey soil matrix containing ash. The midden is partially exposed in a generaly well-vegetated coast edge over a distance of c. 3m. It is c. 1m in thickness. Two large sherds of medieval/early modern green-glazed pottery from a jug were noted.
Monitor occasionally for more dateable finds. Reassign priority 3.

Pin It on Pinterest