Condition

6
Shell midden
Mesolithic
72700
MWE140553
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

A highly concentrated shell midden on the top of a small outcrop of bedrock forming an islet at the west end of Traigh na Berie. The midden consists of a layer of mixed compacted whole shells and shell fragments in a brown sandy soil matrix 0.3 - 0.5m thick, and includes bone, charcoal and some possibly worked quartz. The site sits on a thin layer of darker brown sandy soil up to 0.15m thick, over the outcrop rock which contains a thick vein of quartz. The midden is preserved only in isolated small pockets on the bedrock. Radiocarbon dating of hazelnut shell samples taken in 2010 returned a mesolithic date. 15th November 2014 survey - A lot of the midden has been removed by Dr Mike Church during rescue excavation. Small layer of shell midden still visible in the topsoil.
Site visit July 2021, as described.

Location

110032.01
936293.84
27700
58.2196361
-6.9401655

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Looking towards Traigh na Berie 08/07/2021 Looking towards Traigh na Berie joannahambly
Looking towards Traigh na Berie
General view showing location looking west 08/07/2021 General view showing location looking west joannahambly
General view showing location looking west
Detail of surviving fragment of shell midden adjacent to quartz seam 08/07/2021 Detail of surviving fragment of shell midden adjacent to quartz seam joannahambly
Detail of surviving fragment of shell midden adjacent to quartz seam
The midden in proximity to coast edge 15/11/2014 The midden in proximity to coast edge smoricebroom
The midden in proximity to coast edge
The rock where the midden is present. 15/11/2014 The rock where the midden is present. smoricebroom
The rock where the midden is present.
The shell midden in section 15/11/2014 The shell midden in section smoricebroom
The shell midden in section

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3544 08/07/2021 joannahambly
Description Site visit July 2021, as described.
1868 15/11/2014 smoricebroom
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Threats animal burrows; visitor erosion; structural damage/decay
Other threats rock erosion
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access accessible - difficult terrain; accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is well known; is well visited; has local associations/history
Description A highly concentrated shell midden on the top of a small outcrop of bedrock forming an islet at the west end of Traigh na Berie. The midden consists of a layer of mixed compacted whole shells and shell fragments in a brown sandy soil matrix 0.3 - 0.5m thick, and includes bone, charcoal and some possibly worked quartz. The site sits on a thin layer of darker brown sandy soil up to 0.15m thick, over the outcrop rock which contains a thick vein of quartz. The midden is preserved only in isolated small pockets on the bedrock 15th November 2014 survey - A lot of the midden has been removed by Dr Mike Church during rescue excavation. Small layer of shell midden still visible in the topsoil.
Monitoring after storms, however it is doubtful as to whether the remaining midden section will survive any more than a few bad storms this winter.

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