A multi-period coastal settlement, dating from the Norse period to the 19th century. The extent of the settlement is unclear, but 1m of stratified deposits are visible in the eroding coast edge. Three separate occupation phases were visible when visited in 1998. A stone wall standing to three courses and a floor surface 1.5m below the wall sitting on a peat layer were noted in 2007, along with layers of charcoal and ash with fragments of burnt bone and pottery, spread over a length of 10m to the northeast of the wall. Finds recovered from the site include pottery of Norse date and whetstones.
Update 19 September 2014
3 layers of stratigraphy and tumbled stones visible. Pottery found at base of east facing section. Circular stone structure visible on beach 2 metres in front of vertical face. South facing section contains a layer of stone in a peat layer. Boulders tumbled on beach in front of the section form a circle. Large stones visible at the top of the eroding face of the south facing section. Small layer of midden in sand face.
Location
143965.00
934792.00
27700
58.2272034
-6.3626475
Submitted photographs
Image
Date
Caption
User
13/06/2015
13/06/15: Stone in south facing section
jann
13/06/2015
13/06/15: Tumbling stone from East facing bank
jann
13/06/2015
13/06/15: Stone setting
jann
13/06/2015
13/06/2015: General view of NE facing section
jann
19/09/2014
Laxdale settlement mound - east facing section with tumbled stone on beach
training1
19/09/2014
Laxdale settlement mound - circular structure on beach in front of E-facing section
training1
19/09/2014
Laxdale settlement mound - south facing section
training1
19/09/2014
Laxdale settlement mound - east facing section
training1
19/09/2014
Laxdale settlement mound - general view
training1
Submitted updates
Update id
Date
User
1779
19/09/2014
training1
Tidal state
Mid
Site located?
Yes
Proximity to coast edge
Coast edge
Coastally eroding?
active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Threats
animal burrows
Visibility above ground
Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section
Clearly visible in section
Access
accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge
is not locally known
Description
A multi-period coastal settlement, dating from the Norse period to the 19th century. The extent of the settlement is unclear, but 1m of stratified deposits are visible in the eroding coast edge. Three separate occupation phases were visible when visited in 1998. A stone wall standing to three courses and a floor surface 1.5m below the wall sitting on a peat layer were noted in 2007, along with layers of charcoal and ash with fragments of burnt bone and pottery, spread over a length of 10m to the northeast of the wall. Finds recovered from the site include pottery of Norse date and whetstones.
Update 19 September 2014
3 layers of stratigraphy and tumbled stones visible. Pottery found at base of east facing section. Circular stone structure visible on beach 2 metres in front of vertical face. South facing section contains a layer of stone in a peat layer. Boulders tumbled on beach in front of the section form a circle. Large stones visible at the top of the eroding face of the south facing section. Small layer of midden in sand face.
Keep monitoring site. Increase local awareness. Worth investigating further
Comments
local person regularly visiting site who will contact us if any further erosion noted