Condition

3
Defended promontory
Iron Age
231
SMR2474
Shetland

Description

A long narrow promontory, surrounded by high vertical cliffs, is divided by a series of banks which run across its width. The scale of these barriers is more than that required merely for stock management and it is likely that this may be a defended promontory, probably of prehistoric date. There are possible structural remains situated at the seaward end of the promontory. The site is very exposed and the terminals of the banks have already been damaged by erosion. The various elements found at the site are described here, as encountered moving from the landward to the seaward end of the promontory: (i) A natural glacial gully, up to 1.5m deep, cuts across the neck of the promontory at its landward end. (ii) At a distance of 16m further west (seaward), a rectangular enclosure is defined by earthen and stone banks. This enclosure extends across the entire width of the promontory and is 7m long. The remnants of a stone structure and stone revetted bank lie within this enclosure. (iii) Further along the promontory another earthen bank, standing up to 0.6m high, extends across the width of the promontory neck. (iv) At a distance of 4m westward of (iii), an earthen bank, 2m in width, stands up to 0.4m high. There is the faint suggestion of a rectangular structure or enclosure at the west end of this bank. (v) Further seaward along the promontory are a line of boulders which extend, intermittently, across the neck of land. ShoreUPDATE 21 August 2008 As described. This site sits on high cliffs, there is some minor damage to the ends of the banks, but this is due to slippage rather than to erosion, and impacts on a tiny fraction of the monument. As the cliffs are approximately 50m in height and were judged to be stable in the Coastal Zone Assessment of the area, the threat of erosion to the site is negligible.

Location

417100.00
1153300.00
27700
60.2635689
-1.6927853

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Weinnia Nes,s, detail of the section through the bank 21/08/2008 Weinnia Nes,s, detail of the section through the bank training1
Weinnia Nes,s, detail of the section through the bank
Weinnia Ness, showing the earthwork banks 21/08/2008 Weinnia Ness, showing the earthwork banks training1
Weinnia Ness, showing the earthwork banks
Weinnia Ness, general view of the top of the promontory 21/08/2008 Weinnia Ness, general view of the top of the promontory training1
Weinnia Ness, general view of the top of the promontory
Weinnia Ness, showing landslip in the foreground and the high cliffs of the promontory 21/08/2008 Weinnia Ness, showing landslip in the foreground and the high cliffs of the promontory training1
Weinnia Ness, showing landslip in the foreground and the high cliffs of the promontory

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
2183 21/08/2008 training1
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? has eroded in the past
Threats other
Other threats landslip
Description A long narrow promontory, surrounded by high vertical cliffs, is divided by a series of banks which run across its width. The scale of these barriers is more than that required merely for stock management and it is likely that this may be a defended promontory, probably of prehistoric date. There are possible structural remains situated at the seaward end of the promontory. The site is very exposed and the terminals of the banks have already been damaged by erosion. The various elements found at the site are described here, as encountered moving from the landward to the seaward end of the promontory: (i) A natural glacial gully, up to 1.5m deep, cuts across the neck of the promontory at its landward end. (ii) At a distance of 16m further west (seaward), a rectangular enclosure is defined by earthen and stone banks. This enclosure extends across the entire width of the promontory and is 7m long. The remnants of a stone structure and stone revetted bank lie within this enclosure. (iii) Further along the promontory another earthen bank, standing up to 0.6m high, extends across the width of the promontory neck. (iv) At a distance of 4m westward of (iii), an earthen bank, 2m in width, stands up to 0.4m high. There is the faint suggestion of a rectangular structure or enclosure at the west end of this bank. (v) Further seaward along the promontory are a line of boulders which extend, intermittently, across the neck of land. ShoreUPDATE 21 August 2008 As described. This site sits on high cliffs, there is some minor damage to the ends of the banks, but this is due to slippage rather than to erosion, and impacts on a tiny fraction of the monument. As the cliffs are approximately 50m in height and were judged to be stable in the Coastal Zone Assessment of the area, the threat of erosion to the site is negligible.
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