Condition

1
Coastal exposure, mounds, (?) fish trap
Early Medieval, Medieval
306538
Orkney

Description

Substantial archaeological deposits are exposed in an extensive erosion face to the seaward side of a large mound. The exposure measures some 50m in length overall, with the central 15m containing the greatest depth of deposits. The visible archaeological deposits are up to 1m thick and may be even more extensive since the base of the section is obscured by drifts of windblown sand. In the main, the deposits comprise successive layers of anthropogenic soils with inclusions of shell, charcoal, fish and mammal bone. One very distinctive layer contains frequent fish bone which was seen to include a number of entire articulated skeletons. The rocky intertidal area in front of the section face, Long Taing of Newark, has several linear concentrations of stone which appear to have been artificially set in place, possibly to form a fish trap. One possible interpretation may be that fish-processing was carried out at this site and that it was associated with the nearby settlement at Newark (SY35), which appears to be of Viking/Norse date. ShoreUPDATE 9th Feb 2014: The site has been affected by coastal erosion over the last 2 months. Less than half of the mound now survives. Structures are now visible as follows: From S-N from modern drain outlet; 1. Two parallel walls built at modern beach level, cross sectioned by erosion (photo 3). This is S of main midden deposits. 2. N of parallel walls and main midden deposits, apparently separated from it by band of sand - a series of drystone walls, unclear if circular/rectilinear, but one distinct dog-leg is clear (photos 4,5,11). These structures are at modern beach level. 3. Rectilinear structures? Norse type - two are visible, one overlying the above-described drystone walls and at least one to the N of this (photos 11,15,16,17). These structures are c.1m above current beach level, seemingly built on windblown sand. This site relates to NMRS sites 306538 AND 313943 ShoreUPDATE March 2016: Structures more visible since the previous visit in May 2015. A further structure (Site 13229) is now visible eroding from the base of the dune c. 15 metres north of the main complex. Comparison ofthe 1900 OS and current satellite imagery shows that coastline here has retreated by 25-30m. Dry stone structures at the top of the section are almost certainly the remains of 18th/19th century buildings mapped on the 1st and 2nd edition OS, now eroding. UPDATE June 2018 As described, erosion continuing with collapse of some of the stonework in the section

Location

372403.00
1042531.00
27700
59.2683868
-2.4858594

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
June 2018: structures in section and collapsed stonework 18/06/2018 June 2018: structures in section and collapsed stonework training1
June 2018: structures in section and collapsed stonework
June 2018: eroding section 18/06/2018 June 2018: eroding section training1
June 2018: eroding section
June 2018: Aerial view of site and coast 18/06/2018 June 2018: Aerial view of site and coast training1
June 2018: Aerial view of site and coast
South end of section in Sept 2017 09/02/2014 South end of section in Sept 2017 joannahambly
South end of section in Sept 2017
Section in Sept 2017 looking S 09/02/2014 Section in Sept 2017 looking S joannahambly
Section in Sept 2017 looking S
Section in Sept 2017 09/02/2014 Section in Sept 2017 joannahambly
Section in Sept 2017
Section in Sept 2017 looking N 09/02/2014 Section in Sept 2017 looking N joannahambly
Section in Sept 2017 looking N
View of section from intertidal wall (site 13233), looking W 09/02/2014 View of section from intertidal wall (site 13233), looking W joannahambly
View of section from intertidal wall (site 13233), looking W
Looking S 09/02/2014 Looking S joannahambly
Looking S
Looking N 09/02/2014 Looking N joannahambly
Looking N
Site, looking W 09/02/2014 Site, looking W joannahambly
Site, looking W
Current Bing satellite showing 1900 coastline 09/02/2014 Current Bing satellite showing 1900 coastline joannahambly
Current Bing satellite showing 1900 coastline
25 inch OS surveyed 1900 showing current coastline 09/02/2014 25 inch OS surveyed 1900 showing current coastline joannahambly
25 inch OS surveyed 1900 showing current coastline
Location of main group of structures erosing from section 09/02/2014 Location of main group of structures erosing from section joannahambly
Location of main group of structures erosing from section
Looking S 09/02/2014 Looking S training1
Looking S
View of ash and midden deposits associated with mound 09/02/2014 View of ash and midden deposits associated with mound cparker
View of ash and midden deposits associated with mound
Looking N along northern edge of mound. Occasional bands of midden material and possible structures 09/02/2014 Looking N along northern edge of mound. Occasional bands of midden material and possible structures cparker
Looking N along northern edge of mound. Occasional bands of midden material and possible structures
April 2013. Closer view of drystone structures, looking W 09/02/2014 April 2013. Closer view of drystone structures, looking W training1
April 2013. Closer view of drystone structures, looking W
April 2013, central part of mound showing drystone structures and midden deposits, looking NW 09/02/2014 April 2013, central part of mound showing drystone structures and midden deposits, looking NW training1
April 2013, central part of mound showing drystone structures and midden deposits, looking NW
Possible drystone structures in windblown sand N of main mound material 09/02/2014 Possible drystone structures in windblown sand N of main mound material cparker
Possible drystone structures in windblown sand N of main mound material
Detail of drystone structures, looking W 09/02/2014 Detail of drystone structures, looking W cparker
Detail of drystone structures, looking W
At least 4 episodes of drystone walling visible in main part of mound, looking N 09/02/2014 At least 4 episodes of drystone walling visible in main part of mound, looking N cparker
At least 4 episodes of drystone walling visible in main part of mound, looking N
Looking N from parallel walls towards centre of mound containing thickest midden deposits and further drystone walling 09/02/2014 Looking N from parallel walls towards centre of mound containing thickest midden deposits and further drystone walling cparker
Looking N from parallel walls towards centre of mound containing thickest midden deposits and further drystone walling
Parallel drystone walls and possible floor? exposed in southern end of mound section, looking W 09/02/2014 Parallel drystone walls and possible floor? exposed in southern end of mound section, looking W cparker
Parallel drystone walls and possible floor? exposed in southern end of mound section, looking W
General view along south edge of mound looking S towards modern drain, 09/02/2014 General view along south edge of mound looking S towards modern drain, cparker
General view along south edge of mound looking S towards modern drain,
General view top of mound, looking N 09/02/2014 General view top of mound, looking N cparker
General view top of mound, looking N

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3314 18/06/2018 training1
Description UPDATE June 2018 As described, erosion continuing with collapse of some of the stonework in the section
1569 09/02/2014 cparker
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Visibility above ground Not visible
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge is well known
Description Substantial archaeological deposits are exposed in an extensive erosion face to the seaward side of a large mound. The exposure measures some 50m in length overall, with the central 15m containing the greatest depth of deposits. The visible archaeological deposits are up to 1m thick and may be even more extensive since the base of the section is obscured by drifts of windblown sand. In the main, the deposits comprise successive layers of anthropogenic soils with inclusions of shell, charcoal, fish and mammal bone. One very distinctive layer contains frequent fish bone which was seen to include a number of entire articulated skeletons. The rocky intertidal area in front of the section face, Long Taing of Newark, has several linear concentrations of stone which appear to have been artificially set in place, possibly to form a fish trap. One possible interpretation may be that fish-processing was carried out at this site and that it was associated with the nearby settlement at Newark (SY35), which appears to be of Viking/Norse date. ShoreUPDATE 9th Feb 2014: The site has been affected by coastal erosion over the last 2 months. Less than half of the mound now survives. Structures are now visible as follows: From S-N from modern drain outlet; 1. Two parallel walls built at modern beach level, cross sectioned by erosion (photo 3). This is S of main midden deposits. 2. N of parallel walls and main midden deposits, apparently separated from it by band of sand - a series of drystone walls, unclear if circular/rectilinear, but one distinct dog-leg is clear (photos 4,5,11). These structures are at modern beach level. 3. Rectilinear structures? Norse type - two are visible, one overlying the above-described drystone walls and at least one to the N of this (photos 11,15,16,17). These structures are c.1m above current beach level, seemingly built on windblown sand. ShoreUPDATE March 2016: Structures more visible since the previous visit in May 2015. A further structure (Site 13229) is now visible eroding from the base of the dune c. 15 metres north of the main complex. Comparison ofthe 1900 OS and current satellite imagery shows that coastline here has retreated by 25-30m. Dry stone structures at the top of the section are almost certainly the remains of 18th/19th century buildings mapped on the 1st and 2nd edition OS, now eroding.
Very unstable- continued regular recording. Assess for rescue excavation and sampling to clarify period and nature of activity. This site is actively eroding and extremely vulnerable. Assign to the highest priority 1* status. Nothing is known about this site and urgent evaluation to establish an age model and potential of the deposits is required.
Comments Relates to NMRS sites 306538 and 313943 - which are probably the same site

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