EHG1111 - HS Human Remains Call-Off and Archaeological Survey at Ackergill, Wick

AOC Archaeology Group undertook an archaeological survey under the terms of the Historic Scotland Human Remains Call-off Contract between the 5th and 16th April, 2004. The survey followed on from a programme of archaeological work undertaken by AOC in December 2003 (EHG1069) during which animal and human bone was recovered from nine find spots (Hunter Blair 2004). The 2004 survey was carried out after the Highland Council Archaeology Unit reported additional finds of human bone on the site. During the second phase of work 31 finds of animal bone were made, together with three finds of human bone. A contour survey of the mound was also conducted. The human bone is considered to derive from a known linear inhumation cemetery, (NMRS no ND35SW 12), considered to date to the first millennium AD, which comprised graves cut into a natural mound of wind-blown sand some 250 m long. The animal bone appears to be of modern origin. <1> See EHG1069 for previous work by AOC at the site. The human remains from AOC's work at the site, likely from this survey and the 2003 work, were submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 15/09) and allocated to Dunbeath Heritage Museum. <2> <3> Dunbeath Heritage Museum have not received the human remains. <4>