EHG4262 - Archaeological excavation - Castle Sinclair Girnigoe (June - July 2005)

FAS carried out excavation of a further three intervention trenches in June and July 2005 at Castle Sinclair Girnigoe in Wick, Caithness. Intervention 22 involved the excavation of deposits within the pend or passageway of the West gatehouse, as a means of reinstating the entrance into the Outer Bailey. A small area, intervention 15, had already been excavated in the previous season of work in 2004. Intervention 23 was allocated to the excavation of deposits within the area of the West Range, to the northwest of the West Gatehouse. Two trenches (intervention 3 and 11) had previously been excavated in this area. Intervention 24 was allocated to the excavation of archaeological deposits within the courtyard of the Outer Bailey and in part of the East Range. Four pervious interventions had been made within this area, including 4, 12, 19 and 20. No significant fragments of articulated masonry relating to the West Gatehouse were identified during excavation however the location and identification of fragments of red sandstone architectural stones amongst the rubble allowed for the partial reconstruction of elements of windows that had collapsed outwards as the castle declined. <1>