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EHG4436 - Excavation - Viking Burial, Balnakeil bay
Technique(s)
EXCAVATION
Organisation
*Highland Regional Council
Date
May 1991
Images (40)
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Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11635 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11636 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11637 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11638 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11639 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11640 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11641 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council id:11642 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Before excavation by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council id:263303 (click to view a larger version of this image)
During excavation by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council id:263956 (click to view a larger version of this image)
During excavations by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council id:265018 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking Burial, Balnakeil: general view, pre-excavation by Robert Gourlay © Robert Gourlay id:286053 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking Burial, Balnakeil: general view showing shield boss, visible on the right hand side by Robert Gourlay © Robert Gourlay id:286056 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Skeleton eroding from sand dune, pre-excavation by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286065 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Mid excavation by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286066 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Skull and shield boss by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286067 (click to view a larger version of this image)
View from the site of Balnakeil viking burial by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council id:286087 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: Tooth by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286089 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 1 by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286090 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 2 by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286091 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 3 by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286092 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: spear encased in sand by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286093 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286094 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb fragment by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286095 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: brooch by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286096 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: brooch by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286097 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: shield boss by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286098 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: needle case by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286099 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: metal objects by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286100 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: spear tip by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286101 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: amber and blue glass beads by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286102 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb fragments by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286103 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: horn playing pieces by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286104 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: burial area by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286105 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small finds in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286106 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286107 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286108 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286109 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286110 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council id:286111 (click to view a larger version of this image)
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Viking burial, Balnakeil © Highland Council
Before excavation by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council
During excavation by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council
During excavations by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council
Viking Burial, Balnakeil: general view, pre-excavation by Robert Gourlay © Robert Gourlay
Viking Burial, Balnakeil: general view showing shield boss, visible on the right hand side by Robert Gourlay © Robert Gourlay
Skeleton eroding from sand dune, pre-excavation by Highland Council © Highland Council
Mid excavation by Highland Council © Highland Council
Skull and shield boss by Highland Council © Highland Council
View from the site of Balnakeil viking burial by Robert Gourlay © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: Tooth by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 1 by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 2 by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small objects 3 by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: spear encased in sand by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb fragment by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: brooch by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: brooch by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: shield boss by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: needle case by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: metal objects by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: spear tip by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: amber and blue glass beads by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: bone comb fragments by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: horn playing pieces by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: burial area by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: small finds in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Balnakeil Viking Burial: human remains in situ by Highland Council © Highland Council
Documents (1)
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Description
An archaeological excavation was carried out by Dorothy Low and Robert Gourlay of Highland Regional Council in May 1991 of the remains a viking burial that was eroding from the sand dunes at Balnakeil Bay, Sutherland. The remains were situated in the most northerly dune of the northernmost of the two bays. The bones protuded from the edge of the dune, approximately 4m above the high water mark and 5-6m below the top of the dunes. The wind erosion of the dunes had led to a highly unstable situation and it was thought likely the dune face would collapse. Due to the instability, small sand falls occurred regularly and so the excavation was carried out quickly. The first stage of the excavation involved careful excavation of the visible remains, and the making of a full record through photographs and drawings. The next stage involved the clearance of the sand overbuden before it collapsed and destroyed the burial. All of the finds were then excavated and recovered from the burial; the bones were then lifted and labelled with assistance from the local doctor. Lastly, the sword and scabbard were isolated and slid onto a wooden slat, within a block of sand, and carefully secured prior to transportation. <1>
A full analysis and subsequent discussion of the grave goods was then carried by the National Museum of Scotland. <2>
Sources/Archives (2)
Map
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Location
Location
Balnakeil bay, Sutherland
Grid reference
Centred NC 3865 7067 (20m by 20m)
Map sheet
NC37SE
Geographical Area
SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish
DURNESS
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
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