MHG2022 - Enclosure, BA Hearth & finds, Skitten, Caithness
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (3)
- CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE (Neolithic to Early Iron Age - 4000 BC to 0 AD)
- HEARTH (Neolithic to Early Iron Age - 4000 BC to 1 AD)
- CREMATION (Neolithic to Early Iron Age - 4000 BC to 1 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
Earthwork (NR) (remains of) OS 1:10 000 map (1975)
This oval enclosure has measured about 230' in greatest diam NW-SE, surrounded by a ditch, still distinct on uncultivated segment, and by a low rampart of yellow clay mixed with small stones which is now almost ploughed out, except for a segment, c. 170' x 55' on the SE, varying in width from 15'8" - 23'4". Within it, there were at least 3 fire sites or hearths. A piece of Bronze Age cinerary urn, 4.5" x 4.25", with 3 fragments of flint and a tiny piece of burnt bone were found lying on the fire-marked clay surface of one of the hearths. One hearth is still intact, but undefined; near it was found a pit 2'8" deep, paved with two flag stones set lengthwise, with smaller stones, measuring 1'3" x 1'11" and 1'5" x 1'4". Finds noted over years include an apparently inexhaustible supply of worked and unworked flints but quality of artifacts is poor and are mostly scrapers; a notable exception are two arrow heads, one leaf-shaped, of chert, and the other diamond-shaped with material unstated.
L Duff-Dunbar 1935; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910
The remains of this earthwork are as described, only SE segment remaining. The rampart is now reduced to a low spread mound 0.4m max height, except on S where its scarp is 0.6m high. There is no trace of a ditch. A break through rampart in SE has probably been the entrance.
Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (EGC) 25 April 1963
Though this enclosure has been almost obliterated, it appears to have been similar to one in Sleepieshill Wood (NJ26SE 29) in both form and situation.
Visited by OS (AA) 20 March 1972
No change to previous field reports. In Wick Museum is a collection of 83 'struck flints' of unknown period, found at ND 313 570 and donated by Duff-Dunbar in 1928-33 (Acc Nos: ARC 583-665, 670). Though Wick Museum grid reference is about 250 m S of the enclosure, it is nevertheless probable that these flints came from the enclosure, though the two arrowheads noted by Duff-Dunbar cannot be located.
Visited by OS (NKB) 2 September 1982
Material from this site is now within the Caithness Horizons collection. This comprises Bronze Age pottery (Acc. Nos. ARC325, ARC327) and a large amount of worked flints (likely those donated by Duff-Dunbar referred to above). <1>
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 165-6, No.529.
- --- SHG3015 Text/Publication/Article: Duff-Dunbar, L. 1935. 'A fort at Skitten, Wick, Caithness, with notes on flint implements from the same county', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 69 1934-5, p.108-17. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 108-17. 108-17; fig.1.
- --- SHG3749 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3750 Image/Photograph(s)/Aerial Photograph: B/W Negative. .
- <1> SHG28495 Collection/Catalogue: Caithness Horizon. Various. Finds Collection at Caithness Horizons. CAIMS:ARC325, CAIMS:ARC327.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 3144 5731 (104m by 104m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND35NW |
| Civil Parish | WICK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (7)
- LEAF ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2401 BC)
- SCRAPER (TOOL) (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 551 BC)
- ANIMAL REMAINS (Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 551 BC)
- BURNT FLINT (Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 551 BC)
- FLAKE (Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 551 BC)
- ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC? to 2401 BC?)
- SHERD (Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 551 BC)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (1)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/9132 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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