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MHG32680 - Human remains, Littleferry

Summary

No summary available.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Site visit following the reporting of the discovery of human remains in trenches for new household waste pipes. Bones already removed from the trench include thigh bones of an adult over 5'6", with modern breaks. Few other distinctive other human bones, although trench is less than 1m wide. The trench cuts through very complex stratigraphy of old ground surfaces, beach levels and midden dumping, in the deepest point at a depth of over 1m were a series of more bones in-situ that are probably human phalanges - these were left in place pending excavation. Another bone disturbed further to the S in the trench is possibly also human but not necessarily adult - HAW 12/2003

AOC defined the burial as one single inhumation in distinct grave pit, cut through (and backfilled with) midden material, Laid on back with hands over pelvis, poss E-W position. No dating finds, but location on beach surface indicated not modern. Suggestion that inclusion within middens raised possibility that prehistoric and recommended R/C dating - HAW 1/2004.

Radiocarbon dating of the bones, published in 2004, suggested an 11C date, however this is an uncalibrated date. <1>

See link below to Scottish Radiocarbon Database for radiocarbon date.

The excavation assemblage, including the human remains, were submitted to Treasure Trove (TT 16/09) and allocated to the NMS. <2> <3>

Human remains from the burial are within the NMS. <4>

Sources/Archives (5)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 8055 9563 (6m by 6m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH89NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	GOLSPIE

Finds (1)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)