MHG39803 - Norse Burial in Possible Broch, Castlehill
Summary
A Viking burial was discovered in the top of the possible broch/mound.
Type and Period (1)
- BURIAL (Norse - 800 AD to 1300 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Broch lies on high point adjacent to coast path which it abuts. Ploughing up to circumference, overgrown with weeds on top. Gate post to W along the coast lane may be a reused lintel or similar . Photos- HAW 7/2003
The mound, probably remains of a broch, is as described by the previous field investigator.
Visited by OS (J B) 2 November 1981.
Broch (NR) (remains of) Viking Burial found AD 1786 (NAT) OS 6" map, (1970)
This artificial, grass-covered, conical mound, which measures 19m E-W by 13m transversely and 2.7m high, contains many protruding stone slabs and has been mutilated on N side by construction of a wall and track and by ploughing along S side. It may have been a broch but its present condition makes classification difficult.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 16 February 1965.
This grassy mound, which contains ruins of a broch, has been robbed to some extent from S. The remaining portion is some 54ft diameter and 7ft high.
A skeleton, accompanied by a pair of 10th century (Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum 1951) Norse tortoise or oval brooches, a jet armlet 3ins in diameter, and a bone pin 8cm long, was found September 1786 on top of this mound, buried under a flat stone with very little earth above it. One of the brooches is in the National Museum of Copenhagen, while the other relics are in NMAS (Acc Nos: IL 222, FN 2 & FN 3 respectively). RCAHMS 1911; J Anderson 1874; 1878; Archaeol Scot 1831; NMAS 1892; S Grieg 1940; Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum 1951.
The oval brooch is listed in the NMS catalogue and NMS online collections database as IL 221. The armlet and pin are listed under Acc. Nos. FN 2 and FN 3. All three were acquiredby the NMS in 1787 from James Traill. <1>
Sources/Archives (10)
- --- SHG1037 Text/Publication/Article: Archaeol Scot. 1831. 'List of donations presented to the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland, 1784-1830', Archaeol Scot Vol. 3 1831, p.31-148. Archaeol Scot. 31-148. 61.
- --- SHG1225 Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1875. 'Notes on the relics of the Viking period of the Northmen in Scotland, illustrated by specimens in the museum', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 10 1872-4, p.536-94. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 536-94. 549-50; illust.
- --- SHG1228 Text/Publication/Article: Anderson, J. 1878. 'Notes on the structure, distribution, and contents of the Brochs, with special reference to the question of their Celtic or Norwegian origin', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 12 1876-8, p.314-55. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 314-55. 329-30.
- --- SHG12336 Image/Photograph(s): Castletown Brooch.. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG2053 Text/Publication/Volume: Close-Brooks, J. 1986. Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Highlands. 217, 218.
- --- SHG2251 Text/Publication/Volume: Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum. 1951. Scotland's ancient treasures: from the National Museum of Antiquities, exhibited in Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, 1st June to 19th August, 1951.
- --- SHG2295 Text/Publication/Volume: Grieg, S. 1940. Viking antiquities in Scotland. 23-4; illust.
- --- 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. . 87, No. 320.
- --- SHG3004 Text/Publication/Article: 1875. 'Tortoise or Bowl-shaped Brooches.', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 10 1874, p.549-51. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 549-51. 549-51.
- <1> SHG28278 Dataset/Database File: National Museums Scotland. 2019. Highland Finds from the NMS Catalogue. National Museums Scotland. Digital. FN 2, FN 3, IL 221.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1936 6876 (6m by 6m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND16NE |
| Civil Parish | OLRIG |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (4)
- ARMLET (Norse - 800 AD to 1300 AD)
- BROOCH (Norse - 800 AD to 1300 AD)
- HUMAN REMAINS (Norse - 800 AD to 1300 AD)
- PIN (Norse - 800 AD to 1300 AD)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (3)
- http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-099-711-C& (Link to NMS online collections database)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM2189 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8383 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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