MHG4183 - Early Bronze Age Metalwork Assemblage From Dail Na Caraidh
Summary
18 bronze axes and 6 dagger fragments were found in this location between 1981 and 1984. They appear to represent more than one period of votive deposition focusing on a natural mound.
Type and Period (1)
- FINDSPOT (Early Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 1501 BC)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
RCAHMS record -
NN17NW 10 1293 7642.
In 1981 16 flat axes were revealed by erosion on the bluff overlooking confluence of rivers Lochy and Lundy. Excavation susequently revealed a pit containing two axes and six daggers and other features of Bronze Age date which may have had a dual function. <1>
The deposits of flat axes and dagger fragments found by individuals and during excavations between 1981 and 1984 have been awarded to Inverness Museum following a treasure trove decision. (INVMG 1986.018). <2>
The bronzes found at this site appear to represent more than one period of votive deposition focussed on a prominent natural mound. The largest group of material comprises the total of 16 axes found in 1981. There is no stratigraphic evidence that all the axes were deposited at the same time. The second group of material was found after the conclusion of the 1981 excavations and is more like a conventional hoard - 2 axes and 6 daggers. A few months prior to the main find, a single axe had been found in a quarry edge some 30m to the west. Two small fragments of dagger blade were also found about 8m to the north of the main deposit. It was initially thought that pit features found close to the finds were related to their deposition, however further excavations in 1983 and 1984 showed this not to be the case. Further details can be found in <3> and <4>.
Information from Martin Briscoe indicated that the excavation in the 1980s reported finding what appeared to be a mark on a rock where a stone axe might have been chipped out. The Lochaber Archaeology Society visited this site on 7th March 2010. Whilst looking for this rock two other similar marks were found on rocks in the same area i.e. a total of three at least. Photographs were forwarded to the HER. <5>, <6>
Sources/Archives (40)
- --- SHG23810 Image/Photograph(s): Briscoe, J M. 2008-11. Information and photographs of various sites submitted by Martin Briscoe. Colour. Yes. Digital.
- --- SHG25556 Collection/Project Archive: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 08/2011. Digital site gazetteer and archive for ARCH Community Timeline Project: Invergarry. Yes. Site 6.
- --- SHG28536 Image/Photograph(s): Private individual. 2012-2016. Photographs of Coylumbridge Croft, Coylumbridge. Colour digital. Digital. 1968.018.
- --- SHG3671 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3672 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3673 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3674 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3675 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3676 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3677 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3678 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3679 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3680 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3681 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3682 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3683 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3684 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3685 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3686 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3687 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3688 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3689 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3690 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG3691 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG7306 Image/Photograph(s): Dail na Caraidh, taking peat cores. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7307 Image/Photograph(s): Dail na Caraidh, peat coring. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7308 Image/Photograph(s): Dail na Caraidh, frags 3, 4,5.. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7309 Image/Photograph(s): Dail na Caraidh, area D. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7932 Image/Photograph(s): DNC '84, video team at work. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7933 Image/Photograph(s): Dail Na Caraidh, '84, Area (D). Unknown. .
- --- SHG7934 Image/Photograph(s): Open Day, Dail Na Caraidh '84. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7935 Image/Photograph(s): Open Day Exhibition, Dail Na caraidh '84. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7936 Image/Photograph(s): DNC '84, Aerial View. Unknown. .
- --- SHG7937 Image/Photograph(s): DNC '84, Aerial View. Unknown. .
- <1> SHG892 Text/Publication/Article: DES. 1983. 'Highland Region, R Lochy, Fort William; Sandwood Bay, NW Sutherland' in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1983. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 81. 81.
- <2> SHG519 Text/Publication/Article: Harden, G. 1986. 'Dail na Caraidh (Inverlochy p), hoards of flat axes and dagger fragments', in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1986. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 14. 14.
- <3> SHG520 Text/Publication/Article: Gourlay, R & Barrett, J. 1984. 'Dail na Caraidh' in Current Archaeology, Volume VIII, Number 11. Current Archaeology. 347-9.
- <4> SHG2355 Text/Publication/Article: Barrett, J. & Gourlay, R. B.. 1999. An Early Metal Assemblage from Dail na Caraidh, Inverness-shire and its Context. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol 129. 161-187.
- <5> SHG24880 Text/Correspondence: Briscoe, J M. 23/04/2010. Information on Early Bronze Age Metalwork Assemblage From Dail Na Caraidh. Yes. Digital.
- <6> SHG23810 Image/Photograph(s): Briscoe, J M. 2008-11. Information and photographs of various sites submitted by Martin Briscoe. Colour. Yes. Digital.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NN 1293 7642 (4m by 4m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NN17NW |
| Civil Parish | KILMONIVAIG |
| Geographical Area | LOCHABER |
Finds (3)
- HOARD (Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 551 BC)
- AXEHEAD (Early Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 1501 BC)
- DAGGER (Early Bronze Age - 2400 BC to 1501 BC)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/psas/contents.cfm?vol=129&CFID=326ee793-c8e3-44e7-b9a4-60920ed628c0&CFTOKEN=0 (View PSAS article on Archaeology Data Service website)
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/23702 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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