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MHG53780 - Shell midden, Cuthill Sands

Summary

Eroding shell midden noted during coastal survey.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Eroding shell midden visible on low cliff face. Present beneath c. 0.15 to 0.2 m of topsoil and spread over c 17 m of the section. Up to 0.2 m deep consisting of dense cockle and mussel shells in a dark sandy soil. <1>

The Dornoch Firth Archaeological Society surveyed part of the intertidal zone of the shore of the Dornoch Firth in 2007. This site was first noted during a survey of the nearby Second World War defences. Pete Higgins of Archaeology North Ltd provided this information along with photographs of the site. One of the photographs shows a section through the midden with labelled contexts as follows:
1 Topsoil and grass roots
2 Sandy subsoil, possibly deliberately laid as part of the golf course
3 Sandy subsoil with leachate from context 2
4 Sand with broken cockle shell
5 Charcoal with fine shell fragments
6 Sand with both fine shell fragments and large fragments of cockle shell, some intact
7 Yellow brown sand with very rare shell fragments
8 Charcoal with shell fragments <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	NH 7870 8833 (point)
Map sheet	NH78NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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