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MHG56080 - Late Iron Age - Pictish metal-working - Culduthel, Inverness

Summary

Evidence for metal-working in the Late Iron Age and/or pictish period was exposed and recorded at Culduthel, Inverness, during an evaluation in 2005 and excavation in 2007 by Headland Archaeology.

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Full Description

Evidence for occupation related to metal working in the Late Iron Age and/or pictish period was exposed and recorded at Culduthel, Inverness, during an evaluation in 2005 and excavation in 2007 by Headland Archaeology. The remains, a metalled surface, a few pits containing metalworking debris and some slag present in the upper fills of an infilled palaeochannel on the east side of the site, were relatively small scale and not in workshops. The metalled surface lay isolated on the west side of the site but may have been associated with industrial activity outside the excavation boundary. A sample from an upper deposit of this feature returned a radio-carbon date of AD570-655. Eleven iron objects and a copper alloy nail-headed pin were recovered from this deposit. The vitrified remains from the site indicate that both smelting and smithing of iron was taking place in the vicinity, however there was no evidence for in-situ iron working. The most significant deposit of diagnostic material was recovered from pit 036; its upper fill was dated to AD 770-990. <1> <2> <3>

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 6656 4157 (64m by 64m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH64SE
Civil Parish	INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

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Related Investigations/Events (2)

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