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MHG61698 - Hut circle - NW of Hill of Shebster, Caithness

Summary

A hut circle to the northwest of Hill of Shebster, Caithness.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle to the northwest of Hill of Shebster, Caithness.

A hut circle identified in LiDAR data gathered by AOC Archaeology in 2011 as part of the mitigation for the visual impact on the archaeological landscape associated with the proposed Baillie Hill windfarm, Caithness. Hut circle. One of four arranged in a line running NW from the farm building at ND 0047 6477, to the NE of a modern farm track. <1>

The site was visited and recorded by topographic survey in 2015 as part of the 'Hidden Bronze Age Landscape of Caithness Project' undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group and members of the Castletown Heritage Society with local volunteers. The project ran as a series of four week-long field schools training volunteers in techniques of field survey, systematic soil sampling and targeted excavation. Fieldwork in week one of the field school (22-27/06/2015) focussed on using LiDAR data in the field, use of GPS to create simple maps of archaeological sites and ground-truthing sites through LiDAR. In week two (13-18/07/2015) participants learned how to create accurate plans using manual taped offset and plane table survey and total station and GPS surveys. Site 42: Pennanular shaped hut circle measuring roughly 12m diameter externally and 7m internally with a 1m wide entrance in the SW. The bank itself measures between 1.2m –4m and survives up to 0.4m in height. This is the NW of three hut circles, Sites 40, 41 and 42, lying on a flat terrace on a gentle SW facing slope. There are possible facing stones visible in inner surface of bank in the NE quadrant and random stones visible in top of bank throughout. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 0039 6486 (18m by 18m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND06SW
Civil Parish	REAY
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (1)