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MHG65981 - Possible Bronze Age barrow - Sutherland Road, Dornoch

Summary

The ring ditch of a possible Breonze Age barrow was recorded during a watching brief at Sutherland Road, Dornoch.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

The ring ditch of a possible Bronze Age barrow was recorded during a watching brief by AOC Archaeology Group in 2018 at Sutherland Road, Dornoch.

The shallow remains of a ditch, with two terminals, were recorded at the west end of the site, having been truncated by a drainage ditch. Structure [004] was a circular feature measuring 3.5m in diameter, comprising a continuous narrow ditch that measured 0.25m wide. Three 1m slots were excavated through it, which showed that the cut was not well defined. Mineralisation or leaching of the sand had taken place, obscuring the original cut. The cut was V-shaped in profile, with the interior side steeper than the exterior. A part of the western portion of the structure had been truncated by a modern drainage ditch. Slag fragments suggestive of blacksmithing waste were identified within one of the slots but could not be directly dated.

The feature likely represented a very truncated Bronze Age barrow monument, with evidence of the burial having been removed during to agricultural activity in the field. Within the fill of the ring-ditch, the post-excavation analyses identified metal working debris, including slag, hammerscale and metal coal/cinder. While this material was thought likely to be intrusive (due to the disturbance of the site), it was possible metalworking occurred nearby, perhaps within the other round structures (see MHG65982). <1>

See MHG53335 for a similar, though slightly smaller, feature c.55m to the southeast at least partially excavated during an evaluation by Alba Archaeology in 2008.

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 7909 8940 (8m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH78NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DORNOCH

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)