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MHG65982 - Iron Age workshops? - Sutherland Road, Dornoch

Summary

Three pit-defined round structures of possible Iron Age date recorded during a watching brief at Sutherland Road, Dornoch.

Type and Period (2)

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Full Description

Three pit-defined round structures of possible Iron Age date were recorded during a watching brief by AOC Archaeology Group in 2018 at Sutherland Road, Dornoch.

Three small circular structures defined by elongated, sub-oval pits where identified [003], [027], and [053]. Feature [037] was a single curvilinear pit that may have once formed part of another structure but had been severely truncated. The features were all very shallow and the post-excavation analyses suggested the site had been disturbed, with material from features intrusive.

Structure [003] comprised eight pits, and measured 3.9m east-west by 3.2m north-south. The pits ranged in size from 0.4–0.9m long, 0.2–0.5m wide and 0.2–0.4m deep. The fills of the pits were made up of dark greyish-brown sand with black mottling. A pale halo of sand around the pits suggested leaching of the natural soil. Pit [019] contained glass and coal, while pits [007] and [009] contained glass. Pit [007] also contained two small flakes of hammerscale.

Structure [027] comprised nine pits, and measured c. 3.5m east-west. The pits contained similar greyish-brown mottled sand fills with a white halo and steep sides similar to those seen in structure [003]; however, they were more varied in size, and the cut of the pits was less well defined. The pits ranged from 0.4–1.8m long, 0.1–0.3m wide and were 0.2m–0.3m deep. Finds from pit [035] included a circular, domed head and a short, square-sectioned shank.

Structure [053] comprised six pits, and measured 3.7m north-south and 3.3m east-west. The fills and profiles of these pits were very similar to those of structures [003] and [027]. The pits ranged between 0.8m–3.5m long, 0.2m–0.45m wide, and 0.15m–0.23 m deep. Pit [058] contained modern pottery, while pits [056] and [058] contained glass and slag. Pit [059] contained a rectangular strap fragment with a likely domed rivet in situ (SF02). When the feature was first exposed, it initially looked as if there were additional features at its south end, running northeast to southwest. However, after cleaning, it was concluded that these were modern vehicle or agricultural ruts (072) overlying and slightly cutting into the structure.

Between structures [004] and [027] was a shallow and truncated curvilinear pit, [037], that may have been the remnants of another circular structure. The pit measured 1m long, 0.2m wide and 0.09m deep, with a V-shaped profile. No finds were identified.

The two radiocarbon dates determined some of the activity on site to related to both Iron Age and more modern periods. The round structures were relatively small and the pits that made up the shape were not postholes but rather slots that could have held multiple posts. The structures, therefore, could not be classed as roundhouses. There was also no entrance in structure [027] and [053], with the pits only spaced c. 0.02m apart. Structure [003] had a possible entrance to the east, but the gap was small. These structures could have been outbuildings or workshops, as the finds suggested metal objects could have been worked within them. It could also be that these structures were truncated barrows, with only segments of a once complete ring-ditch, as they were small and lacked an entrance which would be expected of a more traditional roundhouse structure. The function of these structures could not be confidently determined, and no similar site could be identified for comparison. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 7910 8942 (55m by 19m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH78NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DORNOCH

Finds (0)

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