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MHG7755 - BA Poolewe Hoard - c100m E of Creag an Fhithic

Summary

A Bronze Age hoard, known as the Poolewe hoard, consisting of 5 socketed axeheads, 3 rings and a penannular ornament with trumpet terminals.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

See also NG88SE 42.

A Late Bronze Age bronze hoard, not earlier than LC8 BC (J M Coles 1962) was found by Hector McIver in May 1877 during peat-digging on high ground, on N side of and overlooking the River Ewe some distance beyond public school at Poolewe. (W Jolly 1880) The contents lay together at a depth of 6' and consisted of 5 socketed axes (1 broken and 2 fragmentary), 3 rings and a penannular ornament with trumpet terminals.
In 1879 most of hoard was acquired by Sir Kenneth McKenzie of Gairloch, who presented the penannular ornament to NMAS in 1881 (Acc No: DO 20). One of rings was retained by McIver and is now untraceable, but Coles located remainder of hoard at Conan House, and it is now on loan to NMAS (Acc Nos: L.1958.7-13). <1> <2>
NMAS Loan Card Index.

The hoard was found in peat bog centred at NG 862 805 approximately 100m E of Creag an Fhitich, the "high ground" mentioned by Jolly (W Jolly 1880), but the exact findspot cannot be ascertained. No similar finds have been made since.
Visited by OS (N K B) 15 March 1965.

Hoard, found in 1877 when digging peats at a site on N side of the river Ewe and some distance from Public School at Poolewe. The finder, H. MacIver, kept one object (a ring like one other with a T-shaped section) which is now untraceable.
The hoard comprised: three socketed axes of Sompting type (or variant), two unclassified socketed axes, ring with hollow section and rectangular hole in one side, two rings with T-shaped section (one of them missing), and penannular ornament with trumpet-shaped terminals.
(Socketed axes of Sompting type).
1581. Socketed axe, rough brown surface, cleaned(?), untrimmed, blade hammered, portion of haft inside socket; length 112mm, mouth 30x31mm, cutting edge 70mm, weight 390 gms. NMA (L.1958.8).
1582. Socketed axe, damaged, most of mouth missing, rough brown surface, cleaned (?), untrimmed; length 93mm, cutting edge 63mm, weight 210 gms. NMA (L.1958.10).
(Socketed axe: Roseberry Topping variant of Sompting type).
Socketed axe, rough surface, light brown, flaw underneath loop, trimmed, cutting edge corroded or worn, short haft ribs; length 113mm, mouth 35 x 35mm, cutting edge 59mm, weight 380 gms. NMA (L.1958.7).
(Unclassified socketed axes).
1693. Socketed axe fragment, cutting edge, light brown; cutting edge 69mm, weight 125 gms. NMA (L.1958.9).
1694. Socketed axe fragment, part of mouth missing, rough, porous, light brown; length 56mm, cutting edge 38mm, weight 80 gms. NMA (L.1958.11).
<3>

This hoard has been dated by Matt Knight, NMS, as Earliest Iron Age (800-600BC). A radiocarbon date from a piece of surviving wood of oak or ash from the haft of one of the axeheads was obtained, producing a date of 801-571 BC, calibrated to 2 sigma. This date is the first for any hoard of this phase in Britain. <4> <5>

The hoard is currently on loan to Gairloch Museum (2019). <6> <7>

A full description, analysis and discussion of the hoard by M Knight, D. Boughton and J P. Northover was published in The Achaeological Journal in 2020(21). Given the evidence published at the time of the hoard's discovery, the authors state that the probable findspot can be narrowed to Lochan Dubh na Mòine. In light of the evidence for the continued production, circulation, use and deposition of socketed axeheads and other implements in Scotland, the authors conclude that the hoarding of objects at Poolewe represented the last vestiges of a social practice that was waning around 800 BC in Scotland, though continued elsewhere in Britain until at least 650–600 BC and was taken up again later in the Iron Age. <8>

Sources/Archives (10)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 8619 8050 (4m by 4m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG88SE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	GAIRLOCH

Finds (4)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

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External Links (3)