Excavations at Iona Abbey 2018 Data Structure Report
Ewan Campbell & Cathy MacIver
Excavations at Iona Abbey 2018
Data Structure Report
National Grid References (NGR): Site B NM 28659 24586 (centred) Site D NM 28681 24389 (centred)
Scheduled Monument No. 12968
Canmore No. 21664
OASIS No. universi22-323685
Prepared by: Dr Ewan Campbell Cathy MacIver
Illustrations by: C. MacIver
Date of Fieldwork: 05/05/2018-02/06/2018
Date of Report: 30/08/2018
Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Contents Page Abstract ...... 6 1 Introduction ...... 7 1.1 Project Background ...... 7 1.2 Site Location and Description ...... 7 1.3 Archaeological and Historical Background ...... 8 1.4 Summary of the landscaping around Site B – St Mary’s Cathedral Church...... 9 2 Methodology ...... 11 2.1 Personnel ...... 11 2.2 Excavation ...... 11 2.3 Sampling ...... 12 2.4 Objectives ...... 12 3 Excavation Results ...... 12 3.1 Site B (site code HY18B) ...... 13 Summary of 2017 results ...... 13 2018 results: Early medieval – medieval deposits ...... 14 Medieval deposits ...... 19 Abbey demolition and re-construction ...... 21 Twentieth-century landscaping ...... 27 Synthesis and phasing ...... 33 Finds ...... 33 Discussion ...... 37 3.2 Site D (site code HY18D) ...... 40 Lynchet [420] ...... 45 Ditch [408]...... 45 Interior...... 46 Finds ...... 47 Discussion ...... 49 Post-excavation strategy...... 49 4 Conclusions ...... 51 5 Acknowledgements ...... 52 6 References ...... 52 Appendix 1: List of Contexts ...... 55 Appendix 2: List of Samples ...... 62 Appendix 3: List of Finds ...... 64 Appendix 4: List of Photos ...... 72 Appendix 5: List of Drawings ...... 81 Appendix 6 Wet-sieving results ...... 83
3 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
List of Illustrations
Illus 1: Site Location Illus 2: The Abbey buildings pre-1870s consolidation and landscaping from the south-west, showing heaps of collapsed masonry and the high level of the ground to the south of the Abbey church Illus 3: The church from the south-east during the 1870s consolidation, showing piles of sorted stone from clearance work Illus 4: Sketch of profiles across Site B (Abbey church to left, boundary wall to right, wall [501] in middle), showing the sequence of landscaping activities Illus 5: West- and south-facing section of Thomas’s Cutting 11d with radiocarbon dates Illus 6: New resistivity survey of abbey, compared to GPR survey. Illus 7: West facing section of Thomas’ Cutting 11d with newly exposed stone setting [514] overlain by charcoal-rich layer (211) Illus 8: Post-excavation plan of the medieval contexts at the full extent of 2018 excavation Illus 9: Wall [501] fully exposed in northern extension Illus 10: Northernmost extension, showing charcoal-rich layer (528) to left, cut by wall robbing trench [538], with clay-bonded eastern extension to the wall [549] Illus 11 Cobbling (537) exposed after removal of masons’ yard deposits, looking east Illus 12: North extension with L-shaped stone structure [525] and landscaped terrace edge [547]. Note location of display board Illus 13: Window tracery of Carsaig Sandstone SF590, broken during manufacture and embedded in floor of masons’ yard (532) Illus 14: Sleeper beam slot [535] for south wall of masons’ yard building, looking east Illus 15: Surface of (529), compacted chips of Carsaig sandstone and stone Illus 16: 20th-century mortar-mixing surface (541) and mortar line (522) overlying robbed out wall Illus 17: Early 20th –century features with masons’ yard timber beam-slot [535], stone chippings deposits (532) and shell deposit (510) Illus 18: Plan of the modern levelling and landscaping features Illus 19: East facing section of north extension demonstrating turf immediately overlying medieval structure [525]. Note how the shelly deposit (510) overlaps the terrace cut [547]. Illus 20: Levelled surface of (504) under modern turf Illus 21: East facing section of main trench and north extension Illus 22: South facing section of west extension and main trench Illus 23: Detailed south facing section of main trench, north-east end Illus 24: East facing section of west extension Illus 25: East facing profile demonstrating depth of modern overburden onto medieval deposits Illus 26: Early medieval copper alloy nail-headed pin SF570 Illus 27: Silver penny of Alexander III SF618 Illus 28: Box hasp or clasp SF623 Illus 29: Chape with wood inside SF570 Illus 30: Copper alloy leatherworker’s needle (note angular point) SF615 Illus 31: Re-used ashlar block SF574, and chamfered block SF 558 (right) with mullion SF590 and stone chips Illus 32: Early medieval features in terraced area to south of nave, with features exposed in 2018, 1957 (curving wall) and 1908 (drain, curving wall, early foundations). Illus 33: South facing section of interior deposits exposed in 2017, with kubiena tins Illus 34: The raised area enclosed by the ditch – backfilled Trench D to the left background Illus 35: Excavating Site D trench, with the Sound of Iona and Ross of Mull in background Illus 36: Resistivity survey of the field, with enclosure in red, trench locations, monastic vallum ditches in yellow, and site of well (Tobar Odhráin). Illus 37: Lidar image of field (© HES), with transcription of enclosure, showing relationship to raised area. OS Mastermap data from Digimap
4 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 38: Plans of the abbey detailing the evolution of the stone boundary wall over time Illus 39: 1769 estate map showing the field (Site D is located near the 2 of no. 12) showing runrig cultivation, the roadway and St Mary’s chapel © HES Illus 40: South west facing section (above) and north east facing section (below) of ditch Illus 41: Plan of trench with main features: (415) boulder setting; [408] ditch cut; pit [418]; and lynchet [420] Illus 42: SF402 possible handle Illus 43: SF434 Grass-marked base of handmade pottery Illus 44: Gradiometer survey of field (Ovenden 2012), with enclosure in red. Note internal anomalies and pipe trench
5 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Abstract
This report details the findings of excavations in 2018 around Iona Abbey and in the field to the south, following on from work in 2017.
The excavation examined two sites. At Site B a cutting from Charles Thomas’ excavations near the Abbey was reopened to expose and investigate a substantial drystone wall identified in 1957. This had been examined in 2017 but the full extent of the wall was not exposed and its nature was unclear. One larger trench was opened around the 2017 excavation with extensions to the north and west. This open area excavation aimed to clarify the nature of the structure and expose a wider area across the stone building. The excavation allowed for more detailed sampling of early medieval deposits butted against the drystone wall, and a better understanding of the poor preservation of the wall to the north and west. Only modern deposits were excavated at Site B in line with SMC conditions. This broadened understanding of the depth of post-medieval landscaping, demolition and re- construction processes occurring at the Abbey from the 1870s onwards, and informed future conservation of the monument. A scatter of early and late medieval finds was recovered from disturbed deposits.
Excavation also took place at Site D in the field to the south of the Abbey. Here a small trench was opened to investigate a sub-rectangular ditch anomaly identified on geophysics, enclosing a low natural mound and lying outside the monastic vallum. The aim was to characterise and date this feature. Pottery was recovered suggesting a late medieval date, but its function remained unclear.
6 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
1 Introduction
1.1 Project Background
A programme of archaeological work was proposed in 2017 which involved targeted excavation at three locations around the Abbey. This work developed from a Historic Environment Scotland sponsored project to bring Charles Thomas’ 1956-63 excavations at Iona Abbey to publication (Campbell & Maldonado 2016; forthcoming). The only parts of Thomas’ excavations previously published relate to the Iron Age fort of Dun Bhuirg (Ritchie & Lane 1980) and the structures on Tòrr an Aba (Fowler & Fowler 1988). The main focus of the 2017 excavations was to answer specific questions raised by Thomas’ excavation, mainly through scientific analysis and dating of exposed sections in Thomas’ old trenches. The project fitted into the national research framework priorities (ScARF 2012), as well as those of a new research framework for Argyll which was in preparation at the time (Campbell & Batey 2017), and ongoing work in preparing an Iona Research Strategy initiated by the Glasgow Iona Research group in the University of Glasgow in 2016. Thomas’ excavations are important both for the interpretation of this iconic site which is of international importance, but also because of their influence on Thomas’ thinking, expressed in a series of ground-breaking works on early medieval monasticism (Thomas 1971a; 1971b, 1981). The Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) granted by HES allowed re-excavation of Thomas’ trenches at Sites A and B, but at Site B restricted the additional areas that could be investigated (illus 8), and stipulated that excavation should cease at the level of the walltop to avoid disturbing any early medieval deposits. Accordingly, in 2017 archaeologists from the University of Glasgow received permission to re-excavate Site A and Site B, applying a full range of modern excavation and analytical techniques in order to address specific problems raised by his excavations, and thereby to enhance the value of that work (Campbell & MacIver 2017; illus 1)
The 2017 excavations were initially intended to be investigated over the course of one season, but the results from Site B were of such importance that further work was proposed to elucidate the nature of the stone structure, and to establish the nature of the sub-rectangular enclosure in the field to the south. In 2018 the Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) granted by HES allowed re-excavation of Thomas’ trench, the 2017 trench and further extensions to the north and west at Site B. The consent stipulated that excavation should cease after modern deposits were removed to avoid disturbing any medieval or earlier deposits. A separate consent was granted for excavation at Site D – a small trench across a sub-rectangular ditched enclosure identified on geophysical surveys in the field to the south of the Abbey.
1.2 Site Location and Description
Iona Abbey is situated on the east coast of the Isle of Iona, a small island lying off the west coast of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides. The site is very well documented with a full account of the monuments, historical background and location published as a separate volume of the Inventory of the monuments of Argyll (RCAHMS 1982). As far as the present project is concerned Site B lies within the Property in Care (PIC) boundary, while Site D is within the larger Scheduled Monument area in a field owned by the National Trust for Scotland (illus 1). All the sites lie within a Conservation Area.
Geologically, the Abbey lies at the junction of three very distinct geological formations. To the west, Site A (excavated in 2017) lies on the craggy outcrops of Lewisian (Scourian) gneiss (c 2800 million years old) which make up most of the island. Sites B and D lie on the raised beaches of Late Devensian age. A major fault runs north-south through the Abbey complex, with partly metamorphosed flagstones of Torridonian/Moinian age (c 1000 million years old) to the east, beneath the raised beach deposits. These rocks outcrop along the shoreline below the Abbey and provided building material. There are traces of quarrying where these flagstones have been levered out of the outcrops. The Ross of Mull granite, a much later Caledonian period (c 420 million years old) intrusion, forms the opposite shore on Mull, but numerous large glacially transported boulders of this distinctive
7 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
red granite litter the shore and raised beach on Iona, and were also used as early building material. They also formed the bases of several of the High Crosses such as St Martin’s, St Matthew’s and St Oran’s.
Illus 1: Site Location
1.3 Archaeological and Historical Background
The historical and archaeological background of Iona Abbey has been extensively discussed, and it is not necessary or indeed possible to review this material here. Excellent accounts are to found in the Inventory for Iona (RCAHMS 1982) and a popular summary by Ritchie (1997). More detailed recent discussion of the documentary evidence and the archaeology can be found in papers by Aidan MacDonald (1997, 2001) Jerry O’Sullivan (1994a, 1994b, 1999) and Finbar McCormick (1992, 1993, 1997), with wider discussion by Tomas Ó Carragáin (2010). As far as the present report is concerned, the key points are that an early medieval monastery was founded around AD 563 by the Irish monk Columba (Gaelic Colum Cille) and by the seventh century Iona was the centre of a monastic network stretching across Scotland, Ireland and northern England. Iona became one of the leading intellectual and artistic centres in northern Europe by the eighth century, with the production of illustrated manuscripts such as the Cathach of Columba and the Book of Kells, the development of the ringed High Cross of characteristically Celtic type, and the production of a range of theological and other literary outputs. The Life of Columba by Adomnán, the ninth abbot of Iona (Sharpe 1995), written at the end of the seventh century, gives a great deal of incidental detail of life in the early monastery. A series of Norse raids are documented from the late eighth century, but the monastery survived and became a centre of Culdee monks until the late 12th century, though almost no records survive of this period. The site was then replaced by an independent Benedictine community in 1203, when the present layout of Romanesque monastic buildings was commenced. The Abbey was extensively redesigned and enlarged in the 15th century and survived until the Reformation when it fell mostly into ruin. The east part of the church was partially renovated as a Cathedral of the Isles in the early 17th
8 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
century, but again fell into ruin. The cathedral church was renovated by the Duke of Argyll around 1900, and from the late 1930s the other monastic ranges were rebuilt by the Iona Community, an ecumenical movement concerned with social justice, which occupies the buildings at the present day. The buildings are owned by the Iona Cathedral Trust, but were placed in State care in 2000 and are a Property in Care managed by Historic Environment Scotland. The surrounding land is mainly owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
1.4 Summary of the landscaping around Site B – St Mary’s Cathedral Church
After the Reformation of 1560 the Abbey buildings became derelict, but the eastern parts of the church were briefly rebuilt in the 1630s as a cathedral of the diocese of the Isles. By the mid 18th century sketches show that the nave walls were reduced to about half their present height (RCAHMS 1982)(illus 2). The poor state of the ruins and robbing of the stonework by islanders was commented on by early travellers, and the Duke of Argyll was persuaded to enclose the ruins. A wall was built on the line of the present PIC rectangular boundary in 1757, and rebuilt in 1791. The western wall of this enclosure was converted into a ha-ha in 1840 (later this was completely removed), and the PIC walls have been rebuilt several times in more recent times, as the site developed as a major tourist destination (illus 36). The church walls were cleared and consolidated in 1874-9 (illus 3). The eastern parts (1902-04) and then the nave (1908-10) were rebuilt and roofed by the Duke of Argyll. Work by the Iona Community rebuilding the cloisters and other monastic buildings took place from 1938-65. At present there is a considerable build-up of soil along the southern boundary wall relative to the field to the south. This is partially the result of a series of renovations and landscaping activities in modern times which can be reconstructed from drawings, photos, and accounts, and can be summarised as follows (illus 4):
1560-1630 partial demolishing of nave walls for rebuilding of east end
1630- 1760 further collapse and robbing of walls
1760, 1791 south wall of enclosure built (using fallen masonry), robbing discontinued, ground level at south wall of nave was then around the top of the buttress chamfer (about 1m above present ground level)
1870s major clearance and sorting of fallen masonry, initial levelling of ground southwards, with an additional metre-wide clearance around south wall of Abbey (to a level about 0.2 m above present ground level). Construction debris and activities associated with the consolidation of the eastern parts of the church in 1874-9
1904-10 rebuild and roofing of the nave, further clearance work to a distance of 8m from the walls creating the present terrace escarpment. The material removed was used to level the area south of this, filling in hollows. During this work a building ‘running north-south with rounded corners’ (Anon 1914) was uncovered in the area of Site B.
1940-65 creation of a metalled roadway along southern boundary wall for access to the Iona Community workers accommodation located to the east of Site B, Clearance of the Road of the Dead in 1963, and installation of gravel paths along the south wall of the nave and elsewhere. East wall of Reilig Odhráin extended to meet south wall of Abbey precinct in 1962. In 1980, extension to Reilig Odhráin completed.
2000-2018 new entranceway and hut built, paths changed, information boards installed.
9 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 2: The Abbey buildings pre-1870s consolidation and landscaping from the south-west, showing heaps of collapsed masonry and the high level of the ground to the south of the Abbey church
Illus 3 The church from the south-east during the 1870s consolidation, showing piles of sorted stone from clearance work
10 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 4: Sketch of profiles across Site B (Abbey church to left, boundary wall to right, wall [501] in middle), showing the sequence of landscaping activities
2 Methodology
2.1 Personnel
The project director was Dr Ewan Campbell (Archaeology, University of Glasgow) and site director was Cathy MacIver (AOC Archaeology). A small but very experienced team included Derek Alexander (Head of Archaeological Services, National Trust for Scotland); Peter Yeoman (Yeoman Heritage); Jamie Barnes, Aurime Bockute and Heather Christie (University of Glasgow post-graduate students); and Joss Durnan (HES). Geophysics was undertaken by Leonie Teufel.
2.2 Excavation
The excavation took place from 5th May to 2nd June 2018. The weather was mixed in the first week with several stormy days with high winds and heavy rain. The last few weeks were a period of exceptionally dry and hot weather for the island. All excavation was undertaken by hand due to the sensitive nature of the site. Spoil was stored in one tonne builders’ bags to keep the site tidy and prevent damage to the lawns. All contexts were recorded in plan and section as appropriate by measured drawing, by digital photography and by written description on pro forma sheets. The trench location and the locations of all artefacts was recorded in three dimensions using a total station. Trenches were tied into the OS grid and OS datum with the total station, using the established HES survey pegs. Detailed, individual plans of all trenches were drawn, at significant stages of excavation,
11 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
at a scale of 1:20. All sections were drawn in detail at a scale of 1:10. All drawings were annotated with site feature numbers, site code, scale, date and name(s) of staff. Colour digital photographs were taken of all stages of work, recording the general location of works, plus detailed coverage during and on completion of the excavation. All photographs had a suitable scale visible. All photographs were listed in a full photo register (describing content, orientation and date). Description of all excavated material is expressed in terms of archaeological features, each of which is assigned a unique three- digit number. The numbering also references the site code and any individual trench number. Each discrete feature is described on a site pro forma, which covers stratigraphic relationships, finds, physical description, location, drawing references and interpretation. All artefacts were retrieved as special finds and recorded spatially in three dimensions. They were treated in full accordance of standard guidelines for conservation in the field. These records are presented in the appendices to this report. On Site B, some features and contexts first exposed and recorded in 2017 were re- numbered (from numbers running from 200-300) using the 2018 sequence of numbering (numbers from 500 upwards).
On site B an initial trench of 6 x 6m was laid in the expectation that the stone wall represented an apsed building, and this trench would be sufficient to establish the form of the building. As this turned out not to be the case, the excavation was expanded with a slightly smaller 5 x 5m trench to the west, and then a smaller area to the north, covering a total area of 78 sq m.
A subsidiary geophysical survey work took place in the field to the west of McLean’s Cross, outside of scheduled areas, and is reported on separately (Teufel 2018).
2.3 Sampling
Bulk soil samples (small 5 litres; medium 10 litres; large 20 litres) were taken from well-sealed deposits and potentially-informative deposits to recover dating evidence as well as palaeobotanical remains. Several of the samples in Charles Thomas’ cutting at Site B were from previously excavated sections rather than excavated deposits and were therefore spot samples (1 litre).
The bulk of the soil samples were wet sieved and the results are presented in App 6. The retrieved artefactual material has been incorporated in the site finds. Sub-samples and residues have been retained. The waterlogged samples from the base of the were floated but produced no identifiable material.
2.4 Objectives
The principle objectives of the archaeological excavation on Site B were: To establish whether the stone structure is a church or other building To establish the nature and extent of the modern landscaping in this area to enable better understanding and management of the Abbey grounds, and to guide any future work by establishing the nature and extent of the pre-modern deposits. To understand the apparently unrepresentative geophysical data from this area To sample deposits for post-excavation work, including environmental analysis and dating
The principle objectives of the archaeological excavation on Site D were: To investigate the nature of the geophysical anomaly To establish the date and function of the site
3 Excavation Results
12 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Throughout this report the standard use of brackets is used to indicate different types of recording numbers: (xxx) = deposits; [xxx] = negative features and structures;
3.1 Site B (site code HY18B)
Summary of 2017 results
The 2017 excavations re-exposed a well-built curving drystone wall standing to a height of 0.9m, with a slightly battered outer face, which had been excavated by Thomas in 1957 (illus 5). An extension trench to the north and east showed that the wall curved round in a semi-circular arc, but it could not be established if this was an apse or another form of structure within the confines of the excavated area. One initial interpretation, as a Romanesque apsed church, perhaps associated with Queen Margaret’s recorded renovation of the site in the eleventh century, had to be revised when radiocarbon dating showed the wall to have been constructed before the late 8th century (SUERC-75776; 1289 ± 31; cal AD 665-770). This date was obtained from a layer of iron-working debris (208) which butted against the wall (illus 5).
Illus 5: West- and south-facing section of Thomas’s Cutting 11d with radiocarbon dates
Soil micro-morphology showed that the dated material had been dumped directly from a furnace, confirming the dating material is contemporary (Elliott 2018). Dates from what appeared to be a buried soil beneath the wall (213) gave a bronze-age date (SUERC-75762; 3015 ± 31; 1390-1130 cal BC). However, the soil micromorphology study showed that this peaty layer was not a buried soil but
13 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR indicated it was an anthropogenic burnt deposit showing human activity in the area at this date (Elliott 2018, 119). The western part of the wall appeared to have been partially robbed out, and a series of deposits sealing the wall were dated to the 10/12th centuries (SUERC-75781, 1029 31; cal AD 950- 1040; SUERC-75777, 940 31; cal AD 1025-1160), showing it was out of use and partially robbed by this period, and before spreads of medieval construction and destruction debris were deposited over the ruined building.
These results have confirmed the unique nature of this structure. No other stone built structures are known at this early date in a Scottish monastic context and it has always been assumed (on the authority of Bede) that all buildings were in wood or turf ‘in the Irish mode’. Accordingly, it was proposed to return to the site to try to establish the nature of the stone structure in more detail to enhance our understanding of the early medieval monastery. Recent geophysical surveys (resistivity and GPR) did not produced any clear evidence of the continuation of the wall (Ovenden 2016; 2018) (illus 6), and investigation of the possible reason for this was also an aim of the 2018 work.
Illus 6: New resistivity survey of Abbey in 2018, compared to GPR survey of 2016.
2018 results: Early medieval – medieval deposits
In 2018 Thomas’ trench was reopened to obtain further samples and refine the section drawings in light of initial post-excavation results from the 2017 work (details in Campbell and MacIver 2017). The west-facing section of Cutting 11d was redrawn in more detail and additional samples acquired from (211) and (233) under the 2017 SMC conditions. During cleaning of the section for photographs it was found that the lower charcoal-rich layer (211) overlay a patch of close-set cobbles [514], possibly the remains of a hearth, measuring c. 0.5m wide (illus 5, 7), which was just clipped by Thomas’ trench. Context (211) represents material that had built up against the drystone wall [501] shortly after it was
14 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR constructed, so is a prime candidate for dating. As the layer is below the layer dated to AD 665-770, this has the potential to narrow the date range for the construction of the wall.
Illus 7: West facing section of Thomas’ Cutting 11d with newly exposed stone setting [514] overlain by charcoal-rich layer (211)
The wall The drystone wall [501] identified in 1957 in Cutting 11d was composed of roughly coursed large blocks of undressed flagstone with small pinning stones. The majority of the stones were local Torridonian flags with a few rounded granite slabs. The lowest course was composed of megalithic stones up to 0.7m x 0.55m with upper courses composed of smaller more angular stones. Only the outer edge was faced, and the wall had the appearance of a revetment, though there were traces of an inner face amongst the highest stones preserved in the section running northwards. The wall curved through Thomas’ cutting and in 2017 it was confirmed that it had been truncated to the west where a large modern pit had removed its upper courses if not its entire extent. During the 2018 excavations it was established that after the wall curved round to the north it then ran in a straight line oriented roughly north-south for at least another metre (illus 8, 9). This would appear to remove the possibility that the wall was part of an apsed church building. Beyond this point the wall appeared to have been robbed and was obscured by a series of deposits (522, 515, 541, 543) (illus 9) which could not be excavated as their date could not be established. Further to the north large slumped stones remained but were clearly disturbed – possibly by modern activity – though the eastern edge of the wall cut remained well defined in the northern extension [538] (illus 10). The cut appeared to truncate a black layer (528) which resembled the slag-rich context (208) which butted the wall in Thomas’s section and was dated to the 7/8th centuries last year. Some stones appeared to be in situ along the edge of [538] but others were disturbed by robbing. This robbing pre-dated the landscaping terrace [547]. During the 1900’s rebuilding, the architect Chalmers recorded the presence in this area of ‘a large early building… it ran north-south and was constructed not with gables but with rounded ends’
15 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
(Anon 1915, xx-xxi). It seems likely then, that wall [501] was exposed by Chalmers and possibly partially robbed at that time, though disentangling this robbing and the medieval robbing was not possible given the SMC restraints. Assuming this northern section is the same wall (and it continues the line of (501) directly), the structure measures at least 6m north-south. In the small extension to the north opened to establish the line of the wall, a patch of stone with clay bonding (538) appeared in an east-west extension to the wall and ran into the wall itself. Within the small area exposed it was impossible to establish if this represented part of a subsidiary building, or possibly an entranceway or buttress, but it seemed to confirm speculation in 2017 that wall (501) had been clay-bonded in the courses above the revetment, due to the presence of apparent clay-bonded tumble (505, 506) to the east of the wall. It is noticeable that the wall runs directly north-south (0° N) here, whereas the southern section runs at an angle 10 degrees south of east-west (260° N), which might mitigate against it being building rather than a revetted platform, or else that it is a complex structure of different phases.
16 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 8: Post-excavation plan of the medieval contexts at the full extent of 2018 excavation
17 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 9: Wall [501] fully exposed in northern extension
Illus 10: Northernmost extension, showing charcoal-rich layer (528) to left, cut by wall robbing trench [538], with clay-bonded eastern extension to the wall [549]
Burials Underlying the undifferentiated topsoil (507) in the south east corner of the trench was a very indistinct grave cut [513], see only in section (illus 5). This burial was initially identified in 1957 when Charles Thomas’ team truncated two skeletons in his Cutting 11d. The burials were dated to the 10-11th and 11-12th centuries in 2017. The grave-cut for the burials [513] became visible this year in the west
18 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR facing section after heavy rain, but was very shallow and the grave must have been truncated by modern landscaping. The presence of a burial so close to the current ground surface and so shallow in depth demonstrates the substantial landscaping and changing ground surfaces in this area over time. At some point this grave must have been cut into a deep build up of soil to the south of the abbey, a traditional place for monks to be buried. The original depth of this grave is unclear but it is likely to have been several feet deep at a minimum. Later material above the grave cut had been removed in the past – leaving only c. 0.15m depth of cut in situ, and then subsequently the ground has been built back up with c. 0.3m of modern deposits. The grave cut was recorded and covered over – no further excavation was carried out in this south-east corner of the trench as fragments of human remains which may have been in situ burials started to appear at this level, though no grave cuts could be identified. An iron spike (SF512, illus 5) was found lying just above the legs of skeleton, but it was not clear whether this was in the modern soil or the grave-cut. It was not orientated parallel to the skeleton so if it is not from the modern soil and is associated with the grave it may have been a coffin nail. Redknap (1977, fig 7, 11) recorded coffin nails from burials around Columba’s shrine chapel, and one of these plank coffins has been recently dated to the same period as the Site B burials (cal AD 890- 1020; SUERC-80639).
Medieval deposits
The 2017 trenches were reopened (with the exception of the furthest east extent of Trench 2c and the recent stone-pit in Trench 2b) to expose the continuation of the wall. Most of the area from 2017 was already excavated to the top of the wall head so no further excavation took place other than in the northern edge where modern deposits remained to be investigated and removed (illus 8). The 2018 work stripped a larger area of modern topsoil and levelling deposits in order to attempt to establish the plan of the structure. Initially, on the assumption that it was an apsed church, a 6 x 6 m square was investigated. An extension of 5m x 5m was later opened to the west and an extension of 5m x c.2m was opened to the north with a further 1 x 1m extension in the NE corner when it became clear that the structure was not a church. Each extension left a 0.5m baulk between it and the main trench. The northern section of baulk between main trench and west extension was eventually removed to establish links between the stratigraphy of the two areas.
Overall, removal of modern deposits revealed a complex series of deposits and structures, which probably spanned a long period, but mostly post-dated the destruction of the wall [501]. Across the trench medieval deposits were encountered and left unexcavated as the Scheduled Monument Consent conditions only allowed removal of modern deposits. In the west extension a spread of firm dark brown mottled sand (534) with orange patches and speckles of mortar and shell was visible over most of the trench (illus 8) after removal of modern deposits. This layer contained visible fragments of green-glazed pottery, animal bones and some charcoal. The fragments of pottery were all lying flat on the surface of the deposit, perhaps indicating that they were more or less in situ trampled deposits rather than mixed and redeposited material. This material was at a similar horizon to a spread of rough cobbling (537) composed of small rounded and angular stones, and a compact clay patch (542) in the northwest corner of the west extension (illus 11). The cobbling formed a rough surface c. 2m by 1.5m which extended up to the large hollow under the baulk between main trench and western extension, and appeared to dive under (534) to the west. Initially this cobbling was interpreted as part of the overlying mason’s yard deposits, perhaps a foundation for the masons’ banker (bench). However, it appears to be an earlier feature, though perhaps reused as flooring for the mason’s building as the stones were infilled with stone-dust. At the southern extent of this layer the ground sloped away and deeper deposits of modern overburden had to be removed. A band of truncated material rich in specks of mortar (530) was visible running east–west. During cleaning several interesting finds including an Alexander III silver penny (SF618, illus 27) and a copper needle (SF615, illus 30) came out of this area which implied it was an area where medieval deposits had been disturbed.
19 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 11: Cobbling (537) exposed after removal of masons’ yard deposits, looking east
In the south west corner of the trench a small thin lens of charcoal-rich greyish silt (545) was visible. This lay over a very compact level yellow sandy deposit (544) which ran in a strip east-west. This latter had the appearance of rammed material for a wall foundation. Its northern edge runs parallel to the southern face of wall [501] but its stratigraphic relationship to the wall could not be established as this area was disturbed by the modern stone-pit [219] excavated in 2017, and another, [533], excavated in 2018. Lapping up over this on the north edge was an orange brown deposit with charcoal flecks (546), similar to (534) and likely another medieval deposit. These deposits were not excavated as they were interpreted as medieval deposits or features.
In the main trench, most of the deposits exposed in 2017 were left in situ, namely the wall [501]; the spread of tumble and clay [505, 506] and the deposits inside the structure (221, 222). In the northwest corner of the main trench an orange brown sandy deposit was revealed (517). During cleaning to ascertain the extent of this layer an early medieval copper alloy nail-headed pin (SF 570) was found (illus 26). The layer was not excavated, but it lay at the same level as (221), a context inside the wall [501] which overlay a disarticulated human femur which produced an early medieval date in 2017 (SUERC-75783; 973 ± 31 BP; cal AD 1020-1220), and it appeared to overly the wall [501]. In the south-east corner, removal of undifferentiated dark topsoil deposits uncovered the burials described above. The deposits revealed in the north-east corner are described below.
In the north extension of the trench several features of interest were exposed just below the turf. These included an L-shaped rectilinear rough stone setting [525] aligned at an angle to wall [501] (illus 12). This was composed of a mix of roughly-set rounded and angular stone with several vertical stones near the corner. Within this setting there was pea gravel (526) which extended outwith the trench. Although this appeared to be part of a structure, its nature was unclear as the walls were fairly insubstantial, and its date could not be established without excavation.
20 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 12: North extension with L-shaped stone structure [525] and landscaped terrace edge [547]. Note location of display board
Abbey demolition and re-construction
During the excavation of the layers overlying the medieval deposits several layers were identified related to post-medieval construction and demolition activities on the site. In the western extension most of the trench was covered with a yellow sandy deposit (529, 532), which was found to be made up of angular chips of Carsaig Sandstone, mixed with stone dust and was clearly the build up of debris from a masons’ yard. Carsaig Sandstone was used in the medieval period and in modern reconstructions on Iona as the material for ashlar blocks and decorative window tracery (Albornoz- Parra et al 2015). Fragments of tracery (SF590) and ashlar blocks were found embedded in this material (illus 13).
21 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 13: Window tracery of Carsaig Sandstone SF590, broken during manufacture and embedded in floor of masons’ yard (532)
The southern edge of (532) was demarcated by a linear cut [535] running roughly east–west, measuring c. 5m long by 0.28m wide by 0.10m deep, with a U-shaped profile and undulating base. This was only present in the western extension of the trench and was interpreted as the foundation slot for a sleeper beam related to a hut or lean-to structure (illus 14).
Illus 14: Sleeper beam slot [535] for south wall of masons’ yard building, looking east
22 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
The beamslot was filled with a mix of blackish brown sandy material with some clusters of angular stones and modern mortar, possibly representing the position of upright timbers. Some iron nails in the slot were probably in situ from the decay of the timber structure. The lack of sandstone dust extending beyond the sleeper beam shows the stone masons’ activity was bounded with the structure, which must have measured a minimum of 5 x 4 m. As no return was noted in the eastern trench, the east side of the structure was either probably open-ended, as would be suitable for a mason’s yard due to the dust produced, or else the return was obscured by the baulk. Overlying (532) was a very regular hard-packed surface with frequent small angular stones, Carsaig sandstone and sandy matrix (529), apparently formed by compacting the upper surface of (532) (illus 15). This levelling deposit extended across the western extension and covered a similar footprint to the sandstone dust spread (532). It could represent a later resurfacing of this area within the structure represented by the sleeper beam, or a resurfacing after this structure has gone out of use. Within the material were a copper alloy chape or ferrule (SF560), with wood remains inside, and a copper alloy keyring (SF562), both of these probably associated with mason’s tools.
Illus 15: Surface of (529), compacted chips of Carsaig sandstone and yellow stone dust
To the south of these features there was a large pit filled with rough large angular stones [533]. This pit was roughly sub-rectangular in plan and measured c. 1m by 2.5m (illus 18). It was cut into (534) and other medieval deposits and filled with a dark brown sandy soil (531) with frequent large rounded stones up to 0.4m by 0.3m. These stones were all irregular boulders and seem to be material discarded as unsuitable for re-use in the reconstruction of the Abbey church. It bears some similarity in function to the nearby stone pit [219] excavated in 2017 which had truncated the continuation of the drystone wall [501]. That pit was not re-excavated in 2018.
Elsewhere in the main trench there was evidence of further activity related to the demolition debris and reconstruction of the abbey in the 19th and 20th centuries. At the same height as the wall head [501] there was a distinct spread of hard packed small angular stones and mortar, some adhered onto larger stones in the matrix (541) (illus 16). This was largely visible in the north east corner of the main trench with small fragments of similar mortar to the west of the wall. A coherent band of mortar adhered to larger building stones (522) was immediately to the south of this. This material represented an area of mortar mixing on the site, related to the reconstruction of the abbey. The mortar inclusions were mainly shell and small pea gravel – like the later mortar used in the repairs to the abbey. Overlying this
23 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR in the north east corner of the trench was a spread of dark blackish-brown mottled material with patches of charcoal (515). This layer contained cragganware pottery fragments, wheel-thrown pot and small angular inclusions of Carsaig sandstone related to later activity on the site. Between these layers was a localised patch 1m by 1.5m across forming a thin series of lenses of crushed and whole shell related to mortar production (516). A similar localised lens 0.02m thick was also identified in the north west of the northern extension
Illus 16: 20th-century mortar-mixing surface (541) and mortar line (522) overlying robbed out wall
24 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 17: Early 20th –century features with masons’ yard timber beam-slot [535], stone chippings deposits (532) and shell deposit (510)
25 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 18: Plan of the modern levelling and landscaping features
26 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Twentieth-century landscaping
During and subsequent to the demolition, clearance and reconstruction of the abbey there were phases of landscaping to fill in the hollows and make up ground to produce the relatively level lawns that are visible on the site today.
Overlying the re-construction debris in the west of the trench was a thick layer of topsoil. To the east there were more hollows and scoops evident which had been subsequently filled with material. One substantial hollow in the middle of the trench was filled with a thin layer of soil (519) and pea gravel (520) indicating the hollow had been open long enough for minimal soil formation to occur. At the base of the hollow there was a chamfered block of sandstone (SF558) identical to blocks in the squinch arches in the cloisters, indicating the deposit was construction debris. Overlying this was a spread of mortar-speckled material (511) filling the hollow to the past ground level. It consisted of loose to firm disintegrating mortar within a matrix of mid greyish brown silt with occasional limpet shell. Some stones with mortar attached to them suggested a post-demolition deposit. To the east of this a spread of shell rich midden material (510) was present, composed of a loose greyish brown deposit with frequent shell (almost all limpet and whelk). Small fragments of angular stone and inclusions of slate and modern ceramic were present. The deposit extended from north of the wall [501] and overlapped the edge of the terrace created around 1910 [547] (illus 19), showing it was a late feature. The deposit was concentrated to the east and extended into the mortar-filled hollow at the west edge of the main trench but did not continue, suggesting it was a localised dumped deposit.
Illus 19: East facing section of north extension demonstrating turf immediately overlying medieval structure [525]. Note how the shelly deposit (510) overlaps the terrace cut [547].
In the north-east part of the trench where the wall [501] was no longer visible at the same height as elsewhere there was a spread of mixed loose material (543) which lapped up over (541) to the east – this was cleaned off to reveal several more wall stones. Beyond this, in the northern extension, a dark
27 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR spread of material with modern glass in the upper areas (539) with a very straight north–south aligned edge [538] was visible. This was interpreted as the robbed out wall edge of [501]. Some large wall stones were identified beneath this layer, but it was not fully clear if they were in situ wallstones or robber backfill. The eastern edge to this cut was very indistinct and it was not clear if the modern cut continued so excavation was halted.
This northern extension of the trench also investigated the scarp that had been created by landscaping in 1904-1910. In the area between it and the Abbey wall a large amount of collapse and demolition material had been cleared out (illus 3), creating a lower area of ground. The abrupt edge of this cut [547] was investigated and demonstrated that spreads of levelling material such as (518) which contained modern glass and frequent angular stones, and (510), the shell rich layer, draped over this cut, showing that the final levelling took place after the clearance of the terrace. These post- 1900 deposits varied in thickness from 0.2m to 0.6m (illus 25). The pathway alongside the modern display board contained spreads of gravel that had been impacted by pedestrian traffic into the underlying early medieval deposits, making excavation difficult here. The robber trench cut [538] was not visible cut through (518) or immediately below this, so it is possible that the robbing took place before landscaping in this area. In the northern area of the site, to the north west of the trench edge a display board has recently been inserted. It appears that this had been laid directly into or onto early medieval deposits, including the rectilinear structure [525] (illus 12).
A spread of mixed material was evident across the main trench, overlying the other deposits related to building work on the abbey and later landscaping. The surface height of this deposit (504), (507) and (508) was recorded to demonstrate it was a continuous levelled landscaping deposit likely to relate to the final landscaping work on this area of the site (illus 19-23). It consisted of a compact dark brown sandy silty with small angular stones and frequent inclusions of shell, becoming increasingly concentrated to the east. It was clearly formed by raking the underlying mixed dumps of material to produce a level surface for establishment of a regular lawn. It contained animal bone, Ballachulish slate and 19th-century porcelain. Over this was thick turf.
Illus 20: Levelled surface of (504) under modern turf (2017 trench in right corner)
28 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 21: East facing section of main trench and north extension
29 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 22: South facing section of west extension and main trench
30 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 23: Detailed south facing section of main trench, north-east end
Illus 24: East facing section of west extension
31 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 25: East facing profile demonstrating depth of modern overburden onto medieval deposits
32 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Synthesis and phasing
The archaeological deposits encountered in the 2018 season can be grouped into four broad phases:
Early Medieval
The early medieval deposits forming the initial activity on the site were visible in the deeper section of the trench where Charles Thomas’ cutting was re-excavated, and where the dry stone wall was still in situ. These are overlain by what appear to be later medieval deposits (illus 5). These early deposits were also exposed in the northern extension, where later deposits had been removed by early 20th century terracing. Here there is a real need to ensure preservation of potentially in situ deposits as they are so close to the surface. A display board has already been inserted into them and a worn- down path leads people around the side of the abbey, also impacting on the early deposits (illus 12).
Later Medieval
Medieval deposits were visible at varying depths across the site beneath the modern layers. In the main area they were at a depth of 0.6m and consisted of a mix of deposits with visible sherds of green glaze pottery on the surface, and other finds such as a copper alloy pin and needle. The deposits included spreads of mortar-, shell- and stone-rich material and soils which may be derived from construction phases of the Benedictine monastery. A spread of cobbling (537) probably belongs to this phase. The surface of this material was uneven and fell away to the south. This area was filled in by the later landscaping.
Post-medieval demolition and reconstruction
Evidence of various phases of post-Reformation activity related to collapse, demolition and clearance of demolition from the Abbey were overlying the medieval deposits. These were at a similar horizon to evidence related to the rebuilding works on the abbey in the early 20th century and characterised by hollows, spreads of mortar and shell related to mortar production, and evidence of a building housing stone masons’ activity (illus 12).
Modern landscaping
Overlying the stone masons’ work area and the medieval deposits were a series of spreads of material (illus 25). These were materials such as shell, small angular stone chips, and fragmentary deposits of mortar and sorted wall debris. This material was reused and spread across the site to fill in the hollows and level out areas to create smoother lawns that are visible on the site today. Some of this landscaping was related to clearance of material up against the abbey and resulted in the sharp breaks of slope seen in the northern area of the trench and the shallow turf lying directly over medieval remains in the northern extent of the trench.
Finds
The 2018 excavations at Site B were scoping in nature, and SMC conditions meant that only modern deposits were excavated. Thus all finds recovered were from disturbed or redeposited contexts and can only be interpreted in general terms. Nevertheless, the finds do provide some valuable information, both on the activities associated with the rebuilding of the Abbey church, and with the monastic phases of occupation of the site.
33 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
A copper alloy nail-headed stick pin (SF570) (illus 26), is unusually well made, with decorative banding in the middle and top of the hipped haft. While nail-headed pins as a general type are widespread in the early medieval period, they are often crudely made from bone. Decorated examples are rare, but there is a close parallel from Buiston crannog, from midden deposits dating to the 7th century (Munro 1882, figs 242-3; Crone 2000, illus 120). This dress or hair pin is not an item that would normally be expected on a monastic site, though it could have belonged to a visitor. On the other hand, there are a fragment of a mould for producing pins from Thomas’s excavation (Campbell and Maldonado 2016, fig 83), so it is possible that this pin was produced on Iona.
A medieval silver coin (SF618), is a penny of Alexander III, of the ‘cross and stars’ type, probably dating to 1250-80 (illus 27). This is the first coin of the medieval period to be recorded from Iona other than the Norse period hoard of late 10th century coins found in 1950 (Stevenson 1951). The coin is worn, and presumably a casual loss.
Other metal finds can less certainly be ascribed to the medieval period. A small copper alloy clasp (SF623), appears to be an articulated clasp or hasp for holding shut a small box or casket (illus 28). The slot in one face may be a keyhole. Medieval bookclasps are generally broader, and do not have keyholes. It is quite well decorated for such a small object, with bevelled edges and the terminal rivet hole notched.
A fragment of a copper alloy rectangular sheet with four nail holes is similar to a piece found in 2017 nearby (SF221). A conical ferrule or chape (SF560) with rivet holes for attachment to a wooden stick possibly came from a walking cane or a tool of some kind, and is also probably post-medieval or modern (illus 29). A copper alloy needle (SF615) is unusual in having the lower end of the shaft rectangular in section, while the upper is rounded (illus 30). The angular point suggests use in leatherworking, possibly book-binding. A copper alloy key-ring (SF562) is also probably modern.
None of the iron objects found could be positively identified as being medieval – they were mainly nails of various sizes. An iron spike (SF 512) was found in the area of the burial [513] but did not appear to be part of the burial as it was not aligned with the skeleton, though it could have been a coffin fitting.
A cuboidal piece of worked bone (SF542) with cutmarks is possibly a discarded dice in the process of manufacture, and an antler tine (SF601) also shows bone-working on the site.
As in previous excavations, some flint debris was recovered, including raw material, chunks and flakes. One significant stone object recovered was a large smooth quartzite beach cobble which showed high polish on both faces and a black deposit on one (SF607). This was a slickstone for polishing leather. In and around the stonemason’s yard were numerous fragments of Carsaig sandstone, including fragments of window tracery (SF590) and mullions (SF537), along with a large discarded ashlar facing block (SF574) which had been re-tooled for re-use, and a chamfered block (SF558). Examination showed that this latter block was identical to the blocks used in the squinch arches in the cloisters. The window tracery was broken during manufacture, but the ashlar blocks looked as if they older stones being kept for re-cycling (illus 31).
34 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 26: Early medieval copper alloy nail-headed pin SF570
Illus 27: Silver penny of Alexander III SF618
Illus 28: Copper alloy box hasp or clasp SF623
35 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 29: Chape with wood inside SF570
Illus 30: Copper alloy leatherworker’s needle (note angular point) SF615
Illus 31: Re-used ashlar block SF574, and chamfered block SF 558 (right) with mullion SF590 and stone chips, all Carsaig sandstone
36 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Discussion
The 2018 excavations on Site B were restricted in nature, and designed principally to investigate the scale and nature of the early medieval structure uncovered in 1957 and 2017, without disturbing any pre-modern deposits. A secondary objective was to investigate the nature and extent of the modern deposits and landscaping activities in this region of the PIC, both to guide any future excavation and to enable more informed grounds management by HES. The nature of the deposits encountered made it difficult to distinguish some of the modern construction and demolition debris from possible medieval debris resulting from the same activities, as the same materials were being used. Much of the coarse stonework in the modern rebuild used salvaged blocks from the collapsed medieval buildings, as there was a conscious attempt by the architects to blend the modern and medieval aspects of the building through the use of local Torridonian flags for the main walling. They also used the same Carsaig sandstone for the ashlar and window tracery, and Easdale slate for the roofs as had been used in the medieval building. The mortar used, full of pea gravel and crushed shell, also mimicked medieval materials. These problems were compounded by a relative lack of modern finds of pottery and glass in the working deposits (presumably because the workmen had a refectory elsewhere on site), and the occurrence of disturbed medieval finds in later deposits. However, many of the modern deposits had flecks of stone with mortar attached which were clearly derived from the cleaning and sorting of the demolished medieval walls. Photographs from the 1870s (illus 3) and contemporary accounts (Drummond 1874, 215) show how the collapsed wall stones were cleaned of mortar and stacked around the perimeter of the site for re-use.
In terms of the aims of the excavation, the first excavation objective was only partially achieved. It was established that the curving wall [501] did not develop into an apsed structure, as the wall continued to run northwards in the newly exposed section of the trench, and so could not be the foundations on an early church as had been surmised. However, it was not possible to be sure of the character of the wall, as it was affected by robbing and burial by later deposits which SMC conditions prevented removing. These deposits may have belonged, at least partially, to the period of re-building around 1900, but given that the 2017 excavations showed that some wall-robbing had taken place on the southern section of the wall by the 10/11th century, it was difficult to know the date of the robbing without excavating the deposits. Given these provisos, the wall appeared to run northwards to a point about 6m south of the abbey church. If this was a symmetrical building, it would have measured at least 10m north-south. No trace of a west return was seen in the west extension, though medieval deposits obscure this part of the site. If there was a return, symmetry suggests the building was at least 8m wide east-west. However, it is not entirely clear that the walling is part of a building, as the north-south section revealed this year is not at right angles to the east-west section uncovered in 2017. If it is not a single structure, it is possible that is a multi-phase structure, or purely a revetment for a level platform. The presence of clay bonding and an extension or addition (549) at the northern end argues against this interpretation, but only further excavation can resolve the question.
The second main objective was to assess the extent of modern landscaping and deposits associated with the reconstruction of the Abbey church, and to assess how these activities have impacted on the medieval deposits. Although there were difficulties in places in distinguishing medieval and modern construction deposits, this part of the excavation was largely successful. A complex series of deposits, structures and pits were revealed relating to stone clearance, sorting and cleaning of old stonework, and cutting of new ashlar and tracery. The irregular surface of these deposits was then levelled, with modern deposits varying in depth from 0.2-0.6m (illus 25).
Prior to this activity, clearance of a sunken terrace around the south wall of the nave of the church by Chalmers cut into both late and early medieval deposits and structures. It is clear that highly sensitive deposits relating to the earliest buildings of the Columban monastery now lie directly below the modern turf in this area, and are being impacted by visitor information panels and pathways. These
37 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR structures include the wall [501] and the structure [525] uncovered in the excavations, but also other features recorded by Chalmers at the time of clearance (illus 32). These include: a section of curving wall which still protrudes through the grass; a stone-lined drain which re-uses an early medieval graveslab; the foundations of a rectangular structure in the angle of the nave and south transept; and a ‘curving wall’ exposed by Thomas in the same area in 1957 in Cutting 14 (Campbell & Maldonado 2016, 52). There is a palimpsest of pre-Benedictine structures in this area, the only one of which has any dating evidence is wall [501], and none of the structures can be properly understood without more extensive excavation. Although the stone-lined drain has been dismissed as Benedictine, other stone- lined drains on the site in this alignment are now known to be early medieval in date (Campbell and Maldonado forthcoming).
Drain (1908) Early foundations (1908)
Curving wall (1908)
Curving wall (1957)
Illus 32 Early medieval features in terraced area to south of nave, with features exposed in 2018, 1957 (curving wall) and 1908 (drain, curving wall, early foundations).
A secondary objective was to try to understand why the geophysical surveys carried out in this area (illus 6) failed to reveal the substantial stone walling [501]. While the massive stone-pit [219] shows on the resistivity and GPR results, only a small part of [501] shows. The results appear to be affected by the mixed nature of the deposits which are full of stone chips, rubble and mortar. Features such as the curving wall to the north of the 2018 trench do not appear, despite being a visible solid structure on the surface. This may be because it is surrounded by tumble and paving or cobbling reported on one plan. Whatever the explanation, it seems the geophysical surveys in this area at least (and potentially
38 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR throughout the abbey area) are difficult to interpret and do not necessarily provide a reliable guide to subsurface conditions.
Post-excavation strategy
Due to the modern and disturbed nature of many of the deposits excavated in 2018 there are limited secure deposits requiring further analysis.
The pottery from the abbey site will be sent to ceramic specialist Derek Hall, who has reported on several previous assemblages of medieval pottery from Iona. However, the small quantities of pottery will make it difficult to be sure of the taphonomy of the sherds. Samples for floatation and wet sieving were taken <500-502>, <504> and <506> and will be analysed by Susan Ramsay for suitability for radiocarbon dating and any information on agricultural practices. Samples for analysis were taken from the layers in Charles Thomas’ cutting to refine the dating of the drystone wall. Dates from <500>, <501> and <502> will aim to date material deposited soon after the construction of the wall, providing a terminus post quem.
The antler and bone material from the site is disarticulated and out of situ but basic analysis could provide information on species. The metal finds have undergone initial analysis by the Project Director and full reports are being prepared.
Samples of mortar were taken <502>, <503>, <505> and <510> and will be sent to Mark Thacker, who has studied the Iona Abbey mortars, for analysis and ID, helping to refine the dating of the activity and relate it to specific phases of work on the abbey.
An area of the 2017 trench was revisited and kubiena tin samples taken of layer (204) and (221) a burnt layer just above the wall head (illus 33). Micromorphological analysis of thin sections from these samples could provide more information on the nature of the deposit here and whether it relates to a surface or structure situated on the revetment platform created by the drystone wall.
Illus 33: South facing section of interior deposits exposed in 2017, with kubiena tins
39 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
3.2 Site D (site code HY18D)
Site D was located in the field to the south of Iona Abbey to investigate a geophysical anomaly discovered in a survey on land owned by the National Trust for Scotland (Ovenden 2012). The anomaly was visible on resistivity survey as a rectangular feature with rounded corners, measuring c. 42 x 30m externally, 32 x 21m internally (illus 36). The anomaly was interpreted as a ditched enclosure, but the form is highly unusual for this area, and no date or function could be suggested. The feature lay outside (south and east of) the line of the outer enclosure of the Abbey, as revealed by the same survey, so it was not clear if it was associated with the monastery in either its early Columban or its later Benedictine phases.
Illus 34: The raised area enclosed by the ditch – backfilled Trench D to the left background
The enclosure is sited on the upper raised beach terrace at a height of 15m OD, and surrounds a slightly raised area visible on the Lidar image (illus 34, 35, 37). The earliest detailed map of the area, the Douglas estate map of 1769, shows that this area was cultivated as strip fields by that period, and lay north of the buildings of the village as it was then located (illus 39). The land was owned by the Duke of Argyll. It is clear from this map that all trace of the enclosure had been removed by the mid 18th century. The field remained in use for arable crops (and known as Tyndal’s field to Charles Thomas during his excavations) until the 1970s (as seen in photographs), by this time mechanically ploughed. Even in the 1960s the field still extended west, extending over the area to the north of Reilig Odhran later excavated by Barber (1981) (illus 38). More recently the field has been given over to permanent pasture. Site D lies just south of the ruined St Mary’s chapel, a 13th-century building (RCAHMS 1982, 245) which was cleared of rubble in the 19th century. Just to the west of the site and slightly uphill, is the reported site of a well, Tobar Odhráin (Oran’s well) (Reeves 1874, cxlii) which produces the water flow partially responsible for the flooding of the field as investigated in 2017 as Site C (Campbell & MacIver 2017, 45).
40 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 35: Excavating Site D trench, with the Sound of Iona and Ross of Mull in background
In marked contrast to the area of the early monastery within the PIC boundaries (O’Sullivan 1999, fig 7), there has been almost no previous excavation within the field and the nature of the deposits there is virtually unknown. Although the site is within the scheduled area, it lies outside the Property in Care boundary of the Abbey, where most previous excavations have taken place. 19th-century accounts mention pins and other material being turned up in the fields around the Abbey (Keddie 1850). In 2013 a pipe trench was excavated along the southern boundary of the field in connection with new affordable housing in the Glebe field (Will 2014). No significant archaeological deposits were encountered except for a gravel spread interpreted as the post-medieval course of the Street of the Dead, a coffin road leading to the Abbey. Further excavation just inside the southern wall of the field in 2018 by the NTS Thistle Camp found no supporting evidence for this surface (Alexander pers comm), though quantities of handmade pottery were recovered. In 2017 a small trial trench (HY17C) was opened as part of the present project to try to locate a burst drain which has been flooding the field (Campbell & MacIver 2017). This excavation located a disused iron water pipe, visible in the geophysical survey, which subsequent research showed to be part of a 1930’s pumped water system servicing the St Columba hotel. This pipe ran across the rectangular enclosure and on Site C its pipe trench was cut through deposits containing handmade pottery of mixed date and industrial deposits, overlying a buried soil with ard marks in the natural.
41 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
well
Illus 36: Resistivity survey of the field, with enclosure in red, trench locations in yellow, monastic vallum ditches in orange, and site of well (Tobar Odhráin).
Given the highly unusual form of the enclosure, and our lack of understanding of the archaeological resource in this area, it was identified as a prime site for investigation, both to expand our knowledge of activities outside the bounds of the monastery, and to help with land management of the field by the
42 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
National Trust for Scotland. It was proposed that a trench on the east side of the enclosure across the ditch held the best prospects for revealing its nature and date. The total area to be excavated amounted to less than 1% of the enclosure.
A trench measuring 7 x 1.5m (total area 10.5 sq m) was situated where the ditch was cut by the pipe trench. The pipe was located by dGPS and excavated for a length of 1.5m. It had been hoped to locate the edge of the ditch cut in the base of the pipe trench in order to minimise intervention, but the cut here was too narrow to allow this to be seen. Sandy deposits on top of dark brown soil visible in the sides of the trench were taken to indicate upcast from the ditch, and the trench was laid out accordingly (illus 36).
Illus 37: Lidar image of field (© HES), with transcription of enclosure, showing relationship to raised area. OS Mastermap data from Digimap
43 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 38: Plans of the abbey detailing the evolution of the stone boundary walls over time
Illus 39: 1769 estate map showing the field (No 12)- Site D is located near the 2 of no. 12, showing runrig cultivation, the coffin road and St Mary’s chapel © HES
44 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Lynchet [420]
On the resistivity survey, the eastern edge of the ditch was obscured by a large area of presumed colluvium, and this turned out to be the case. The modern ploughsoil (401) varied in depth from 0.4- 0.6m and had clearly been washed downhill by plough action. In the centre of the trench there was a cluster of large boulders (404) within the ploughsoil. Modern (20th-century) pottery and glass was common in the deposits around the boulders. They were interpreted as infill of a hollow by the farmer after the advent of tractor-drawn ploughs in the post WWII era. Beneath this layer was a layer of gravelly soil (405) which gradually petered out eastwards. The gravel and an underlying brown soil (406) filled a hollow [420] which cut through earlier deposits in the west of the trench (illus 40).
This hollow was initially interpreted as the western edge of the ditch, but it subsequently became clear that it represented a lynchet associated with the 18th-century strip fields. The lynchet ran north-south parallel to the slope of the field – in fact the direction of ridge and furrow seen in the 1769 estate map (illus 39), confirming its accuracy. There was a mixture of finds, including medieval glazed pottery (SWGW) and 18th-century wine bottle glass (SF408) in (406), confirming the late date of creation of the lynchet.
Illus 40: South west facing section (above) and north east facing section (below) of the ditch
Ditch [408]
The ditch [408] was cut through the natural sands, gravels and boulders of the raised beach deposits. It was 5.0m wide, with gently sloping sides and a flat bottom 2.0m wide (illus 40, 41). The maximum depth of deposits within it was only 0.80m, though originally it would have been somewhat deeper. Most of the fill was a fairly uniform dark brown loam though occasional random large boulders were
45 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR present, especially towards the base. The upper part merged into (406) and no clear boundary could be seen. Lower in the fill a number of localised contexts appeared. In the south was a thin layer of black cindery material (409) which spread for about 1.0m from the west edge of the ditch cut. On the north side at a similar level was a thin layer of orange clay with charcoal (411) which butted up against a setting of large rounded boulders of granite and Torridonoian flags up to 0.3m in diameter (415). These boulders looked very similar in character to the rubble forming the walls of St Mary’s chapel, and were probably derived from it, suggesting a post-Reformation date. This setting was carefully laid with a level surface. It only extended into the trench for 0.3m, running into the north baulk. Its function is unclear, but may have acted as a causeway across a boggy partially infilled ditch. Whatever the case, it seems to represent a different stage in the useage of the area, when the ditch was no longer functioning as originally intended.
Illus 41: Plan of trench with main features: (415) boulder setting; [408] ditch cut; pit [418]; and lynchet [420]
Beneath these layers (ie 409, 411, 415), the brown ditch fill became progressively more silty and wet (410, 413, 414). The concentration of boulders within this fill (412) was mainly at a lower level than setting 415 and random rather than laid. The base of the ditch was waterlogged and the lowest few centimetres could not be fully excavated. There appeared to be little or no primary silting, though the sides were sometimes sandy or gravelly. These lower layers had quantities of animal teeth and very decayed bone. Other finds included lumps of iron slag and bog iron ore. At the west lip of the ditch there was a large iron object (SF402), perhaps a fitting or handle. There were a number of sherds of handmade coarsely-gritted pottery (SFs 412, 428, 426, 429, 418, 419), some of it grass-marked, along with finer ware with spots of glaze (SF420). The was also a large bodysherd of late medieval reduced ware (SF 427) from (413) which would appear to give a terminus post quem for the infill of the ditch. Samples were taken from the basal layers for flotation.
Interior
The only interior deposits which survived occupied less than a metre at the west of the trench, the remainder being cut away by the ditch or the lynchet. Here, under topsoil was thick layer of streaky yellow sand (402) overlying a brown silty loam (403) and a dirty orange gravel (416), all without finds. These lay on a brown soil (417) which directly overlay yellow natural sand. The surface of the natural had random impressions which did not appear to be like the parallel ard marks seen in 2017, but just possibly could represent spade cultivation.
In the north-western corner of the trench there was a cut in the natural [418] filled with sandy backfill mixed with small stones (419). One larger slab of granite lying against the side of the cut protruded out of the cut above the natural. It was difficult to be sure at what level the cut appeared – it was certainly sealed by 402 and 403, but the relationship with 417 was obscure, and 416 was not present here. The
46 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR fill (419) produced a grass-marked base of handmade coarse pottery (SF423) and two large iron nails, one certainly a clench rivet (SF445). The sandy layer (402) is the same as that seen being cut by the pipe trench in the exploratory trench to the west. The pipe itself just misses the north-west corner of the trench.
Finds
Apart from the modern pottery, glass and ironwork in the most recent contexts, finds were scattered. Both handmade and wheel-thrown sherds were found throughout the deposits, including medieval glazed wares, and local wheelthrown unglazed wares, as well as grass-marked handmade coarsewares (eg SF434) (illus 43). Scattered iron slag was found, including a hearth bottom which is larger than early medieval examples (SF 413). One large iron object came from the edge of the ditch cut (SF 402), possibly an agricultural item (illus 42). Towards the base of the ditch quantities of very decayed animal bone were found, along with teeth.
Illus 42: SF402 possible handle
47 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 43: SF434 Grass-marked base of handmade pottery
48 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Discussion
While there is no doubt that [408] is indeed a ditch, it is very broad and shallow. This may be a function of the subsoil geology, as sands and gravels do not always allow steep-sided ditches. However, the nearby deep monastic vallum excavated by Barber had a much steeper profile, so the ditch may have a different function. Drainage would not seem to be the primary purpose, as it encloses a raised mound which is in a very dry part of the field. The possibility of deposits formed from upcast (402, 403) in the interior could represent an inner bank, or possibly levelling deposits to create a level interior for a building. There is no sign of either of these in the geophysics however, but there are indications of pits within the area according to the geophysical report interpretation (Ovenden 2012, 2) (Illus 44), which would tie in with the presence of a pit [418].
The presence of animal bone in the primary ditch infill, and scattered evidence of iron-working, might suggest occupation related to craft activities within the enclosure. The sherd of late medieval pottery (no earlier than 14/15th century) in the primary deposits would suggest a late date in the use of the abbey, possibly associated with the 15th -century rebuilding of the abbey, or the 17th –century partial restoration of the abbey as a cathedral of the Isles (RCAHMS 1982, 52). The stone setting within the ditch may represent a causeway erected when the ditch had ceased its primary function, or a working platform erected in a sheltered area. The agricultural lynchet seems to have been functioning by the 18th century, and have gone out of use in the 20th century.
The presence of coarse handmade pottery with grass-marked bases may be indicative of late first millennium occupation in the immediate area which had been disturbed by the ditch cutting. The cut feature [418] contained some of this pottery as well as a clench nail, which provides some support for this idea. Similar vessels were found in Barber’s excavation (Barber 1981, fig 43, no. 13.2), and to the east of the Abbey (Haggerty 1988, illus 5, 19). These vessels could have been influenced by northern Irish souterrain ware, or Hebridean Norse pottery (Lane & Campbell 1988, 210-1; Campbell forthcoming; Armit 2008), though the fabrics are local.
Post-excavation strategy
The analysis of the ditch is the key feature of the site as the material from the agricultural lynchet is very mixed modern material. The pottery from the ditch will be sent to ceramic specialist Derek Hall, who has reported on several previous assemblages of medieval pottery from Iona. However, the small quantities of pottery will make it difficult to be sure of the taphonomy of the sherds- some of the handmade sherds appear to be residual, derived from deposits cut through by the ditch. In addition, only broad dates are likely to be arrived at as the reduced ware found in the lower levels of the ditch has a long life-span. The handmade pottery will be reported on by the project director, who is a specialist in this material. Samples for floatation and wet sieving were taken from the basal layers of the ditch (413, 414) <401, 402>, from the cindery layer (409) <400>, and from sandy (402) <403>, and will be analysed by Susan Ramsay for suitability for radiocarbon dating and any information on agricultural practices, but very little material was recovered (App. 6). The bone material from the ditch fill (413, 414) is extremely decayed (a spongy mass) and again the taphonomy is problematic; it holds little potential other than possible species presence. The origin of the iron-working slag is also problematic, and may be residual, again does not merit specialist analysis. Most of the weight of slag is from a single large diameter hearth bottom (1.9kg).
49 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Illus 44: Gradiometer survey of field (Ovenden 2012), with enclosure in red. Note internal anomalies and pipe trench
50 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
4 Conclusions
The 2018 excavation of Site B confirmed that the early medieval wall [501] had been heavily truncated to the north and west and this might explain why there is only a small section of wall is represented on the geophysical surveys of the site. Excavation of the area around Site B confirmed that the depth of modern material varies across the site, from very shallow just below the turf in the terraced area to the north, to a modern overburden of c. 0.6m to the south along the PIC boundary wall (illus 25). To the east and west a relatively flat platform has been formed by modern landscaping and here the modern overburden is c.0.4m. This information can be used to inform future conservation and presentation at the site. It has become clear that the entire sunken terrace area around the south of the abbey church nave contains a complex palimpsest of early medieval structures and deposits, and that these are neither understood, nor presented to the public, and are not well protected. The very heterogeneous make-up of the modern deposits, with rubble, stone chippings, mortar, shell and spoil spreads may also go some way to explaining the confusing geophysical signatures in the area. The excavations also showed the position of the masons’ yard used during the early 20th-century reconstruction of the nave, and shows how the materials were prepared. This is important as there appear to be no photographs or other records of this work in progress.
The earliest phase of activity on the site is the construction of the drystone wall [501] with its foundation course resting on an old ground surface c. 1.75m below the current turf. Dating of the dumped material up against the exterior wallface has confirmed that the wall was constructed sometime before AD 660-770, and thus belongs to the earliest phase of monastery. Further samples obtained in 2018 will hopefully refine this dating. It was established that the walling ran for at least 6m northwards from the curved corner, and thus was not part of an apsed church as had been speculated in 2017, but the nature of the structure could not be established given the SMC constraints. If it represents a building, then this would be very large and might possibly be the ‘magna domus’ mentioned by Adomnán as the main living quarters of the monks of the Columban monastery (MacDonald 2001). It was also not established if the walling was merely a revetment to create a level surface intended for a conventional rectangular building, or the lower courses of a clay-bonded stone structure, as suggested by evidence in the northern extension, and the apparently collapsed material to the east, or indeed, a multiphase structure. Only further open area excavation could resolve these issues.
The site was also the focus of later medieval activity. The wall was partially dismantled in the 10/11th century, industrial metalworking took place, and burials were inserted around the exterior of the structure. Above this level, the western extension trench showed that above and inside the demolished structure there were significant deposits of later medieval date, full of green-glazed pottery, bone, and metalwork finds. These were not excavated, but appeared to be midden material and dumps of building debris from the Benedictine period construction phases. However, there is no clear answer to the puzzle of why the Benedictine cloisters were built to the north of the church, rather than in the normal area to the south.
The 2018 excavation of Site D answered its research objectives – the geophysical anomaly is indeed a ditched enclosure, and it seems to date to the late medieval period. Analysis of the ditch sediments may provide more precise dating. However, the function of the enclosure remains obscure and only investigation of the interior is likely to throw more light on this.
51 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
5 Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Historic Environment Scotland and the University of Glasgow for funding the excavations, and Richard Strachan, John Raven and Simon Stronach of HES for support through the project. Our partners in the National Trust for Scotland and in particular Derek Alexander have been crucial to our understanding of the wider island context. Thanks also to Emma Wilkins (NTS ranger), Jane Martin and Gordon Rutherford of the HES staff on Iona for much help on site. Thanks to Andrew Prentice, the tenant farmer, for helping with access to Site D and interest in the excavations. As well as the main site team thanks are due to Gert Petersen, for organising and delivering our equipment for the excavation.
6 References
Albornoz-Parra, L J, Tracey, E A, and Gillespie, M R 2015, A building stone assessment of the sandstone in Iona Nunnery and at Carsaig quarry on Mull. Nottingham, British Geological Survey, Report CR/15/002N
Anon. 1915, Abstract of proceedings. Transactions of the Scottish Ecclesiological Society, 4(3): xx- xxi.
Armit, I 2008, Irish-Scottish connections in the first millennium AD: an evaluation of the links between Souterrain ware and Hebridean ceramics, Proc Roy Ir Acad 108C, 1-18.
Barber, J W 1981, Excavations on Iona, 1979. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 111: 282-380.
Bourke, C (ed.) 1997, Studies in the Cult of Saint Columba, Dublin: Four Courts Press
Broun, D and Clancy, TO (eds) 1999, Spes Scottorum, Hope of Scots: Saint Columba, Iona and Scotland. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Campbell, E and Lane, A 1988, The pottery, in A Haggarty, Iona: some results from recent work Proc Soc Antiq Scot 118, 208−212. Campbell, E 2002, The Western Isles pottery sequence, in B Ballin-Smith and I Banks (eds), In the shadow of the brochs: the iron age in Scotland, Stroud: Tempus, 139–144. Campbell, E and Batey, C 2017, Early Medieval Argyll and Norse/Viking Argyll (AD 400–1100), Regional Archaeological Research Framework for Argyll: Kilmartin Museum and Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Available online at http://www.scottishheritagehub.com/rarfa/earlymed
Campbell, E forthcoming, Peripheral vision: Scotland in early medieval Europe, in A Blackwell (ed), Scotland in early medieval Europe, Edinburgh: Society Antiquaries Scotland.
Campbell, E., & Maldonado, A. 2016, Russell Trust Excavations on Iona led by Charles Thomas, 1956-1963. Data structure Report. Glasgow: report for Historic Environment Scotland. Available at http://ionaresearchgroup.arts.gla.ac.uk/
Campbell, E & Maldonado, A forthcoming, Building a New Jerusalem ‘at the ends of the Earth’: interpreting Charles Thomas’s excavations at Iona Abbey 1956-63,
52 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Campbell, E, Forsyth, K & Maldonado, A forthcoming, A Research strategy for Iona.
Crawford, OGS 1933, Iona, Antiquity 7 (28): 453-467
Drummond, J 1874, Notes on some of the ancient monuments of Iona, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 10: 215-7
Fawcett, R 2011, The architecture of the Scottish medieval church. New Haven & London: Yale University Press
Forsyth, K & Maldonado, A 2012, The early medieval sculpture of Iona. Glasgow: Unpublished report for Historic Scotland
Fowler, E, & Fowler, P J 1988, Excavations on Tòrr an Aba, lona, Argyll. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 118: 181-201.
GSB 1995, 95/23 Iona: Undertaken by GSB Prospection Ltd for AOC Archaeology Ltd.
Haggarty, A 1988, lona: some results from recent work, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 118, 203–213.
Hall, D, Haggerty, G & Hughes, M 2016, The wheel made glazed ceramics from Charles Thomas’s excavations on Iona. Unpublished report for Historic Environment Scotland
Hunter, J 1986 ,Rescue excavations on the Brough of Birsay 1974-82. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph No 4
Keddie, W 1850, Staffa and Iona described and illustrated. Glasgow: Blackie & Son.
Lane, A 1983, Dark-age and Viking-age pottery in the Hebrides, with special reference to the Udal, North Uist, Unpublished PhD thesis, University College. Lane, A 2007, Ceramic and cultural change in the Hebrides AD 500–1300, Cardiff: Cardiff Studies Archaeol Specialist Rep 29.
Lane, A 1990, Hebridean pottery: problems of definition, chronology, presence and absence, in Armit, I. (ed) Beyond the brochs, Edinburgh, 108-130
MacDonald, A 1997, Adomnán’s Monastery of Iona. In C. Bourke (Ed.), Studies in the Cult of Saint Columba (pp. 24-44). Dublin: Four Courts Press.
MacDonald, A 200,1 Aspects of the monastic landscape in Adomnán's Life of Columba. In J. Carey, M. Herbert & P. Ó Riain (Eds.), Studies in Irish Hagiography: Saints and Scholars (pp. 15-30). Dublin: Four Courts Press.
McCormick, F 1993, Excavations at Iona, 1988, Ulster Journal Archaeology 56: 78-108
McCormick, F 1992, Early Christian metalworking on Iona: excavations under the 'infirmary' in 1990. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 122: 207-214.
McCormick, F 1997, Iona: the archaeology of the Early Monastery. In C. Bourke (Ed.), Studies in the Cult of Saint Columba (pp. 45-68). Dublin: Four Courts Press.
Ó Carragáin, T 2010, Churches in Early Medieval Ireland: Architecture, Ritual and Memory. London:
53 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Yale University Press.
OCGU 2012, Iona Abbey Fields, Iona: Orkney College Geophysical Unit, on behalf of National Trust for Scotland
O'Sullivan, J. 1994a, Excavation of an early church and a women's cemetery at St Ronan's medieval parish church, Iona. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 124: 327-365.
O'Sullivan, J 1994b, Excavations beside Sruth a'Mhuilinn ('the Mill Stream'), Iona. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 124: 491-508.
O'Sullivan, J 1999, Iona: Archaeological Investigations 1875-1996. In D. Broun & T. O. Clancy (Eds.), Spes Scottorum, Hope of Scots: Saint Columba, Iona and Scotland (pp. 215-243). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Ovenden, S 2012, Iona Abbey Fields, Iona: Orkney College Geophysical Unit, on behalf of National Trust for Scotland Ovenden, S 2016, Geophysical survey Report: Iona Abbey. Rose geophysical consultants
RARFA 2017 Campbell, E & Batey, C Early medieval panel report. Regional Archaeological Research Framework for Argyll: Society Antiquaries Scotland.
RCAHMS 1982, Argyll: An Inventory of the Monuments 4: Iona. Edinburgh: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Redknap, M 1977, Excavation at Iona Abbey, 1976. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 108: 228-253.
Reece, R 1981, Excavations in Iona 1964 to 1974, UCL Institute of Archaeology Occasional Publication, London: University College London
Reeves, W 1874, Life of Saint Columba. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas.
Ritchie, A 1997, Iona. London: BT Batsford/Historic Scotland.
Ritchie, J. N. G., & Lane, A. 1980, Dun Cul Bhuirg, lona, Argyll. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 110: 209-229.
ScARF 2012 Hall, M, & Price, N 2012, Medieval panel report. Scottish Archaeological research Framework: Society Antiquaries Scotland.
Sharpe, R 1995, Adomnán of Iona: Life of St Columba. London
Will, R S 2012, The Glebe, Iona. Data Structure Report. Project 3498. Glasgow: GUARD Archaeology Ltd
Will, R S 2014, The Glebe, Iona, overflow pipe route archaeological evaluation. Data Structure Report. Project 3790. Glasgow: GUARD Archaeology Ltd
54 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Appendix 1: List of Contexts
Site B 2018
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts Topsoil. A homogenous turf rooted layer 0.15m thick. Same as 500 all 2017 (200). Topsoil Over all other layers
Drystone revetment wall, roughly coursed large blocks of undressed flagstone with small pinning stones. Composed of local Torridonian flags and a few rounded granite slabs. Lowest course Drystone revetment/wall (same megalithic stones up to 0.7m x 0.55m. Truncated to the north as (203)) with truncation. Forms Main trench, where an area of 3m is visibly slumped. It is possible upper a rounded corner of larger under 518, 516, 539, cut by 501 N. Extension courses have been robbed or truncated. Same as 2017 [203]. structure. 538? Main trench, Backfill of Thomas' Cutting 11d and the 2017 trench. A mixed 502 W. Extension deposit - separated stone and soil in 2017 and laid Terram down. Backfill Under 500, abuts [501] A burnt charcoal rich soil with orange mottling in Trench 2d 503 Main trench (2017). Same as 2017 (223) Burnt layer Same as (223) Firm dark brown sandy silty with small angular stones, frequent inclusions of shell becoming increasingly concentrated to the east. Contains animal bone, Ballachulish slate and porcelain (19th Mixed levelling deposit, localised century). 6m by 2m in the N edge and W area of trench. Same as in the N edge and W area of under 500, over 515, same as 504 Main trench 2017 (204). trench. 508, 507, 204 (2017)
Large tumbled stone to the east of the main drystone wall [501]. Spread of stone from 505 Main trench Same as 2017 (245). Unexcavated. demolition/collapse? Same as (245) Clay rich deposit to the east of (505). Same as 2017 (244). 506 Main trench Unexcavated. Related to building material? Same as (244)
Firm dark brown sandy silt with small angular stones, mortar, occasional shell and animal bone and fragments of 19th century Ballachulish slate. Mixed deposit used to level the area. Interface under 500, over 206 (2017), above truncated burial [513] and (512) (not excavated). 2.5m by Levelling deposit, localised in 512, 513, same as 504, 508, 507 Main trench 2m by 0.1m thick in the SE corner of trench. Same as 2017 (204). SE corner of trench. 204 (2017)
55 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts
Firm dark brown sandy silt with small stones up to 0.05m (5%). Homogenous and unclear. Inclusions of 19th century Ballachulish slate. 3.1m by 0.96m by 0.25m deep. In the SW corner of the Levelling deposit, localised in under 500, same as 504, 507, 508 Main trench main trench. Same as 2017 (204). SW corner. 204 (2017)
Firm dark brown sandy silt with small patches of yellow sand. Present in 2017 sondage to E of wall [501]. Only revealed in plan, 509 Main trench not excavated. 2m by 2m. Unexcavated. under 506, 505
Loose greyish brown deposit with frequent shell (limpet and whelk). Small fragments of angular stone in areas and inclusions of slate and ceramic. Extends to N of wall [501] to break of slope where it has possibly been truncated by landscaping. More concentrated to the E, extends into hollow at the W edge of trench A shell rich layer related to Main trench, but does not continue- suggests it is a dumped deposit. 3m across mortar production which has 510 N. Extension by 0.1m deep. Same as 2017 (224). been levelled and truncated. under 520, 504, 511 Loose to firm spread of disintegrating mortar within a matrix of mid greyish brown silt. Occasional limpet shell. Some stone with mortar attached suggests a post-destruction deposit. Possibly truncated to the E, extends to the W under baulk and stops at the A dump of mortar and spread of Main trench, edge of the W extension. 2m by 1.5m by 0.15m deep. Same as material which has been under 504, over 510 at W edge, 511 W. Extension 2017 (225). levelled. 519 in hollow
Fill of [513]. Dark brown sandy silt visible in W-facing section of Thomas' trench. Upper area truncated in antiquity. Contains Fill of [513]. Upper truncated in 512 Main Trench human remains and an iron spike. 0.6m wide by 0.1m deep. antiquity under 507, fill of 513 U-shaped cut, not visible in plan- only in section. 0.4m to 0.6m Cut of a grave, upper truncated under 507, filled by 512, cuts 513 Main Trench wide by 0.1m deep. in antiquity. Not excavated. 206
Four small rounded stones visible in W-facing section of Charles Thomas's trench; c.0.1m x 0.05m. Under 2017 (211). Forms a horizontal line in section 0.4m wide. Charcoal rich lens running Possible small hearth/stone 514 Main Trench over the top. 0.4m by 0.5m. setting under 211
56 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts Dark blackish brown mottled layer with patches of charcoal. Contains; small angular stones and patches of disintegrated mortar, fragments of cragganware, wheel-thrown pot and broken up sandstone. Clay rich in upper extent. Extends from N end of Burnt deposit localised over, and 515 Main Trench trench to (522). to the E of wall [501]. over 516, 522 Friable white spread of crushed and whole shell and small fragments of stone. Inclusions of mortar, excavated as two thin Spread of material associated 516 Main Trench lenses. with mortar production. under 517, 515, over 541 Light orange brown sandy deposit underlying (510) containing a Unexcavated- possible medieval 517 Main Trench nail-headed pin. 2.2m by 1.1m by 0.1m deep. deposit. under 516, 510 Compact, mixed deposit of angular stone and sand with modern Dump of material from 20th 518 N. Extension glass. Cut by 20th century activity, along a steep scarp. century landscaping. under 510 Turf or soil formation in a Thin layer of soil underlying a spread of mortar (511). Contains a hollowed area, deposit filled by a fragment of chamfered block from the cloisters, indicative of levelling layer including mortar 519 Main trench construction debris. 2m by 1.5m by 0.1m deep. debris. under 511, over 520 Thin layer of pea gravel in the hollow underlying (519). 1.5m by Levelling deposit, possibly 520 Main trench 1m by 0.1m deep. related to mortar production. under 519, over 510 Thin layer of sandy hill wash overlying early 20th century cut. Thin layer of hill wash deposited 521 N. Extension 0.01m deep. over early 20th century cut. under 510 Loose strip of mortar in the main trench and friable patches of white mortar with small stones. Spread to the E and W of wall Spread of modern mortar [501] in NE corner of the main trench.1.8m by 1.1m by 0.05m associated with rebuilding the 522 Main Trench deep. abbey in the 20th century. under 514, over 506, 541
Orange brown friable sandy deposit overlying (516) in an area W of wall [501]. Similar to, and difficult to differentiate from (517). 523 Main Trench 1.3m by 0.9m by 0.1m thick. Modern deposit. under 510, over 516
Loose blackish brown undifferentiated topsoil in the hollow in NE corner of N extension. Amorphous edges. Contains 2 fragments of Silted up hollow where stone 524 N. Extension slag. 0.5m by 0.4m by 0.1m deep. was removed from. under 500, over 528 Possible base layer for a turf L-shaped setting of stones aligned NW-SE on long axis. A mix of wall or stone structure, possibly rounded and angular stones. Extends into the trench edge. Not disturbed during 20th century 525 N. Extension excavated, only exposed. 2m by 0.4m by 0.1m. landscaping. abuts 526
57 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts Loose pea gravel deposit within and to the N of stone setting Abuts 525, under 500 526 N. Extension [525]. Unexcavated. Gravelly deposit A patch of friable, loose broken up shell and small stones on N Spread of disintegrated modern 527 N. Extension extension. Similar to (516).1.5m by 1m by 0.03m. mortar. under 510, over 518 Dark blackish brown deposit with iron slag and small flecks of under 524 (?same as 208), cut 528 N. Extension charcoal. Not excavated. by 538 Very compact deposit of small angular stones, sandstone chips and compact sandy soil. Extends beyond N edge of trench and 4m to the S and into E edge of western extension. Small patch visible in NW corner of main trench. Contains several iron nails. Hardstanding for community 529 W. Extension 4m across By 0.25m deep. work. over 532, under 500 Band of mortar under and within 530 W. Extension Band of white disintegrated mortar in W extension. Not excavated. medieval deposit (534). under 529, 534 Modern deposit of building stone Fill of pit [533]. Dark brown sandy soil with frequent large rounded in a pit cut into medieval 531 W. Extension stones up to 0.4m by 0.3m by 0.2m deep. deposits (534) under 500, fill of 533 Greenish yellow sandy friable layer in the west extension. Contains frequent small, angular Carsaig sandstone fragments. Related to sandstone working, a under 529, over 534, 537, same 532 W. Extension Same as 2017 (233). levelling deposit or floor surface. as 233, abuts 535
Sub-rectangular cut, shallow with gently sloping sides leading to an undulating-flat base. Aligned approximately E-W. Cut into Modern cut containing a fill of 533 W. Extension medieval deposits (534). Filled by (531). modern stone. over 534, under 531
Firm dark brown mottled sand with orange patches. Contains green glaze pottery, animal and charcoal. Across the large part of 534 W. Extension the western extension. 5m x 5m (depth unknown). Unexcavated- medieval deposit. under 532, same as 540, 542
Cut for sleeper beam delineating Linear cut 0.28m wide aligned E-W across the western extension spread of 532 and related to the for a distance of 5m. U-shaped and shallow with an undulating hardstanding/community hut 535 W. Extension base. 5m by 2.8m by 0.1m deep. Filled by (536). platform (529). over 534, 530, under 536
Loose dark blackish brown sandy soil with some angular stones and modern white mortar chunks. Contains nails throughout. 5m under 529?, 504, over 535, 536 W. Extension by 0.28m by 0.1m deep. Fill of sleeper beam cut [535]. abuts 532
58 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts Deposit of rough cobbling under (532). Comprises a mix of rounded cobbles c.0.15m x 0.1m and smaller angular stones packed in between. Forms a rough surface 2m by 1.5m by 0.1m deep. The area uncovered is L-shaped but may extend under Rough surface, possibly part of 537 W. Extension (534) to the W and S. Unexcavated. a once larger area. under 532 and possibly 534 Vertical sided cut oriented N-S along line of wall projection. Unclear edge to the W. Cuts (528) in NE corner of northern Possibly a trench cut to rob wall 538 N. Extension extension. Filled by (539). stones. under 539, over 528 Fill of [538]. Very compact and trampled to upper, becoming loose Fill of trench cut to rob wall 539 N. Extension and undifferentiated. Inclusions of modern glass near the surface. stones [538]. under 500, over 538 Firm dark brown mottled sand with orange patches. Same as 540 W. Extension (534). Unexcavated- medieval deposit. under 532, same as 534, 542 Compact, dense layer of small angular stones within a matrix of small pebbles. Inclusions of mortar visible on the surface. Stops Area of hardstanding/hard before wall [501]; similar patch on W edge of wall. 2m by 2m packed surface related to mortar 541 Main Trench (depth unknown). production (522). under 515, 522 Orange brown hard packed surface with a clay component to the west of rough cobbling (537). Extends 1.5m by 2m in the NW corner of the western extension and extends into trench edge. Burnt material packed to form a 542 W. Extension Unexcavated. surface? under 532
Loose dark brown mixed material with rounded and angular stones throughout. Inclusions of bone fragments and patches of mortar. 2m long section visible at N extent of wall [501], roughly A deposit of material where 543 Main Trench aligned with [538] in northern extension. stone robbing has occurred. over 541, 501
Very compact yellow sandy deposit with a loose lens at the base of slightly different material. Localised in the SW corner of the 544 W. Extension western extension. Base foundation for a wall? under 533, underr 545 Thin lens of a charcoal rich greyish brown silty deposit in the SW 545 W. Extension corner of western extension. 0.3m by 0.25m by 0.03m deep. Thin lens of burnt deposit. over 544, under 546 Brownish orange burnt deposit with charcoal flecks. Extends to (545) in the SW corner of the western extension. Small patch visible at the base of pit [533]. 0.3m by 0.25m (depth unknown). 546 W. Extension Unexcavated. Probable medieval deposit. under 533, over 545, 544 Area cut during 1900's 547 N. Extension L-shaped cut 25m by 10m by 0.4m deep. landscaping.
59 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Relationship to other Context Area Description Interpretation contexts Backfill or material from 548 N. Extension Loose brown sandy soil 0.3m in depth. landscaping. under 518, over 501 Very compact spread of clay with a flat stone uncovered in the N edge of the northern extension. Extends to the N and possibly aligned E-W. Frequent small angular stones over the large flat stone and within the clay. 0.4m wide, depth unknown. Remnants of a clay bonded 549 N. Extension Unexcavated. wall/structure? under 500, abuts 528, 501
Site D
Feature Description Interpretation Relationship to other contexts 401 friable reddish-brown sandy loam, up to 0.6m thick, over whole trench topsoil over 404 402 Yellowish sandy soil with streaky texture, up to 0.15m thick, only in small strip at ditch upcast? internal west end of trench bank? cut by 420, under 401 403 compact purplish-brown silty loam, up to 0.15m thick, only in small strip at western end of trench upcast? under 402 404 silty brown soil with concentration of large rounded boulders up to 0.5m, in slight agricultural infill of low-lying over 405, at base of and hollow in centre of trench, extending about 2m east-west area within 401 405 Soft gravel-rich layer, dark brown, up to 0.10m thick. Fills west part of hollow 420, but peters out towards the middle of the trench Inwash from cultivation under 404, over 406 406 Soft silty dark brown soil, occasional stones, up to 0.2m thick, within ditch cut 420 ditch silt under 405, over 415, 411, 409 407 very soft yellow sand, in west end of trench. Irregular holes in surface filled with 417 natural cut by 420, under 417 408 Broad cut, running north-south, shallow sides with flat bottom. 5.0m wide at top, 2.0m at base. ditch cut cut by 420, lowest fill 414 409 Black soft cindery layer. Small patch in south of trench, 0.03m thick metal-working deposit under 406, over 410 410 dark brown silty soil, merges into 413 ditch silt under 409, over 413 411 soft orange clay, 0.05m thick. Small patch in north, between boulders 415 and ditch butts 415, over 413, within edge part of 415? 410 412 large rounded boulders, mainly granite, scattered in base of ditch, not set like 415 dumped infill of wet area? under 410, over 413
60 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Feature Description Interpretation Relationship to other contexts 413 dark brown sticky clayey silt, gravelly in places at ditch edge, up to 0.4m thick. Very decayed bone common. ditch silt under 410, 412 414 dark brown sticky clayey silt, waterlogged and sandy at base, 0.10m thick. Random large rounded boulders up to 0.5m ditch silt under 413, over 420 415 Setting of carefully laid large boulders in north of trench (up to 0.4m), extending into abuts 411, under 410, over baulk. 1.3 x 04m, 0.4m thick, forming a level platform in the centre of the ditch causeway? 413 416 orange gravel, in west end of trench upcast? under 403, over 417 417 dark brown soil in west part of trench, up to 0.2m thick, fills irregular hollows in natural sand 407 old topsoil under 416, over 407 418 Steep-sided cut in north-west corner of trench, feature runs into baulks, depth 0.5m pit? Grave?? under 403, 419 Mixed material, sand, gravel and soil with small stones, in cut 418 backfill of feature over 419, under 403, ?416 420 Shallow cut running north-south, in west end of trench, peters out eastwards lynchet cuts 402, fill 405
61 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Appendix 2: List of Samples
Site B
Sample # % of # Context Area bags Size bag Volume deposit Reason for sampling Applications/Comments in 500 211 1 small 0.1 section botanics C14 and ID, on cobbles in E section
in 501 233 1 tiny section botanics C14 and ID, on cobbles in E section
in 502 224 1 small section mortar with shell C14 and ID, on cobbles in E section 503 239 1 small mortar and slate mortar ID
in 504 242 1 large 1 section botanics ID botanics 505 522 1 small mortar on stone mortar ID 506 545 1 small smear on wall 544 C14 and ID
Burnt layer - boundary between (204) and 507 221 1 Kubiena (221) stone micromorph analysis 508 221 1 Kubiena Below and to left of sample #508 in (221) micromorph analysis 509 221 1 Kubiena To left of samples #507 and #508 in (221) micromorph analysis Mortar in Kubiena to stop it getting broken 510 522 1 Kubiena up mortar ID
62 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Site D
Sample # Context Area Size bag Reason for sampling Applications/Comments 400 409 D L C14 Charcoal 401 413 D L C14 Charcoal 402 414 D L C14 Charcoal (waterlogged area) 403 402 D L C14 Charcoal 404 419 D L C14 Charcoal 405 - - L ID, comparison Mortar, St. Mary's chapel
63 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Appendix 3: List of Finds
Site B
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 501 510 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Cream, wheel thrown 128663.66 724488.24 18.42 10/05/2018 PY 502 502 T2 14 Slag Slag Bulk slag - - - 08/05/2018 CM 503 500 T2 2 Metal Iron Iron fragments - - - 08/05/2018 CM 504 500 T2 Mix Mix Mixed material - - - 08/05/2018 CM 505 504 T2 9 Pottery Pottery Mix of green and white glaze - - - 08/05/2018 LT 506 504 T2 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 10/05/2018 JB 507 504 T2 2 Mortar Mortar White mortar - - - 10/05/2018 JB 508 504 T2 60+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 10/05/2018 JB 509 508 T2 1 Pottery Pottery White glaze - - - 10/05/2018 JB 510 507 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Cream, wheel thrown 128665.81 724483.07 17.97 10/05/2018 AB 511 507 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail (vertical) 128665.94 724484.17 17.94 12/05/2018 AB 512 512 T2 1 Metal Iron Spike (horizontal) 0.15m 128664.57 724483.43 17.95 12/05/2018 EC 513 512 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail (horizontal) 128665.55 724483.33 17.94 12/05/2018 LT 514 507 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Early Med handmade 128666.69 724483.34 17.95 12/05/2018 AB EC 515 507 T2 20+ Slag Slag Bulk slag - - - 12/05/2018 AB EC 516 507 T2 20+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 12/05/2018 AB 517 507 T2 2 Stone Flint Flake and core - - - 12/05/2018 AB 518 507 T2 3 Metal Iron Iron fragments - - - 12/05/2018 AB 519 507 T2 3 Stone Slate Slate fragments 128666.58 724483.16 17.91 12/05/2018 AB 520 515 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Craggan Ware 128665.43 724486.47 18.18 12/05/2018 PY 521 510 T2 1 Stone Flint Chunk 128661.37 724488.33 18.52 12/05/2018 EC 522 510 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Handmade 128661.67 724489.84 18.48 12/05/2018 EC
64 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 523 510 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Green glaze 128662.96 724489.55 18.33 12/05/2018 EC 524 508 T2 6 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 12/05/2018 JB JB JAD 525 500 T2 35+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 12/05/2018 AB LT JB JAD 526 500 T2 2 Stone Flint Pink flint flake and rolled ?core - - - 12/05/2018 AB LT 527 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID JB JAD 528 510 T2 150+ Bone Bone Bulk bone + human mandible - - - 12/05/2018 AB LT 529 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID JB JAD 530 510 T2 3 Metal Iron Nail - - - 12/05/2018 AB LT 531 510 T2 1 Stone Slate Slate fragment with nail hole - - - 12/05/2018 JB 532 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID 533 504 T2 1 Stone Flint Burnt flint - - - 12/05/2018 PY 534 505 T2 15 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 12/05/2018 PY 535 518 T2 1 Glass Modern Dark green 128663.04 724490.44 18.38 14/05/2018 EC 536 518 T2 1 Stone Slate Grey 662.87 491.09 18.16 14/05/2018 EC Carsaig window moulding 537 511 T2 1 Stone Sandstone fragment On plan On plan 18.51 14/05/2018 AB 538 519 T2 1 Pottery Pottery White gritty ware green glaze 128661.37 724488.01 18.46 14/05/2018 - 539 518 T2 50+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 14/05/2018 - 540 518 T2 1 Metal Iron Iron object, ?nail - - - 14/05/2018 - 541 518 T2 7 Slag Slag Bulk slag - - - 14/05/2018 - Small bone cube, ?dice, 542 519 T2 1 Bone Dice unfinished 128661.54 724486.99 18.35 14/05/2018 AB 543 519 T2 1 Pottery Pottery White gritty ware green glaze 128660.98 724486.61 18.28 14/05/2018 AB
65 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 544 511 T2 5 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 14/05/2018 AB JB 545 521 T2 6 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 14/05/2018 CM 546 521 T2 5 Slag Slag Bulk slag - - - 14/05/2018 CM Mortar 547 521 T2 2 Mortar and slate and slate Old mortar and bulk slag - - - 14/05/2018 CM 548 519 T2 1 Pottery Pottery White gritty ware green glaze 128661.05 724485.45 18.29 14/05/2018 AB 549 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID 550 519 T2 20+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 14/05/2018 AB 551 524 T2 2 Slag Slag Iron slag/bog iron - - - 15/05/2018 JB 552 519 T2 1 Metal Iron Iron fragment - - - 15/05/2018 AB 553 510 T2 2 Pottery Pottery Green glaze, same vessel 128662.91 724488.52 18.46 15/05/2018 PY Carsaig window moulding 554 510 T2 1 Stone Sandstone fragment 128662.83 724486.94 18.36 15/05/2018 JB 555 230 T2 1 Stone Flint Core - - - 15/05/2018 AB 556 510 T2 1 Stone Slicker 128662.41 724486.46 18.34 15/05/2018 JB 557 520 T2 20+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 15/05/2018 AB 558 519 T2 1 Stone Sandstone Chamfered ashlar - - - 15/05/2018 EC 559 529 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail On plan On plan 16/05/2018 EC 560 529 T2 1 Metal Cu alloy Ferrule 16/05/2018 JB 561 515 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Green glaze 128665.94 724487.43 18.22 17/05/2018 JAD 562 529 T2 1 Metal Cu alloy Keyring 128658.07 724488.90 18.52 17/05/2018 JB White gritty ware green glaze, 563 529 T2 1 Pottery Pottery handle 128658.83 724487.57 18.58 17/05/2018 CM 564 529 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Red ware 128656.90 724486.63 18.56 17/05/2018 JB 565 529 T2 3 Pottery Pottery Craggan Ware, refitting fragments 128656.99 724486.50 18.55 17/05/2018 JB 566 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID 567 VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID VOID 568 528 T2 4 Slag Slag Bulk slag - - - 17/05/2018 HC
66 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 569 534 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval - - - 18/05/2018 HC 570 517 T2 1 Metal Cu alloy Nail-headed pin 18/05/2018 JAD 571 531 T2 10+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 18/05/2018 CM 572 534 T2 2 Pottery Pottery Red ware green glaze - - - 18/05/2018 CM 573 529 T2 10+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 18/05/2018 CM 574 529 T2 2 Stone Sandstone Ashlar stone - - - 18/05/2018 CM 575 529 T2 1 Slag Slag Iron slag - - - 18/05/2018 CM 576 540 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail - - - 18/05/2018 PY 577 539 T2 3 Mortar Mortar Mortar - - - 18/05/2018 EC 578 539 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail - - - 18/05/2018 EC 579 539 T2 10 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 18/05/2018 EC 580 539 T2 1 Stone Slate Slate - - - 18/05/2018 EC 581 539 T2 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 18/05/2018 EC 582 532 T2 26 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 18/05/2018 HC 583 542 T2 1 Shell Shell Oyster - - - 18/05/2018 HC 584 542 T2 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 18/05/2018 HC 585 542 T2 25 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 18/05/2018 HC 586 540 T2 1 Stone Slate - - - 18/05/2018 HC 587 515 T2 4 Slag Slag - - - 18/05/2018 JAD 588 515 T2 Bone Bone - - - 18/05/2018 JAD 589 540 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Red ware green glaze 128659.22 724488.26 18.44 19/05/2018 PY 590 532 T2 1 Stone Sandstone Tracery 128656.11 724487.08 18.47 19/05/2018 EC 591 540 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval, rim sherd 128659.60 724488.50 18.41 19/05/2018 PY 592 534 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128655.10 724487.40 18.50 19/05/2018 EC 593 534 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128655.10 724487.20 18.48 19/05/2018 EC 594 534 T2 2 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128655.40 724487.10 18.44 19/05/2018 EC 595 534 T2 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128655.40 724486.10 18.35 19/05/2018 EC
67 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 596 534 T2 2 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128655.60 724485.70 18.26 19/05/2018 EC 597 543 T2 Bone Bone Bone from layer over wall - - - 19/05/2018 JAD 598 534 T2 1 Stone Slate Slate - - - 21/05/2018 HC 599 500 T2 5 Pottery Porcelain Sherd - - - 21/05/2018 HC 600 510 T2 1 Shell Shell Unusual shell - - - 21/05/2018 HC 601 500 T2 1 Antler Tine - - - 21/05/2018 HC 602 500 T2 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 21/05/2018 HC 603 500 T2 1 Glass Modern Bottle glass - - - 21/05/2018 HC 604 534 T2 1 Metal Iron Nail - - - 21/05/2018 HC 605 534 T2 10 Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 21/05/2018 HC 606 511 T2 6 Stone Slate Bulk slate - - - 21/05/2018 HC 607 500 T2 1 Stone Stone - - - 21/05/2018 HC 608 500 T2 1 Bone Tusk Boar tusk - - - 21/05/2018 HC 609 504 1 Pottery Pottery Medieval 128659.74 724486.36 18.44 22-May HC 610 504 1 Metal Zinc washer? 128660.08 724486.39 18.45 22-May HC 611 536 1 Metal Iron ?nail 128657.14 724486.17 18.49 22-May AB 612 536 1 Metal Iron ?nail 128657.02 724486.13 18.49 22-May AB 613 504 1 Pottery Pottery Med pottery 128659.87 724485.29 18.38 22-May HC 614 536 40+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 22-May AB 615 504 1 Metal Cu alloy Long needle 128659.63 724486.76 18.46 22-May PY 616 536 4 Stone Slate Slate fragments - - - 22-May AB 617 532 1 Metal Iron Nail 128657.22 724486.05 18.42 22-May AB 618 532 1 Metal Silver Coin 128657.64 724485.64 18.28 22-May AB
Iron and 619 532 1 Metal Cu alloy ?nail wrapped with Copper wire 128657.45 724485.69 18.35 22-May AB 620 504 1 Metal Cu alloy Strip 128658.88 724486.48 18.47 22-May PY 621 504 1 Glass Glass Modern window glass 128659.80 724485.11 18.33 22-May HC 622 532 1 Metal Iron Nail 128657.26 724485.48 18.31 22-May AB
68 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
SF # of Act. Number Context Area pieces Material Type Description Easting Northing Height Date Initials 623 532 1 Metal Cu alloy Clasp? 128658.40 724482.30 18.43 22-May HC 624 532 1 Stone Mortar Iona marble with mortar - - - 22-May HC 625 532 1 Pottery Pottery Potsherd - - - 22-May HC 626 532 4 Metal Iron Iron fragments - - - 22-May HC 627 532 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 22-May HC 628 536 8 Stone Stone Fire-cracked stone? - - - 22-May HC 629 500 1 Metal Iron Nail - - - 24-May LT 630 543 10+ Bone Bone Mix of bone - - - 25-May JAD 631 543 1 Slag Slag Slag - - - 25-May JAD 632 500 6+ Slag Slag Slag from N extension - - - 25-May LT 633 518 10+ Bone Bone Bulk bone - - - 25-May LT 634 518 2 Slag Slag Slag - - - 25-May LT
Site D
SF N o No./ Context. wt (g) Material Type Description Date 401 401 - Mix Mix Mixed modern materials 22/05/2018 402 406 2 Metal Iron handle? 23/05/2018 403 404 5 Glass Modern 18th wine bottle 23/05/2018 Animal B o n 404 404 68g Bone e Bulk bone 23/05/2018 405 404 1 ceramic Pottery modern salt-glazed jar 23/05/2018 406 404 324g Slag iron Slag 23/05/2018
69 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
407 404 4 Metal Iron ?nail 23/05/2018 408 406 1 Glass Modern 18th- Century wine bottle glass, joins SF403 24/05/2018 409 406 1 ceramic Pottery unglazed med. Whiteware 24/05/2018 410 406 1 ceramic Pottery gritty handmade ware 24/05/2018 411 406 1 ceramic Pottery med. SWG ware, green-glazed 24/05/2018 handmade, grass-marked base with carbonised 412 410 1 ceramic Pottery deposits 24/05/2018 413 406 2102g Slag iron slag 24/05/2018 Animal B o n 414 406 16g Bone e Bulk bone 24/05/2018 416 404 1 Stone Flint broken scraper/knife? 24/05/2018 418 410 1 ceramic Pottery handmade gritty ware coarse ware 24/05/2018 419 410 1 ceramic Pottery handmade gritty ware coarse ware 25/05/2018 420 410 1 ceramic Pottery Fine wheel-thrown ware with spotty glaze 25/05/2018 421 406 1 Stone Flint 25/05/2018 Animal B o n 422 410 39g Bone e Bulk bone 25/05/2018 423 410 96g Slag iron Slag Bulk slag 25/05/2018 424 410 5 Stone Flint Bulk flint 25/05/2018 425 405 584g Slag iron Slag Bulk slag 26/05/2018 426 413 1 ceramic Pottery 26/05/2018
427 413 1 ceramic Pottery Late medieval reduced ware, large bodysherd 26/05/2018 428 414 1 ceramic Pottery handmade gritty ware coarse ware 26/05/2018 429 414 1 ceramic Pottery handmade gritty ware coarse ware 26/05/2018 431 402/3 1 ceramic Pottery handmade gritty ware coarse ware 26/05/2018 432 419 1 ceramic Pottery unglazed, wheel-thrown 26/05/2018 433 419 1 Metal Iron Nail 26/05/2018 handmade gritty ware coarse ware, grass-marked 434 419 1 ceramic Pottery base, carbonised deposits 26/05/2018
70 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
435 419 1 ceramic Pottery unglazed, wheel-thrown 26/05/2018 436 414 4 Metal Iron Bulk iron objects 26/05/2018 Animal B o n 437 414 507g Bone e Bulk bone 26/05/2018 Animal B o n 438 413 163 Bone e Bulk bone 26/05/2018 439 414 11g Slag Slag Slag 26/05/2018 440 413 167g Slag Slag Bulk slag 26/05/2018 441 413 3 Metal Iron Bulk iron 26/05/2018 442 413 4 Stone Flint 26/05/2018
443 404 1 ceramic Pottery modern glazed redware 31/05/2018 444 419 1 Stone Flint 01/06/2018
445 419 1 Metal Iron Nail 01/06/2018 446 419 84g Slag Slag 01/06/2018 4 sherds of coarse handmade pottery from wet 447 409 17g ceramic pottery sieving, 2 with grass-marked bases 29/06/2018 one bodysherd micaceous handmade coarseware 448 413 18g ceramic pottery from wet sieving 29/06/2018 Fired cl Large irregular lump with grass-marked lower a surface, from wet sieving sample. Possible 449 414 82g ceramic y furnace material? 29/06/2018
71 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Appendix 4: List of Photos
Site B
Image number Area Context Details From Date Initials 1 Pre-ex of 6 by 6m trench S 07/05/2018 CM 2 Pre-ex of 6 by 6m trench SE 07/05/2018 CM 3 Pre-ex after old trenches emptied NE 08/05/2018 EC 4 Pre-ex after old trenches emptied E 08/05/2018 EC 5 Pre-ex after old trenches emptied N 08/05/2018 EC 6 Pre-ex after old trenches emptied W 08/05/2018 EC 7 Wall and (204) revealed S 08/05/2018 EC 8 Wall and (204) revealed E 08/05/2018 EC 9 Wall and (204) revealed E 08/05/2018 EC 10-12 Wall and (204) revealed S 08/05/2018 EC 13 Wall and Thomas' trench W 08/05/2018 EC 14 (504) (204) deturfed W 08/05/2018 EC 15-18 (504) (204) detail N 08/05/2018 EC (506) 19 (505) Tumble from wall E 08/05/2018 EC (506) 20 (505) Tumble from wall S 08/05/2018 EC 21 [501] Wall and Thomas' trench W 08/05/2018 EC 22-26 Aerial shots of trench NE 08/05/2018 EC (510) 27 (504) Shell rich layer (510) and (504) W 09/05/2018 EC (510) 28 (504) Shell rich layer (510) and (504) E 09/05/2018 EC 29-30 VOID 09/05/2018 EC 31-32 NE facing section of Thomas' trench N 09/05/2018 EC
72 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
33 NE facing section of Thomas' trench W 09/05/2018 EC 34-35 VOID-deleted 09/05/2018 EC 36-38 NE facing section - detail W 09/05/2018 EC 39 W facing section - Thomas' trench W 09/05/2018 EC (506) 40 (505) (506), (505) clay and tumbled stone 09/05/2018 EC (506) 41 (505) (506), (505) clay and tumbled stone S 09/05/2018 EC (506) 42 (505) (506), (505) clay and tumbled stone N 09/05/2018 EC 43 Upper section of NE facing section Thomas' trench N 09/05/2018 EC 44 E facing section of trench with wall E 11/05/2018 EC
45-48 NE facing section Thomas' trench where it meets wall [501] E 11/05/2018 EC 49-50 Fe spike ^ 513 in situ W 11/05/2018 EC 51 Mortar patch in N edge of trench N 11/05/2018 CM 52-53 After removal of (504) N edge of trench E 11/05/2018 CM 54-55 After removal of (507) SE corner E 11/05/2018 CM 56 (510) Pre-ex (510) - N extent W 12/05/2018 JD 57 VOID 12/05/2018 EC 58-59 [514] Stone setting in W facing section Thomas' trench W 12/05/2018 EC
60-62 [514] Stone setting in W facing section Thomas' trench - in sunlight W 12/05/2018 EC (510) 63-64 (500) E facing section of N extension E 14/05/2018 CM 65 (518) Plan view of mortar and (518) under (510) shell E 14/05/2018 CM
Plan view of mortar and (518) under (510) shell showing main 66 (518) trench E 14/05/2018 CM (510) 67-69 (518) N facing section of N extension N 14/05/2018 CM (519) 70-71 (510) (519) soil layer under mortar (511) over shell (510) SE 14/05/2018 CM 72-80 Heather recording cross 14/05/2018 CM 81 (510) E facing section of shell E 15/05/2018 CM
73 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
82-83 (510) Plan view of shell before removal in W end of trench E 15/05/2018 CM (515) (516) (517) 84-87 (523) Detail of NE corner trench after rain E 15/05/2018 EC 88 (518) Oblique of N extension after exposing (518) W 15/05/2018 CM [525] 89 (526) Detail of unexcavated post setting W 15/05/2018 CM (524) 90 (528) Post-ex after removal of (524) from holloe (528) beneath N 15/05/2018 CM 91-92 (518) Post-ex after exposing (518) NW 15/05/2018 CM 93 (510) N facing section of N extension showing (510) shell N 15/05/2018 CM 94 (510) N and E facing section of N extension showing shell NE 15/05/2018 CM (522) (516) (517) 95-103 (523) NW of trench 1m sq close up of surface E 15/05/2018 EC 104 (529) Pre-ex of stone spread surface(?) E 16/05/2018 CM 105-108 Detail of chamfered stone from (519) - 16/05/2018 EC (529), (530), (531), 109-110 (532) Pre-ex of (529) surface and mortar W 16/05/2018 CM 111 " (530) mortar band (under (529)?) W 16/05/2018 CM 112-114 (529) Detail of character of (529) E 16/05/2018 CM (531), (532), 115-117 (533) Mid ex of (532), pre-ex of [533] pit SW 17/05/2018 CM [533], 118 (531) Pre-ex of large pit [533] W 17/05/2018 CM 119 (516) Mid-ex, slot against S facing section SW 17/05/2018 JD 120 " S-facing section, slot against S-facing section S 17/05/2018 JD [533], 121 (534) After removal of (531) - hollow/cut, (534) to N W 18//05/2018 CM " 122 " " " S 18/05/2018 CM
74 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
(534) + 123 (532) Deposits visible - modern truncation SE 18/05/2018 CM [538] (539) 124 (528) Cut for robber trench through (528) S 18/05/2018 CM 125 [525] Stone setting after trench extension SE 18/05/2018 CM 126 " " " SE 18/05/2018 CM [525] (518) 127 (526) Mid ex of N extension W 18/05/2018 CM [527] (542) 128 (540) Pre-ex of cobbling (527) and deposits (542), (540) W 18/05/2018 CM [527] (542) 129 (540) Detail of cobbling [527] N 18/05/2018 CM 130-31 " Pre-ex of cobbling (527) and deposits (542), (540) E 18/05/2018 CM 132-134 - Detail of masonry stone - 19/05/2018 EC 135-136 - Aerial shots of trench - 19/05/2018 EC 137-138 - Detail of slates and mortar - 19/05/2018 EC 139-141 - Photos of 7th Century pin, nail-headed - 19/05/2018 EC [538] 142 (538) Detail of cut [538] through (528) E 19/05/2018 EC [525] 143-144 (526) Post-ex Northern extension W 19/05/2018 EC 145-146 (542) Brown, orange burnt soil after (532) removal N 21/05/2018 EC 147 (537) Cobbling N 21/05/2018 EC 148 (532) Remnants of (532) not yet removed here N 21/05/2018 EC 149 (537) Cobbling E 21/05/2018 EC (537) 150 (504) Cobbling extending to S with (504) over it S 21/05/2018 EC (544) (545) 151 (546) Detail of SW corner of W extension S 21/05/2018 EC
(544) 152 (545) Detail of SW corner of W extension W 21/05/2018 EC
75 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
(546)
[535] 153 (536) Sleeper beam across trench c. E-W W 21/05/2018 EC 154-155 [533] Cut of pit, post-ex S 21/05/2018 EC [535] 156 (536) Sleeper beam across W extension W 21/05/2018 EC 157 (534) Detail of mortar W 21/05/2018 EC 158 (534) Detail of mortar W 21/05/2018 EC (544) 159 (546) Detail of SW corner W 21/05/2018 EC 160 (532) Remnants of (532) S 21/05/2018 EC [501] 161-162 (541) Detail of robbed wall and mortar (541) surface E 21/05/2018 EC 163-166 - Aerial views of wall NE 21/05/2018 EC 167-168 (543) Post-ex removal of (543) and robbed wall E 22/05/2018 CM (543) (516) 169 (515) S-facing section of trench over wall S 22/05/2018 CM 170-171 (541) View of NE corner trench post-ex E 22/05/2018 CM 172 [535] Cut post ex and continuation to the E W 22/05/2018 CM 173 [535] Cut post ex and continuation to the E E 22/05/2018 CM 174-175 SF 615 Peter with needle from (504) - 22/05/2018 - 176-177 SF 618 Detail of silver coin - 22/05/2018 EC (534) (530) (537) 178-183 (544) Post-ex of W extension W 22/05/2018 CM [501] (543) 184-186 (541) Post-ex main trench SE 22/05/2018 CM (518) [538] (528) 187 [525] Post-ex N extension NE 22/05/2018 CM
76 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
(518) [538] (528) 188 [525] Post-ex N extension E 22/05/2018 CM (518) [538] (528) 189 [525] Post-ex N extension W 22/05/2018 CM (500) (532) (529) 190 (504) S-facing section of W extension S 22/05/2018 CM (500) (504) (510) 191 Shell W-facing section of W extension W 22/05/2018 CM (500) 192 (504) N-facing section W extension N 22/05/2018 CM (529) 193 (532) E-facing section W extension E 22/05/2018 CM (511) 194 (519) E-facing section main trench E 22/05/2018 CM (511) 195 (529) E-facing detail of N corner E 22/05/2018 CM (515) (516) (541) 196 (543) S-facing section of main trench S 22/05/2018 CM (515) (516) (541) 197 (543) S-facing section of main trench S 22/05/2018 CM (515) (516) (541) 198 (543) S-facing section of main trench SE 22/05/2018 CM (515) (516) (541) 199 (543) S-facing section of main trench SE 22/05/2018 CM
77 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
(510) (521) 200 (500) E-facing section of N extension E 22/05/2018 CM 201-210 - Aerial views of trench post-ex 2018 NE 23/05/2018 EC 211-215 - E-facing section of main trench left to right E 23/05/2018 CM 216-221 - S-facing section of main trench left to right S 23/05/2018 CM 222-227 - N-facing section of N extension left to right N 23/05/2018 CM 228-230 - E-facing section of main trench left to right E 23/05/2018 CM 231-234 - W-facing section of main trench left to right W 23/05/2018 CM 235-239 - N-facing section of main trench left to right N 23/05/2018 CM 240-244 - E-facing section of W extension left to right E 23/05/2018 CM 245-248 - S-facing section of W extension left to right S 23/05/2018 CM 249-253 - W-facing section of W extension left to right W 23/05/2018 CM 254-257 - N-facing section of W extension left to right N 23/05/2018 CM (544) 258 [533] E-facing section of sondage (544) and underlying lens E 23/05/2018 CM 259 - S-facing section extension in N extension N 23/05/2018 CM 260 (511) Extent of 511 after removal of baulk to W extension N 24/05/2018 CM 261 (537) Extent of 537 after removal of 511 under baulk N 24/05/2018 CM 262 (511) Hollow which contained 511 NE 24/05/2018 CM 263 (511) Hollow which contained 511 NE 24/05/2018 CM 264 (537) Extent of 537 E 24/05/2018 CM 265 (537) Extent of 537 E 24/05/2018 CM 266-267 [538] [538] N extension, clay bonding and robber cut N 25/05/2018 CM 268 - Robbed wall S 25/05/2018 CM 269-270 - Post-ex N extension N 25/05/2018 CM 271 - Robbed wall W 25/05/2018 CM 272-275 - Post-ex aerial view of trench 2 NE 25/05/2018 CM 276 - View of sit D from tower N 25/05/2018 CM 277-278 (544) E-facing section of (544) E 25/05/2018 CM S 507 and S 279-280 508 Sample location S 25/05/2018 CM
78 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
281-282 S 509 Sample location S 25/05/2018 CM 283-300 - Reinstatement photos - 30-May EC 303-311 - Reinstatement photos - 30-May EC
Site D
Image number Context Details From Date Initials 001 (401) (402) General shot W 22/05/2018 JAD
002 (401) (402) Pre-ex (402) showing test pit to find service trench NW 22/05/2018 JAD 003 (401) (402) Pre-ex (402) SE 22/05/2018 JAD 004 (404) Pre-ex (404) SE 22/05/2018 EC 005 (404) Pre-ex (404) NW 22/05/2018 EC 006 (407) SF 407 SF 407 in situ SE 22/05/2018 JAD 007 (407) SF 407 SF 407 in situ SE 22/05/2018 JAD 008 (407) SF 407 SF 407 in situ SE 22/05/2018 JAD 009 (407) SF 407 SF 407 in situ SE 22/05/2018 JAD
010 (407) SF 407 [420] SF 407 in situ, general SE 22/05/2018 JAD 011 - Working shot SE 24/05/2018 JAD 012 (407) (406) Mid-ex NW 24/05/2018 JAD 013 - People in field excavating ditch 25/05/2018 EC
014 25/05/2018 EC
015 Pipe trench Slot to find pipe 25/05/2018 EC
016 Pipe trench Slot to find pipe 25/05/2018 EC
017 General Sheep disturbed fencing E 25/05/2018 EC 018 General 25/05/2018 EC
019 General 25/05/2018 EC
020 General W 25/05/2018 EC
021 General E 25/05/2018 EC
79 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Image number Context Details From Date Initials 022 25/05/2018 EC
023 25/05/2018 EC
024 (415) S 26/05/2018 EC
025 (415) N 26/05/2018 EC
026 S section Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 027 S section Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 028 S section Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 029 S section Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 030 S section Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 031 S section Post-ex 26/05/2018 EC
032 S section Post-ex 26/05/2018 EC
033 W end (407) Post-ex with pipe [419] N 26/05/2018 EC 034 W end (407) Post-ex N 26/05/2018 EC 035 General Post-ex W 26/05/2018 EC 036 General Post-ex W 26/05/2018 EC 037 General Post-ex E 26/05/2018 EC 038 General Post-ex E 26/05/2018 EC 039 General Post-ex E 26/05/2018 EC 040 General Post-ex E 26/05/2018 EC 041 N section Post-ex with [419] pre-ex S 26/05/2018 EC 042 N section Post-ex S 26/05/2018 EC
043 W section [419] Post-ex E 26/05/2018 EC 044 N [419] Post-ex S 26/05/2018 EC 045 View of abbey and - trench to right S 30/05/2018 EC
046-050 Post-ex reinstatement - 30/05/2018 EC
051-052 Reinstatement, from abbey tower N 30/05/2018 EC
80 Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Appendix 5: List of Drawings
Site B
Drawing Drawn Finish number Area Feature(s) Details Scale by Start Date Date 501 T2 Pre-ex plan of Trench 2 1:20 CM 10/05/2018 10/05/2018
Thomas 502 trench N and E facing section of Thomas' trench 1:10 EC 12/05/2018 13/05/2018
510, 515, 503 Trench 519, 511 Mid-ex plan of Trench, overlay of #501 1:20 CM 12/05/2018 14/05/2018 504 N ext 518, 510 Pre-ex plan of north extension 1:20 CM 14/05/2018 14/05/2018 505 Plan of whole trench 1:100 EC 14/05/2018
515, 516, 506 Trench 517, 501 Mid-ex plan overlay of #503 1:20 CM 15/05/2018 15/05/2018 518, 527, 507 N ext 525, 524 Mid-ex plan overlay of #504 1:20 CM 15/05/2018 15/05/2018 508 W ext 529 Pre-ex plan of W extension 1:20 CM 16/05/2018 16/05/2018 509 W ext 532, 533, 535 Mid-ex plan of W extension overlay of #508 1:20 CM 18/05/2018 18/05/2018 510 N ext 518, 538, 539 Mid-ex plan of N extension overlay of #507 1:20 CM 18/05/2018 18/05/2018 511 N ext 518, 525, 538 Post-ex plan of N extension 1:20 CM 22/05/2018 22/05/2018 512 W ext 534, 537, 530 Post-ex plan of W extension 1:20 CM 22/05/2018 22/05/2018 513 516, 523, 515 Sketch showing layers, overlay of #506 1:20 EC - -
501, 543, 514 541, 517 Post-ex plan of NE corner 1:20 CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 515 N ext 500, 510, 518 E-facing section of N extension 1:20 CM 23-May 23/05/2018 500, 529, 516 W ext 532, 537, 534 S-facing section of W extension 1:20 CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018
81
Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Drawing Drawn Finish number Area Feature(s) Details Scale by Start Date Date 500, 529, 532, 533, 535, 546, 517 W ext 545, 544 E-facing section of W extension 1:20 CM 23-May 23/05/2018 500, 508, 504, 511, 518 519, 520 E-facing section of trench 1:20 CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 510, 504, 515, 517, 519 523, 516 S-facing section of trench 1:20 CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018
529, 532, 520 W ext 535, 504 Sketch - W-facing section of W extension Sketch CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 521 W ext 500, 504 Sketch - N-facing section of W extension Sketch CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 522 N ext 504, 510, 518 Sketch - N-facing section of N extension Sketch CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 523 515, 541, 507 Sketch - W-facing section of main trench Sketch CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 524 507, 508, 239 Sketch - N-facing section of main trench Sketch CM 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 525 N ext Post-ex plan N extention, overlay #511 1:20 CM 26/05/2018 26/05/2018 526 Main Post-ex plan of NW corner, overlay of #514 1:20 CM 26-May 26-May 500, 504, 515, 523, 527 Main 543, 517 S-facing section trench NE corner 1:10 CM 26/05/2018 26/05/2018 528 W ext 544, 533 E-facing section of 2017 trench showing darker lenses of (544) and [533] 1:10 LT 26-May 26-May 529 Main S-facing section of 2017 trench, kubiena tin location 1:20 CM 26/05/2018 26/05/2018 530 N ext - Display board location 1:20 EC 01-Jun 01-Jun
82
Iona Abbey 2018 DSR
Site D
Drawing number Feature(s) Details Scale Drawn by Start Date Finish Date 400 404 Early plan 1:20 JAD 23/05/2018 23/05/2018 401 409, 407 Early plan of boulders 1:20 JAD 24/05/2018 24/05/2018 402 412 Plan of boulders in ditch 1:20 ENC 24/05/2018 24/05/2018 403 415 Plan post-ex of ditch 1:20 ENC 26/05/2018 26/05/2018 404 - Sections of N and S baulks 1:20 CMac 26/05/2018 26/05/2018 405 all Summary plan post-ex 1:20 ENC 5/6/2018 5/6/2018
Appendix 6 Wet-sieving results
Res. Site Vol. Nutshell Pottery Glass Other code Sample Contx (ltr) CV (g) (g) bone (g) Teeth (g) (g) (g) Metal (g) Ind. Waste (g) (g) shells HY18B 501 233 <0.1 0 HY18B 500 211 <0.1 1.2 54.7 slag 0.1 HY18B 504 242 <0.1 5.6 22.4 slag HY18B 506 545 <0.1 13.7 <0.1 slag HY18D 400 409 3.00 0.10 0.6 16.10 spherule 2.6 slag 0.4 17.7 + 2.6 burnt fish HY18D 401 413 3.30 3.27 <0.1 bone bone 1.0 + 0.8 burnt 3.3 animal HY18D 402 414 0.30 0.40 bone teeth HY18D 403 402 <0.1 0.4 1.4 86.3 slag 24.0 slag/vitrified HY18D 404 417 0.8 stone
83