Woven Into the Stuff of Other Men's Lives: The Treatment of the Dead in Iron Age Atlantic Scotland.

Item Type Thesis

Authors Tucker, Fiona C.

Rights
The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Download date 24/09/2021 11:50:44

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5327 534

Appendix 3: Radiocarbon dates

Table 1: Radiocarbon dates previously obtained for human remains in this study

This table includes all human remains from Atlantic Scotland that had been radiocarbon dated to within the period of 800 BC – AD 800 prior to this study. The calibrated dates given in this table were, for the sake of consistency, all calculated using the online calibration service (OxCal 4.0), which represents the most accurate current formula for radiocarbon calibration, and may therefore differ slightly from those provided in other published accounts. Calibrated dates are given to 2 sigma accuracy, which accounts for 95.4% of the calculated range.

The majority of these dates were obtained from inhumation or cremation burials

(28 sites). As no formal burial rite is regarded as characteristically Iron Age in Atlantic

Scotland, and few graves include diagnostic artifacts, radiocarbon dating usually provides the only evidence that buried remains do indeed fall into the period under study. The majority of formal burials could therefore only be included in this study if they had been previously radiocarbon dated. Human remains found on Iron Age settlements have been directly dated much more rarely (7 sites), and are usually assigned to the Iron Age on other archaeological evidence.

535

Site Sample Lab. Lab. Age Date (2 sigma) Reference Number BP 3. Sands of 1983 AA- 1731 +/- 73 cal. 120-440 AD Carter and Breckon, skeleton 11691 Fraser 1999 4. Sandwick, 1981 GU- 1530 +/- cal. 258-687 AD Barrett et al. Shetland skeleton 1291 110 2000a 4. Sandwick, 2001 SUERC- cal. 130-390 AD Lelong and Shetland skeleton 10745 Shearer 2006 5. Scalloway, Skull AA- 1280 +/- 60 cal. 666-880 AD Sharples Shetland 13808 1998 6. St Ninian’s Isle, ‘Hubert’ SUERC- 1245 +/- 35 cal. 680-890 AD Barrowman Shetland 5440 in press ‘Rosemary’ SUERC- 1305 +/- 35 cal. 660-780 AD Barrowman 5442 in press Skeleton 7 GU- 1250 +/- 45 cal. 670-890 AD Barrowman 9589 2003 7. Uyea, Shetland Cremated Gra- 2480 +/- 60 cal. 790-410 BC Sheridan bone 21621 2003 8. Birsay Bay, Cutting 1, GU- 1600 +/- cal. 377-529 AD Morris 1989 Skeleton 2 1551 70, 1520 cal. 458-586 AD TO-7047 +/- 50 Cutting 1, GU- 1640 +/- 70 cal. 316-504 AD Morris 1989 Skeleton 1 1550 Area 1, GU- 1705 +/- cal. 236-416 AD Morris 1989 Skeleton 3 1554 80, 1430 cal. 584-638 AD TO-6693 +/- 40 10. Buckquoy, Cist TO-6693 1580 +/- cal. 250-660 AD Ashmore Orkney skeleton 100 2003 14. Hermisgarth, Cist 003 GU- 1480 +/- 80 cal. 240-670 AD Downes and Orkney skeleton 4232/3 Morris 1997 15. Howe, Orkney Bone in GU- 2380 +/- 50 cal. 770-370 BC Ballin Smith drain 1799 1994 17. Knowe of Skeleton SUERC- 1720 +/- 35 cal. 264-366 AD Moore and

536

Skea, Orkney 2098 8396 Wilson 2005

Skeleton SUERC- 2065 +/- 35 cal. 146-46 BC Moore and 2100 8400 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 1950 +/- 35 cal. 6-79 AD Moore and 2114 8401 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 2060 +/- 35 cal. 142-36 BC Moore and 3015 8402 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 1665 +/- 35 cal. 332-408 AD Moore and 3111 8403 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 2130 +/- 35 cal. 229-111 BC Moore and 4036 8406 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 2095 +/- 35 cal. 167-71 BC Moore and 4038 8410 Wilson 2005 Skeleton SUERC- 1915 +/- 35 cal. 47-117 AD Moore and 4045 8411 Wilson 2005 22. Newark Bay, Skeleton TO-7176 1460 +/- 40 cal. 537-659 AD Barrett et al. Orkney 69/33 2000b Skeleton TO-7180 1380 +/- 30 cal. 617-687 AD Barrett et al. 69/11 2000b Skeleton TO-7193 1200 +/- 40 cal. 691-960 AD Barrett et al. 71/3 2000b Skeleton TO-7174 1190 +/- 40 cal. 693-964 AD Barrett et al. 68/16A 2000b Skeleton TO-6933 1170 +/- 50 cal. 694-985 AD Barrett et al. 71/5 2000b 26. Skaill, Orkney Ulna of GU- 1410 +/- 50 cal. 550-680 AD James 1999 skeleton 7245 29. Stromness, Cremated GrA- 1585 +/- 40 cal. 390-600 AD Sheridan et Orkney bone 24015 al. 2005 30. Westness, Grave 6 T-6813 1320 +/- 80 cal. 560-900 AD Ashmore Orkney 2003 Grave 7 T-7196 1540 +/- 40 cal. 432-642 AD Ashmore 2003

537

Grave 10 T-6527 1360 +/- 70 cal. 540-860 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 13 T-7465 1430 +/- 40 cal. 540-670 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 19 T-7469 1330 +/- 70 cal. 600-890 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 20 T-6528 1400 +/- 60 cal. 530-780 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 24 T-7466 1400 +/- 40 cal. 560-690 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 25 T-6529 1530 +/- 60 cal. 410-650 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 28 T-7471 1480 +/- 40 cal. 430-660 AD Ashmore 2003 Grave 32 T-7470 1410 +/- 60 cal. 530-780 AD Ashmore 2003 33. Ackergill, Unstratifie SUERC- 1665 +/- 35 cal. 332-408 AD Heawood Caithness d femur 2985 2004 38. Crosskirk, Grave 3 SRR-270 2100 +/- cal. 430 BC-140 Fairhurst Caithness 100 AD 1984 53. Whitegate, Long bone OxA- 1666 +/- 28 cal. 259-432 AD Sheridan Caithness in chamber 18378 2008 57. Dairy Park, 1977 cist GU- 1335 +/- 45 cal. 525-725 AD Close-Brooks Sutherland skeleton 1039 1980 60. Loch Borralie, Skeleton 1 OxA- 1931 +- 37 cal. 40 BC-210 MacGregor Sutherland 10253 AD et al. 2003 61. Sangobeg, Femur, SUERC- 2050 +/- 35 cal. 170 BC-30 Batey 2005 Sutherland skeleton 1 4527 AD 63. An Corran, Cist 002 OxA- 1875 +/- 45 cal. 70-220 AD Badcock and Western Isles skeleton 8802 Downes 2000 Cist 003 OxA- 1815 +/- 40 cal. 130-250 AD Badcock and skeleton 8803 Downes

538

2000

65. Ardvichar, Skeleton SUERC- 1415 +/- 35 cal. 605-655 AD Sharples et Western Isles 9195 al. 2005a 69. Cille Pheadair, Long cist AA- 1325 +/- 45 cal. 620-780 AD Mulville et Western Isles skeleton 48605 al. 2003 70. Cladh Hallan, Foot AA- 1875 +/- 45 cal. 20-250 AD Mulville et Western Isles phalanx 48584 al. 2003 72. Druimsdale, Radius SUERC- 1715 +/- 30 cal. 250-410 AD Rhodes 2008 Western Isles 21071 73. , Cranium, AA- 2055 +/- 45 cal. 180 BC-60 Mulville et Western Isles context 20 48587 AD al. 2003 Cranium, AA- 1950 +/- 55 cal. 60 BC-220 Mulville et context 48586 AD al. 2003 29/21 Mandible AA- 1990 +/- 45 cal. 110 BC-130 Mulville et in drain 48594 AD al. 2003 Humerus, AA- 1800 +/- 45 cal. 80-350 AD Mulville et context 48589 al. 2003 729 Cranium, AA- 2090 +/- 50 cal. 350 BC-30 Mulville et context 48590 AD al. 2003 779 Neonatal AA- 1725 +/- 55 cal. 130-430 AD Mulville et bone, 48591 al. 2003 context 779 Cranium, AA- 2040 +/- 60 cal. 210 BC-90 Mulville et context 48592 AD al. 2003 776 Cranium, AA- 2115 +/- 45 cal. 360-0 BC Mulville et context 48593 al. 2003 772 74. Galson, Galson II OxA- 1895 +/- 36 cal. 70-156 AD Neighbour et

539

Western Isles 10164 al. 2000

Galson III OxA- 1848 +/- 36 cal. 116-208 AD Neighbour et 10165 al. 2000 Galson IV OxA- 1858 +/- 34 cal. 103-210 AD Neighbour et 10166 al. 2000 Cist 2, 1985 GU- 1710 +/- 70 cal. 130-530 AD Ponting 1989 2115 1993 GU- 1770 +/-60 cal. 110-410 AD Neighbour et skeleton 7400 al. 2000 1996 GU- 1850 +/- 50 cal. 60-316 AD Neighbour et skeleton 7401 al. 2000 75. Griminish, Tibia SUERC- 1645 +/- 35 cal. 260-540 AD Dunbar and Western Isles 17897 Thoms 2008a 78. Loch Paible, Cremation SUERC- 2460 +/- 35 cal. 760-410 BC Toolis 2006 Western Isles 1 9741 Cremation SUERC- 2500 +/- 35 cal. 790-420 BC Toolis 2006 2 9740 79. Northton, Find 70, AA- 1655 +/- 45 cal. 250-540 AD Murphy et Western Isles skeleton 2 50317 al. 2004 Find 71, AA- 1630 +/- 35 cal. 340-540 AD Murphy et skeleton 3a 50318 al. 2004 80. Pollochar, Skeleton SUERC- 1720 +/- 35 cal. 264-366 AD Sharples et Western Isles 9160 al. 2005b 81. Scarista, Skeleton SUERC- 1860 +/- 40 cal. 97-203 AD Hunter Blair Western Isles 4933 2004b 84. Swainbost, Skeleton SUERC- 2210 +/- 40 cal. 351-223 BC Duffy and Western Isles 5368 MacGregor 2007 85. Udal, Western Juvenile Q-1132 1353 +/- cal. 300-1050 Denston Isles skeleton 165 AD 1978 86. Vallay, Tibia SUERC- 2230 +/- 35 cal. 390-200 BC Dunbar and Western Isles 17900 Thoms

540

2008b

89. Dun Mor Vaul Mixed GX-3246 1145 +/- cal. 400-1300 Mackie bone 220 AD 90. Fiskavaig, Cranial SUERC- 1850 +/- 35 cal. 70-240 AD Birch 2009 Skye fragment 28068 91. High Pasture Skeleton 1 GU- 1965 +/- 40 cal. 50 BC-230 Birch 2006 Cave, Skye 15529 / / 1890 +/- AD GU- 40 15530 92. MacArthur Right OxA- 2170 +/- 55 cal. 368-60 BC Saville and Cave, Argyll humerus 4485 Hallen 1994 Left femur OxA- 2365 +/- 55 cal. 755-240 BC Saville and 4486 Hallen 1994 Left talus OxA- 2460 +/- 55 cal. 765-407 BC Saville and 4487 Hallen 1994 Right OxA- 2295 +/- 60 cal. 499-183 BC Saville and patella 4488 Hallen 1994 94. Sanaigmhor, Cremated AA- 1655 +/- 50 cal. 250-530 AD Cook 1999 bone, cist 26244 Cremated AA- 2300 +/- 50 cal. 409-210 BC Cook 1999 bone, cairn 26243

541

Table 2: Radiocarbon dates obtained for this study

Funding was sought and obtained from Historic Scotland for the radiocarbon dating of a group of the human remains included in this study which had previously been undated, or were felt to be unreliably dated. This dating program was focused on human remains found on settlement sites; as the above table shows, prior to this dating program human remains from only seven (Scalloway, Howe, Crosskirk,

Whitegate, Cladh Hallan, Dun Vulan and the Udal) of the forty-six settlement sites included in this study had been ascertained. The vast majority of finds of human remains on domestic sites had previously been dated only by their association with the structure they were found in, and within very wide margins.

This dating program encompassed 23 deposits of human remains from 17 sites. Two non-human bones found in direct association with human remains, from sites 77

(Hornish Point) and 82 (Sloc Sabhaidh) were also dated, to provide closer contextual data and test the hypothesis that human remains were being curated for a period before deposition. All samples produced positive results. Four samples were found to fall outside the Long Iron Age, and these samples are placed in italics in the table below. Two sites, Icegarth and Balevullin, were found not to have produced Iron Age remains, and were therefore removed from the study. The presence of Norse human remains on abandoned Iron Age settlements at three sites in Atlantic Scotland would, however, seem to be an interesting phenomenon in its own right, showing that this practice continued beyond the end of the Iron Age. The placement of a Bronze Age cranial fragment into a well-dated Middle Iron Age context at Cnip also seems to show that opportunistic re-use of older skeletal material occurred on some Iron Age sites.

542

Site Sample Lab. Number Lab. Age BP Date (2 sigma) 1. , Cranial SUERC-24963 2360 ± 30 Cal. 530-380 BC Shetland fragment 15. Howe, Orkney Rib, skeleton SUERC-25599 1925 ± 40 Cal. 40 BC-180 AD 4546 15. Howe, Orkney Finger SUERC-25600 1045 ± 40 Cal. 890-1040 AD phalanx Icegarth, Orkney Perforated SUERC-23661 925 ± 35 Cal. 1020-1190 AD femur head 18. Lingro, Orkney Cranial SUERC-23662 2025 ± 35 Cal. 120BC - 60AD fragment 27. Skara Brae, Femur, sk. 1 SUERC-24240 1525 ± 30 Cal. 430-610 AD Orkney 38. Crosskirk, Tooth, seated SUERC-23663 1645 ± 35 Cal. 330-540 AD Caithness burial 38. Crosskirk, Femur whorl SUERC-23664 1785 ± 35 Cal. 130-340 AD Caithness 42. Hillhead, Cranial SUERC- 24962 1665 ± 30 Cal. 310-440 AD Caithness fragment 45. Lower Cranial SUERC-24232 1295 ± 30 Cal. 660-780 AD Dounreay, fragment Caithness 45. Lower Mandible, sk. SUERC-24236 1350 ± 30 Cal. 630-720 AD Dounreay, 2 Caithness 51. Wag of Forse, Femoral shaft SUERC-24238 1735 ± 30 Cal. 230-390 AD Caithness 51. Wag of Forse, Ulna shaft SUERC-24239 1785 ± 30 Cal. 130-340 AD Caithness 53. Whitegate, Cranial SUERC- 24961 2130 ± 30 Cal. 210-50 BC Caithness fragment 59. Kintradwell, Tooth, SUERC-23669 1820 ± 35 Cal. 80-260 AD Sutherland skeleton 3

543

59. Kintradwell, Tooth, SUERC-23670 1120 ± 35 Cal. 810-1020 AD Sutherland skeleton 2 71. Cnip, Western Cranial SUERC-24237 1910 ± 30 Cal. 20-180 AD Isles fragment 71. Cnip, Western Frontal bone SUERC-24965 3215 ± 30 Cal. 1540-1410 BC Isles 77. Hornish Point, Human femur SUERC-24241 2050 ± 30 Cal. 170 BC-20 AD Western Isles 77. Hornish Point, Cattle femur SUERC-24242 2075 ± 30 Cal. 180 BC-0 AD Western Isles 79. Northton, Tooth, SUERC-23671 1715 ± 35 Cal. 240-410 AD Western Isles skeleton 3b 82. Sloc Sabhaidh, Sheep SUERC- 24964 1760 ± 30 Cal. 210-390 AD Western Isles metatarsal 82. Sloc Sabhaidh, Cranial SUERC- 24966 1745 ± 30 Cal. 220-390 AD Western Isles fragment Balevullin, Finger SUERC-23660 4480 ± 35 Cal. 3350-3080 BC phalanx Finger SUERC-24589 4490 ± 35 Cal. 3350-3080 BC phalanx Rib SUERC-24952 4510 ± 30 Cal. 3360-3090 BC 89. Dun Mor Vaul, Tibia, skeleton SUERC-23665 1315 ± 35 Cal. 650-780 AD Tiree 2