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Shore Park, Latheronwheel Caithness
Archaeological Survey
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Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011
Shore Park, Latheronwheel Caithness
Archaeological Survey
Report No. HAS110602
Project Code HAS-LNW11
Client SAC
Planning Ref N/A NGR (approx ND 1859 3188 centre)
OASIS
Date/ revision 25/08/2011
Author John Wood
Summary
A rapid walk-over survey was carried out at Latheronwheel, Cathness, where two areas are proposed for planting of native woodlands. Within the general area large numbers of archaeological sites are recorded, but as far as can be established these do not generally extend within the proposed planting areas. Large parts of the easternmost planting area are covered with dense gorse and scrub and were therefore inaccessible; but only one site has previously been recorded here. In these areas it is recommended that a further check be made once the scrub has been cleared.
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Contents
Site Location ...... 4 Introduction ...... 4 Policy Background ...... 6 Methods ...... 7 Results ...... 9 Conclusions and Recommendations ...... 19 Appendix 1: Archaeological Features ...... 20 Appendix 2: Photographs ...... 21 Appendix 3: Batey 1984, Caithness Coastal Survey 1980-82: Dunnet Head to Ousdale ...... 23
Illustrations
Figure 1 Site location ...... 4 Figure 2 Survey area ...... 5 Figure 3 Roy’s Map 1747-55 ...... 6 Figure 4 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map ...... 7 Figure 5 Sites with statutory protection ...... 10 Figure 6 Batey 1984, Features 262-273 (HHER: MHG 1161) ...... 11 Figure 7 Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER) sites ...... 14 Figure 8 Survey Features 1 and 2 ...... 16 Figure 9 Feature 3 ...... 16 Figure 10 Feature 4 ...... 18 Figure 11 Feature 5 ...... 19 Figure 12 Overview – Area A ...... 26 Figure 13 Overview - Area B ...... 27
Plate 1 Vertical aerial photograph ...... 8 Plate 2 Feature 2 from SW ...... 15 Plate 3 Feature 3 from S ...... 15 Plate 4 Feature 4 – view N ...... 17 Plate 5 Feature 5, view WSW ...... 18
Acknowledgements
Fieldwork was carried out by John Wood. We wish to thank Malcolm Morrison of SAC for commissioning this survey and the Highland Council’s Historic Environment team for invaluable assistance. Modern Ordnance Survey mapping is reproduced under Licence 100043217. Aerial photographs are courtesy of Getmapping plc and Landmark Information Group. Historic maps are courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The report’s author and Highland Archaeology Services Ltd jointly retain copyright in all reports produced but will allow the client and other recipients to make the report available for reference and research (but not commercial) purposes, either on paper, or electronically, without charge, provided this copyright is acknowledged.
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Site Location
The survey area covers two planting areas within an overall triangular site, south-west of Latheronwheel centred approximately at OS grid reference ND 1859 3188. The land rises from about 30m above sea level at the top of the cliffs northwards to over 80m near Cnoc Heara. The survey area mostly comprises rough pasture with areas of dense, inaccessible gorse and scrub. As elsewhere in the Highlands, the landscape has been formed by glacial scouring of hard underlying rocks, leaving a variety of periglacial mounds, hollows and terraces with occasional outcrops of rock.
Figure 1 Site location
Introduction
The archaeological walkover survey was conducted on 31 May – 1 June 2011 in wet weather. The scheme comprises two sections (A and B), with the second of these divided into four discrete planting areas. Although the general area is rich in archaeology, with a broch, two chambered cairns, a castle and other features of different dates nearby, care had clearly been taken to minimise archaeological impacts when designing the scheme.
The areas surveyed were as follows (areas are indicative only):
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Figure 2 Survey area
Table 1 Scheme areas Type Ref Approx area ha)
Scheme Area Area A 3.18 Planting Area A1 2.84
Scheme Area Area B 6.97 Planting Area B1 2.06 Planting Area B2 0.23 Planting Area B3 1.04 Planting Area B4 1.95
Total scheme area 10.15 Total planting area 8.12
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Policy Background
The Scottish Government’s Scotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, worth some £1.5 billion, designed to develop rural Scotland from 2007 to 2013. Individuals and groups may seek support to help deliver the Government's strategic objectives in rural Scotland. It covers all aspects of rural land management, including forestry1
It is the responsibility of land managers in receipt of grant under the scheme need to ensure as far as possible that archaeological sites and historic buildings (the historic environment) should not be damaged by changes in land management. This survey was commissioned to provide baseline information on any cultural heritage features that might be impacted by the planting scheme.
Figure 3 Roy’s Map 1747-55 Courtesy of National Library of Scotland
1 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP 6
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Figure 4 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map Caithness Sheets XXXIX.2 and XXXIX.6; surveyed in 1871; published 1877. Not reproduced to scale. Courtesy of National Library of Scotland
Methods
Desk-based assessment
A desk-based assessment was conducted in order to assess the archaeological potential of the area based on previously recorded sites and any historical documentation. A check was made of all relevant records from the Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER), National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS), Highland Council Archives and Historic Scotland’s records of scheduled monuments and listed buildings. Online aerial photographs and historical maps were checked for any relevant site information.
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Online sources consulted included the Statistical Accounts of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland collection of historic maps including the First Edition Ordnance Survey 1:10560 scale and 1:2500 maps. Aerial photographs were checked online at Where’s the Path2, and through the Landmark Promap service.
Plate 1 Vertical aerial photograph 1999-2011
Walkover Survey
The survey was undertaken on 31 May and 1 June 2011. The weather was wet, clearing later to overcast.
2 http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm 8
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Features were recorded using a Promark 3 DGPS unit operating in mobile mapping mode using real-time satellite based correction. This typically offers accuracy of 1-2m although this can be affected by tree cover or atmospheric or other conditions.
Results
General Roy’s military survey of Scotland (1747-55) shows Knockinnon Castle, but otherwise the area seems to have been under either open field arable or common grazings ( Figure 3 above). By 1871, when the Ordnance Survey surveyed the area, most of the area of the area remained as rough pasture but the village of Latheronwheel had appeared (then called Janetstown), and a strip along the south-western side of the river, roughly corresponding with Area A, had been improved. The boundary of this improved land can be seen on the ground and in aerial photographs taken over the last ten years (Plate 1).
The aerial photographs also show the substantial area of scrub and gorse now occupying the noth-western part of Area A. Area B mostly comprises a steep slope covered in rough grasses. The line of a former road can be seen on the aerial photographs; and there is a former field with field clearance heaps along its eastern boundary helping to support a slope edge (discussed below).
Listed Buildings
There are no Listed Buildings within the proposed planting areas but attention is drawn to two that should be noted in accessing the site (see Figure 5).
No 7984 Latheronwheel (Janetstown): Latheronwheel, (Janetstown) Cooper's Buildings Listed Category B (HHER: MHG15255;46755-6)
No 7986 Latheronwheel (Janetstown): Harbour Bridge Over Burn Of Latheronwheel Listed Category C(S) (HHER: MHG1192)
Scheduled Monuments
There are no Scheduled Monuments within the proposed planting areas but attention is drawn to six that should be noted in accessing the site (see Figure 5).
No. 462 Latheronwheel House,chambered cairn 580m SE of (HHER: MHG1245)
No. 565 Latheronwheel Bridge, broch 450m S of (HHER: MHG1176)
No. 598 Upper Latheron, broch 230m E of (HHER: MHG1251)
No. 5182 Latheronwheel House, promontory fort 1100m SE of (HHER: MHG1182)
No. 5233 Latheronwheel House, long cairn 850m SE of (HHER: MHG1162)
No. 5311 Upper Latheron, chambered cairn 530m ESE of (HHER: MHG703)
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It should be noted that the scheduled areas shown should be completely avoided. They generally extend beyond the visible edge of the monument protected.
Other Areas with statutory protection
There are no World Heritage Sites, Conservation Areas or Historic Designed landscapes nearby.
Figure 5 Sites with statutory protection
Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER)
The following features had been previously recorded on the Highland Council’s Historic Environment record. There were no additional features on the RCAHMS records. Where these features were subsequently found in the field the Feature number from the survey is provided in brackets.
There has been significant fieldwork in this area over many years, including by the Ordnance Survey, the University of Durham, Highland Council staff and a local researcher. Historic Scotland inspectors have also visited and assessed features for scheduling. Most of the features recorded lie outside the present proposal and were therefore not checked on the ground during the present survey, but clearly there are a good many mounds and heaps of natural periglacial origin present. Where features are archaeological in 10
Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011 nature they generally appear (with notable exceptions discussed below) to be comparatively recent in date.
Figure 6 Batey 1984, Features 262-273 (HHER: MHG 1161) Redrawn from Batey 184, Figure 42. See Appendix 3 for details
The entire triangular area within which the present scheme is located is covered by two records on the Highland Council’s records:
MHG1161 is described as ‘Multi-Period Settlement and Land-Use’.
In 1980-82 Colleen Batey carried out a survey of the coastal archaeology of Caithness from Dunnet Head to Ousdale for the University of Durham3. This included a survey of the present area (see Appendix 3). Unfortunately only two six-figure grid references are provided to locate the survey drawing, but an attempt to reproduce this is provided in Figure 6 above.
The Ordnance Survey visited in 1982 and found
3 Batey, C 1984 Caithness Coastal Survey 1980-82: Dunnet Head to Ousdale University of Durham Department of Archaeology Occasional Paper No. 3 (See Appendix 3) 11
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A complex of features, only one of which, a possible long cairn … is classified as prehistoric. Otherwise, the site, described as a settlement, consists of a possible hut circle, two cairnfields, two cairns, a stone setting, an enclosure and miscellaneous mounds and structures. A general area of early-modern land-use, now given over to rough pasture, in which is situated a walled enclosure and occasional small piles of cleared stone. No other features were noted.
However Hilary White visited for the Highland Council in 2002 and 2003 and commented
OS description does not reflect importance of this general area. There is now one large field that includes 5 scheduled monuments and a range of other non scheduled and the whole area requires intensive re-survey. …One large clearance cairn is visible from the road … as a dump down the slope edge, although the landowner states that at least part of this was made by local workers within living memory. … In addition there are large numbers of other heaps of stones, mostly turf covered all over the E side of this field & on both sides of the track to the cottage. It is possible also that hut circles may remain in part, but the only possible one identified on site visit lay further east on the edge of the slope down to the burn. Due to gorse, fern and other cover it was impossible to clearly identify all the smaller features and their extent on a rapid visit.
Within this broad picture, individual recorded features within or close to Areas A or B include the following:
Area A
MHG13588 (Batey 263) is a cairn and cist within Area A, reported by Batey in 1982 (see Fig 6 above) as
A large elliptical grass-covered mound with small stones visible in the north face of the mound. The mound measures 10m by 6.3m with evidence of slight cattle erosion. A rectangular cist is present on the summit, empty with slab lining.
It was visited by Meg Sinclair of Dunbeath in 2009, who described
… a grass-covered mound to the direct south-west of the ravine end, just under 60m into the field from the field-dyke above the river. The cist measures approximately 1m long (minimum) by 0.75m wide with all slabs still in position. A large stone, possibly the capstone, lies 2.5m away under the edge of whins on the north side of the mound (HHER record).
When visited for the present survey no cairn was found at the recorded location but approximately 50m to the south a feature matching the description given was found. The top of the cairn was very overgrown but the probable capstone from the cist was clearly visible lying to the north. The cairn has suffered considerable damage and there seems to have been tipping of field clearance stones into the end of the ravine. Some of these probably came from the cairn itself. (See Feature 2 below)
MHG52916 (Batey 262) comprises a series of mounds and depressions, possibly including a cist burial, most of which could not be investigated during the present survey owing to the density of gorse and scrub in this area. Batey appears to show some of these features within the northern part of Area A (see Fig 6), but no features were found in the locations given. This area should therefore be revisited once the scrub has been cut down.
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Area B
MHG52915 (Batey 273) is a rectangular enclosure, presumably post-medieval. It was not found during the present survey, which was subject to poor weather and light levels at this point. A site visit will be made before planting starts to double check and mark off any apparently archaeological features which can then be safeguarded within the scheme.
MHG52920 (Batey 271) Possible structure, Latheronwheel. This is described as a ‘ roughly subrectangular low mound, grass-covered and composed of a series of irregular surface features. Traces of stone indicate that this could be a structure. It measures 27 x 12m and is aligned SW-NE’. It was not found during the present survey, which was subject to poor weather and light levels at this point. A site visit will be made before planting starts to double check and mark off any apparently archaeological features which can then be safeguarded within the scheme.
MHG52921 (Batey 272) is recorded as a cairnfield: According to Batey 1984, this is
A series of 14 small grass-covered mounds, and a stone spread, located around a natural mound and depression. Some of the mounds have small stones protruding. The overall area measures 75 x 110m, the mounds ranging in size from 3.2 x 3.2m to 8.7 x 6.7m.
However these were checked during the present survey and they appear to be natural hummocks rather than archaeological features. A site visit will be made before planting starts to double check and mark off any apparently archaeological mounds that fall within the planting area. Any found should then be safeguarded within the scheme.
MHG1163 (Batey 277) is recorded on the Highland HER mapping as a polygon covering the southern part of the overall site. It is described as
A cairnfield of unknown period, covering an area about 500 by 200m on a slope above the cliff edge at Dorus Ailein, and consisting of about fifteen roughly circular, grass-grown, small stone mounds, the largest 10 by 8m and the greatest height 1.5m, the average being 0.5m.
The Ordnance Survey visited in 1982 and commented
This is one of several sites that produced stony mounds of indeterminate character with no visible features to assist in their identification. A number of stony mounds on steep, grassy and bracken overgrown slope. Some may be natural, but others are undoubtedly stone clearance heaps, probably from early-modern land-use.
The present survey did not find 15 clearance heaps, and these appear for the most part to be natural hummocks in the landscape. However there is an area that has been cleared for agriculture where 4 clearance heaps were noted along the eastern edge. These were recorded but appear post-medieval (see Feature 5 below).
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Figure 7 Highland Historic Environment Record (HHER) sites
Field Survey
Area A
Note that no cairns were found in the locations recorded by Batey 1984.
F1 Cairn NC 18762 32394 A field clearance cairn, not apparently previously recorded. Approx. 5 m x 2.7m. Although a relatively minor feature, this should be marked off and safeguarded including a buffer appropriate to the tree species and other factors.
F2 Cairn NC 18792 32303 Roughly circular. Very disturbed and the top completely overgrown with gorse; approximately 5.5m in diameter. This appears to be the site recorded about 50m north as HHER MHG 13588 (Batey LAT263). What may be a capstone is lying on a large heap of stones which has been pushed into the end of the valley leading off to the east – apparently the result of 19th or 20th c. field clearance. This area is shown
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as improved land on the 1st edition OS 1:2500 map. This should be marked off and safeguarded including a buffer appropriate to the tree species and other factors.
Plate 2 Feature 2 from SW
Plate 3 Feature 3 from S
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Figure 8 Survey Features 1 and 2 Figure 9 Feature 3 16
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F3 Building NC 18938 32158 The ruins of a rectangular building, HHER MHG29771. Approx. 13.4 x 7.8m, two rooms. Late 18th – Early 20th c. This is outwith the scheme and should not be affected (Plate 3 and Figure 10).
Area B
The western part of Area B comprises a steep slope running down from the road to the cliffs. There has been a good deal of natural slippage here and this, combined with outcrops of rock, gives the whole area a very uneven appearance. However unless in extremis it would not make good ground to cultivate and it may be that the attempts to clear land here date from the period of the clearances. It seems an unlikely location for earlier fields or occupation.
F4 Dyke NC 18729 31811 A substantial stone and earth bank with ditches to both sides, running NW-SE. Approximately 2.5m across and 0.5m high. Its date is unclear. This feature does not seem to have been recorded previously. It should be marked off and a 5m buffer allowed each side during planting Vehicles should use the existing track to minimise damage.
F5 Field Clearance cairns NC 18408 31524 Four field clearance cairns, apparently post-medieval, lie along the eastern edge of a former cultivated area. They lie on the edge of a slope running down to a burn and would help to resist erosion. They are from 4.7 to 5.5m across and from 5m to 10m long. These would appear to be part of HHER: MHG1163 but elsewhere the hummocks and stone heaps referred to in this record appear natural. The clearance heaps should be avoided when planting as they may contain buried soil horizons or other information.
Plate 4 Feature 4 – view N 17
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Plate 5 Feature 5, view WSW
Figure 10 Feature 4
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Figure 11 Feature 5
Outwith the Scheme
F6 Long Cairn ND 18816 32005
A Neolithic long cairn, scheduled. About 60m long and as described by Batey (Batey270). It will not be affected by the scheme. (HHER MHG1162)
Conclusions and Recommendations
Although a large number of features have been recorded in and around the site overall, only two were found within the proposed planting areas. These should be marked off, including a suitable buffer area to protect them and possible buried associated evidence from machinery, vehicles, and later from possible wind-throw. The extent of these buffers are to be determined according to the species to be planted nearby and other arrangements to be decided, including access routes for woodland maintenance.
In the easternmost area there is extensive cover of scrub and gorse which proved inaccessible at the time of survey. It is recommended that a further check be made on the ground to identify and safeguard any archaeological features present when this has been removed.
Because of the high general potential in the Latheronwheel area, including within the overall site, a non- intensive general watching brief is recommended during ground preparation and planting. This would
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Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011 simply comprise one or more visits as appropriate by an archaeologist to alert the contractor and record anything that turns up. Continuous monitoring is not proposed.
Appendix 1: Archaeological Features
Survey No HHER No. Site Name Site Type Other ref
- MHG1161 Multi-period Settlement Settlement, And Landuse, Field System Latheronwheel
F6 MHG1162 Chambered Long Cairn, Chambered Scheduled 5233; Batey LAT270 Latheronwheel Long Cairn
F5 MHG1163 Cairnfield, Dorus Ailein Cairnfield Batey LAT277
- MHG1176 Broch, Latheronwheel Broch Scheduled 565; Batey LAT261 Bridge
- MHG1182 Promontory Fort, Hut Circle, Scheduled 5182 Janetstown Promontory Fort
- MHG1183 Field clearance, Clearance Batey LAT275 Latheronwheel Cairn, Bank (Earthwork)?, Cairnfield
- MHG1184 Remains of lighthouse, Lookout, Latheronwheel Lighthouse - MHG1191; Latheronwheel Harbour Harbour MHG45939
- MHG1192 Latheronwheel Harbour, Bridge Listed C(S) 7986 Bridge
- MHG1245 Chambered Cairn, Chambered Scheduled 462 Latheronwheel House Round Cairn
- MHG1251 Broch, Upper Latheron Broch Scheduled 598
- MHG1252 Knockinnan Castle Castle
- MHG13587 Cairns, Latheronwheel Clearance heaps Batey LAT264
F2 MHG13588 Burial Cairn With Cist, Cist, Burial Batey LAT263; survey has Latheronwheel Cairn, Field location c.50m S of recorded clearance location
- MHG13589 Hut Circle, Latheronwheel Hut Circle Batey LAT265
- MHG15255; Cooper's Building, House Listed B 7984 MHG46755- Latheronwheel 6 (Janetstown)
F3 MHG29771 Ruined house, west of House Janetstown
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Survey No HHER No. Site Name Site Type Other ref
- MHG32347 Clearance cairns, nr Stone Heap, whalebone gate, Clearance Cairn Latheronwheel
- MHG39569 Probable field clearance, Clearance Cairn Batey LAT266 Latheronwheel
- MHG52915 Enclosure, Latheronwheel Rectangular Batey LAT273 Enclosure
- MHG52916 Mounds, Latheronwheel Mounds and Batey LAT262 hollows
- MHG52917 Possible farmstead, Farmstead?, Batey LAT267 Latheronwheel Longhouse?, Structure
- MHG52918 Stone setting, Stone Setting?, Batey LAT268 Latheronwheel Stone Alignment?
- MHG52919 Cairnfield, Latheronwheel Clearance Batey LAT269 Cairn, Cairnfield
- MHG52920 Possible structure, Structure? Batey LAT271 Latheronwheel
- MHG52921 Cairnfield, Latheronwheel Cairnfield, Batey LAT272 Clearance Cairn
- MHG703 Chambered cairn, Chambered Scheduled 5311; Batey LAT276 Knockinnon Round Cairn F1 - Cairn, Latheronwheel Clearance cairn Not previously recorded? F4 - Dyke, Latheronwheel Dyke Not previously recorded?
Appendix 2: Photographs
Photo no. Location Direction Subject DSC_0001 CP1 N F3 DSC_0002 CP2 NW F2 DSC_0003 CP2 N F2 DSC_0004 CP2 NE F2 DSC_0005 CP2 ENE F2 DSC_0006 CP2 E F2 / Valley/boundary wall DSC_0007 CP2 ESE Valley/boundary wall DSC_0008 CP2 SSE Boundary wall DSC_0009 CP2 S General view
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Photo no. Location Direction Subject DSC_0010 CP2 SSW General view DSC_0011 CP2 SW General view DSC_0012 CP2 W General view DSC_0013 CP2 WNW General view DSC_0014 CP2 NW General view DSC_0015 CP2 NNW F2 DSC_0016 CP3 NE General view DSC_0017 CP3 NNE General view DSC_0018 CP3 N General view DSC_0019 CP3 NNW F1 DSC_0020 CP3 WNW F1 / General view DSC_0021 CP3 WSW General view DSC_0022 CP3 SW General view DSC_0023 CP3 SSW General view DSC_0024 CP3 S General view DSC_0025 CP3 SSE General view DSC_0026 CP3 SE General view DSC_0027 CP3 ESE General view DSC_0028 CP3 E General view DSC_0029 CP3 ENE General view DSC_0030 CP4 SE Roadway DSC_0031 ESE General view DSC_0032 E General view DSC_0033 NE General view DSC_0034 N (Batey 264) DSC_0035 NW (Batey 264) DSC_0036 W (Batey 264) DSC_0037 WSW General view DSC_0038 SSW Roadway DSC_0039 S Roadway DSC_0040 SE Roadway DSC_0041 CP5 WSW F6 DSC_0042 CP5 SW F6 DSC_0043 CP5 S F6 DSC_0044 CP5 SE F6 DSC_0045 CP6 NW F4 DSC_0046 CP6 SE F4 DSC_0047 CP7 ENE General view DSC_0048 CP7 NE General view DSC_0049 CP7 N General view
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Photo no. Location Direction Subject DSC_0050 CP7 NW General view DSC_0051 CP7 S General view DSC_0052 CP8 SSW General view DSC_0053 CP8 SW General view DSC_0054 CP8 WSW General view; F5 DSC_0055 CP8 W General view; F5 DSC_0056 CP8 WNW General view DSC_0057 CP8 NW General view DSC_0058 CP8 NNW General view DSC_0059 CP8 N General view DSC_0060 CP8 NNE General view DSC_0061 CP8 NE General view DSC_0062 CP8 ENE General view DSC_0063 CP8 E General view DSC_0064 CP8 SE General view DSC_0065 CP8 S General view DSC_0066 CP9 WNW Bridge DSC_0067 CP9 WNW Bridge
Appendix 3: Batey 1984, Caithness Coastal Survey 1980-82: Dunnet Head to Ousdale4
Extract: pp91-93 covering features shown in Figure 6 above.
LAT 262 MOUNDS. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, a) 8.3 x 4 m. b) 10.3 x 6 m. c) 13 x 14 m. d) 10 x 16 m. e) 7 x 7 m. f) 10.4 x 10.7 m. f) 10.4 x 10.7 m. g) 7.5 x 4.8 m. A series of mounds and depressions, not considered to be natural. a) three large hollows, grass-covered, traces of bedrock. Amorphous. b) large slab of stone set at 45° above another, with stone chock between. Also amorphous depressions and grass-covered mounds. c) slightly curving grass-covered bank with projecting upright slabs. d) small area delimited by short upright stones, possibly a stone setting. e) grass-covered stony mound with exposed section in se part. f) elliptical grass-covered mound, stones visible, small depression in centre. g) rectangular stone setting, possibly a slab-line grave. Four large stones in the vicinity probably associated. Traces of damaged grass- covered mound on seaward side. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1865 3255 CAD/199/1; CAD/207/3-4 P.U.
LAT 263
4 Batey, C 1984 Caithness Coastal Survey 1980-82: Dunnet Head to Ousdale University of Durham Department of Archaeology Occasional Paper No. 3 23
Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011
CAIRN. Latheronwheel. Dimensions 10 x 6. 3 m. Large elliptical grass-covered mound small stones visible in north face of mound. Rectangular cist, empty, with slab lining on summit. Slight cattle erosion. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1879 3235 CAD/200/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre.
LAT 264 CAIRN. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, a) 8 x 6.5 m., b) 18 x 9 m. a) very large slab set at approximately 45º above another, supported by two smaller stones. Surrounded by a series of large boulders set into the ground, roughly circular distribution around the central large stone feature. b) located to the north east of a) a low subrectangular mound with possible traces of kerbing of large boulders on south side. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1868 3236 CAD/201/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre. Plate 3C
LAT 265 HUT CIRCLE. Latheronwheel. Dimensions approx. 10 x 8.5 m. Roughly circular bank with possible entrance on the ne side. Walls approx. 0.5 m. in height. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1868 3223 CAD/202/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre.
LAT 266 CAIRN. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, large mound overall 39 x 25 m., associated mounds between 1.2 and 4.5 m. diameter. A large grass-covered mound surmounted by small stone heaps which are only partially grass-covered. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1855 3230 CAD/203/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 P.U. Figure 18
LAT 267 STRUCTURES. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, a) 37 x 6 m. b) 11 x 5 m. c) 6 x 5 m. Three adjacent structures represented by low linear grass-covered banks. Large structure with two smaller ones immediately adjacent and parallel, aligned e-w. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1858 3221 CAD/204/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 P.U.
LAT 268 STONE SETTING. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, 3 x 3 m. Horse-shoe shaped stone-setting of five stones set in a slight arc and three further stones running from the ends of each arc. Partially grass-covered. Aligned e-w. Elevation c. 40 m. OD. ND 1859 3219 CAD/205/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre.
LAT 269 CAIRNFIELD. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, overall area 125 x 50 m., average size 4.4 x 4 m. - 6 x 7.3 m., max. height 1 m. A series of 14 partially grass-covered cairns located on the sides of a dry valley. Largest (13.4 x 4 m.) located on spur of land at its head. Traces of slight cattle damage. Elevation c. 30 m. OD. ND 1863 3210 24
Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011
CAD 206/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre./P.U.
LAT 270 LONG CAIRN. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, 57.5 x 16.5 m. max. height 1 m. Large stone-strewn ridge, partially grass-covered with upright slabs protruding. At northern end, raised central area with slabs radiating, possible entrance to the nw. Series of large depressions here and throughout the length could represent chambers. There are also traces of possible lintel slabs in association with passage ways. The southern end of the complex is dominated by a series of shallow depressions and upright slabs. Generally trapezoidal in shape with the wider part being to the north. Aligned sw-ne. Elevation c. 30 m. OD. ND 1883 3200 CAD 207/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 Pre. Plate 4 A, B, C. Figure 17
LAT 271 STRUCTURE. Latheronwheel. Dimensions 27 x 12 m. a roughly subrectangular low mound, grass- covered, composed of a series of irregular surface features. Traces of stone indicate that this could be a structure. Aligned sw-ne. Elevation c. 30 m. OD. ND 1872 3179 CAD/208/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 P.U.
LAT 272 CAIRNFIELD. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, overall area covered 75 x 110 m., average size, 3.2 x 3.2 m. - 8.7 x 6.7 m. A series of 14 small, grass-covered mounds, and a stone spread, located around a natural mound and depression. Some with small stones protruding. Elevation c. 30 m. OD. ND 1863 3178 CAD/210/1-2; CAD/207/3-4 P.U.
LAT 273 ENCLOSURE. Latheronwheel. Dimensions, 30 x 26 m., banks c. 1.5 m. wide, internal feature 6 x 6 m., banks c. 2 m. wide. A roughly rectangular enclosure with longer axis running parallel to the coastline. In northern part, a circular feature with grass-covered banks located. Elevation c. 30 m. OD. ND 1863 3180 CAD/209/1; CAD/207/3-4 P.U.
LAT 274 CAIRN (Chambered) La theronwheel. Dimens ions, diameter 12.2 - 15.25 m. Orkney-Cromarty, Camster-type round cairn. Immediately adjacent to a field boundary. As described but damaged on west side. Scheduled Monument. Elevation c. 60 m. OD. ND 1848 3210 OS. card no. ND 13 SE 7. (Henshall 1963, 278, no. 35, fig. 45) Pre.
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Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011
Figure 12 Overview – Area A
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Shore Park, Latheronwheel Survey May 2011
Figure 13 Overview - Area B
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