Croft 119, Clachtoll, ,

Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services

Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Watching Brief and Trial Trenching

Catherine Dagg

for

Helen Theakston and Graham Acreman 5 Bayview Terrace By Sutherland IV27 4LB

Croft 119, Clachtoll, Assynt, Sutherland: Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services.Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Watching Brief and Trial Trenching

Location Plan

2 Croft 119, Clachtoll, Assynt, Sutherland: Erection of house, formation of access and installation of services.

Ref no. SU-09-012

Archaeological Watching Brief and Trial Trenching

Site summary Rural site 204062 926865 Site location (NGR)

Total area of construction

Work required a. Archaeological watching brief b. 5% trial trenching

Area of investigation required a. Access road b. House footprint, hardstanding

1.0 Summary

Trial trenching of the proposed house site and hardstanding concluded that there were no buried archaeological features within this area. A Watching brief on ground breaking work for the access road recorded late 19th century middens associated with the original croft house, and contemporary land drains

2.0 Background

This archaeological evaluation has been produced in response to a brief from Council Archaeology Unit for a second phase of evaluation of the proposed development. An initial desk-based evaluation and walk-over survey of the area of ground to be affected by the development, carried out on 2.7.09, located a number of visible, minor and previously unrecorded archaeological sites, and concluded that there is high potential within the development area for features of Prehistoric or Mediaeval settlement and land use to be buried under a deep deposit of windblown sand.

3.0 Archaeological Background

Although there are several important archaeological sites in the Clachtoll area, including the nationally important broch and a burnt mound, both dating to the Iron Age, there are no recorded sites within and only one adjacent to the development area:

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• A’Clach Thuill: vitrified wall at NC 0380 2670 Her Ref: MHG 43508

This small area of vitrification is located on the NW corner of the prominent landward section of the split rock on the headland west of the development area. While no actual walling is evident, this site is ideally located to be defensive. Vitrification of rock can occur in other contexts involving high temperatures, such as inside kilns and on smelting sites and it is possible that the site was chosen to utilise strong winds to produce the high temperatures required for industrial processes. It is, however, more likely that this is a small defensive site as suggested by G.Sleight during his research into the distribution of Iron Age defensive sites around the Assynt coast. Eroding midden deposits on the rock adjacent to the vitrification have produced charcoal, burnt bone and one small fragment of possible Iron Age pottery. While Clachtoll Broch is the more impressive monument, its location within the bay is not ideally suited to see and be seen up and down the coastline. The split rock does command extensive views to north and south and may have served the purpose of defence for the local community before the site proved too small for development into a broch.

This begs the question as to the location of domestic settlement within the prehistoric period. The almost complete lack of contemporary settlement types, notably hut circles, within Assynt, has led to the present hypothesis that, in a landscape of limited arable ground, settlements have not shifted over time and the remains of prehistoric settlement are most likely to lie under later, Early Modern townships or be concealed in some other way.

It can be expected that the domestic settlement associated with a defensive site on the split rock would be relatively close. It may be significant that the township name Clachtoll or Balclachinhole as recorded by Roy in the 1750s links the township to the split rock Clach Thuill although it is not now the closest topographical feature. The township is known to have drifted slightly in its location during the early modern period and this is a process which could have continued from earlier times.

4.0 Results of Initial Archaeological Survey

Of the 17 features identified within the area surveyed on 2.7.09, six can securely be dated to the modern period. These are the croft buildings, sites 1-5 and site 15, the dyke known to have been built after 1878.

A further seven sites may date to the establishment of the croft in the 1850s or 1870s, when tenants moved from elsewhere on the estate would have brought with them relatively archaic methods of using the land and building techniques. These seven, sites 6-12, are features of land and stock management and some are recorded on the 1878 map. However, they could also be remnants of a pre-crofting landscape.

Sites 16 and 17, areas of rigs and field clearance cairns are typical cultivation features of the pre-crofting, or Early Modern period. While an end date to this period can be given by known historical events, with some leeway for the conservatism of the tenants, it is less easy to give an earliest date in a period when farming techniques barely changed for centuries. In fact,

4 similar dykes to site 12, located in the vicinity of Clachtoll Broch, are locally thought to be prehistoric land boundaries.

Sites 13 and 14, boundary dykes which do not appear on early mapping and which are partially or almost totally concealed by sand, may be associated with a much earlier phase of settlement

The proximity to the defensive site on the split rock and the extensive areas of rigs on the headland suggest that the early settlement of Clachtoll may have been much further south than as recorded in the 18th century. It is also possible that the nucleated township of the 18th century was preceded by a more scattered settlement pattern of individual farmsteads, one of which being located close to the later croft house site. Similarities may be drawn with the Loch Borralie area of Durness, where features of settlement from the Iron Age onwards are now being revealed by eroding sand. However, the lack of obvious fresh water may equally have prevented such settlement at Clachtoll.

The depth of deposit of windblown sand means that any early settlement features will be preserved on an old ground surface and will only be revealed by removal of the sand.

5.0 Recommendations of Initial Evaluation

The following recommendations for further archaeological work were made in the initial evaluation:

House site

The house site is located in an area where no archaeological features were noted, although it is very close to site 12, dyke. The sand at this location is of an unknown depth and it is considered likely that it will conceal features of early settlement and land use. Site 13, wall, which is almost completely buried, is heading directly towards the house site.

Recommendations: Trial trenching or a watching brief during ground breaking work and excavation of foundation trenches will allow any buried archaeological features to be identified and recorded. There is the possibility that these features may prove to be significant and may require more detailed excavation than can be carried out during a watching brief.

2Access Road upgrade.

Construction of the road will damage site 12, dyke. This is probably the only site which will be directly affected as, although the road passes close to the building group, it is unlikely to damage them. Ground breaking for the road will be relatively superficial and is unlikely to penetrate to the base of the layer of windblown sand.

Recommendations: A watching brief during ground breaking work may be advisable along the section of road running south of the croft building complex.

5 This will allow the dyke, site 12, to be investigated and possibly dated and will allow the identification and recording of any sites exposed during work where the sand layer is more shallow.

6.0 House Site: 5% Trial Trenching

Trench 1. NC 04085 26800 – NC 04062 26802 (Photos 1-4)

This was laid out along the long axis of the development, approximately NW-SE and 24m in length. The following stratigraphy was noted:

Point a. 1. Topsoil, pale brown sandy 200mm 1m from SE end of trench 2. Sand, windblown but no apparent layering 450mm 3. Grey sand-clay mix 150mm 4. Rock (Lewisian Gneiss) in clay matrix Total depth to rock: 800mm

Point b. 1. Topsoil 400mm 4m from SE end of trench 2. Windblown sand 400mm 3. Pink-brown sand-clay mix 80mm 4. Grey sand-clay 100mm 5. Grey clay subsoil, dense and compacted Total depth to clay: 980mm

Point c. 1. Topsoil 250mm 8m from SE end of trench 2. Dark sand-topsoil mix 270mm 3. Windblown sand 840mm 4. Pale, yellow sand 190mm 5. Pink, compacted clay subsoil containing degraded rock: 150mm 6. Bedrock Total depth to bedrock: 1700mm

At this point it was felt that the health and safety issues associated with following the bedrock deeper were too great, so the trench was continued only at this depth. No changes in the sand were observed and the bedrock did not rise. It appeared most likely that the original pre- windblown sand ground surface observed the deep cleft visible at both shorelines.

The following archaeological observations can be made about Trench 1.

• No archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were noted in the trench • No former ground surface in the form of soil horizons appeared to exist between the clay subsoil and the windblown sand • No layering of the sand was visible, suggesting either the sand was laid down during one major event or there was not time between events for vegetation to establish or soils to form.

Trench 2. This was laid at 90º to Trench 1, at 6m from the SE end of Trench 1 and ran NE for 6m to the edge of the development area. In this trench, the bedrock rose rapidly from SW

6 to NE, with only 300mm of windblown sand overlying and no other stratigraphy. (Photo no. 5)

Trench 3. This was extended SE from Trench 1 to the SE boundary of the development. (Photo no. 6) In this trench, too, the bedrock rose rapidly. The only observable stratigraphy was an 80mm layer of yellow-green clay immediately overlying the bedrock surface and underlying the 500mm of windblown sand and 300mm of sandy topsoil. (Photo no. 7) The exposed red gneiss bedrock surface was smooth and undulating, without the degraded rock observed further NW in the Trench 1.

The short section of what appeared to be rubble walling, site 13, noted during the walk-over survey, did not continue into the area covered by trial trenching.

7.0 Access Road: Watching Brief

At the time of the watching brief, 2.9.09, ground clearance for the access road was already completed from the junction with the public road to the southern end of the standing ruins of the former croft house. Much of this had involved the removal of bedrock to allow a wide enough road around the outcrops of gneiss, but from the north edge of the croft building on required only the removal of topsoil to a maximum depth of 300mm. After discussion on revising the route to minimise damage to the long dyke, site 12, and particularly the section of that feature including the two upright stones which may indicate a former gateway, the route was stripped under archaeological supervision along the entire length from the south end of the former croft house to the edge of the house site.

The following archaeological features were noted:

1. Site 12, earth and rubble dyke. The point at which the access road crossed the dyke provided two sections through the bank. These appear to indicate that the bank was formed of sand, not homogenised sand with topsoil. The section of bank removed for the access road was stone-free, so it was no possible to investigate the relationship between the stone and the sand, but either a stone and earth dyke was built over a sandy bank or the section chosen for removal was coincidentally a break in the dyke (Photos 10-12)

2. Section between former croft buildings and Site 12: no features were located along this section. Removal of topsoil revealed a clean and featureless sand. (Photos 13-17)

3. Middens: Three areas of midden were exposed adjacent to the former croft buildings (Photos 18-20): a. Midden east of access track, approximately opposite the doorway of the middle section of the buildings, ie the older croft house. This midden consisted of a black soil rich in organic material, containing a large quantity of shells, almost entirely limpets but with some fragments of mussel, and the bones of a larger fish such as cod or haddock. Intermixed with these remains was a quantity of broken ceramics including glazed earthenwares and transfer wares, all dating to the latter part of the 19th century (Photos 21, 22)

7 b. Midden north of a. , also on east side of access road and opposite northernmost section of former croft buildings. This midden consisted of ash and unburnt fragments of coal, exhibiting the layering which could be expected from the successive emptying of containers. This midden also contained a small quantity of discoloured ceramics and clay pipe fragments consistent with these having been discarded into the hearth. (Photo 23) c. Midden on west side of access road, adjacent to northernmost section of former croft buildings. This midden consisted of a black soil rich in organic material, containing a large quantity of shells, almost entirely limpets, and large fish bones.(Photo 24)

4. Land drain. North of the former croft buildings, one land drain was exposed. This appeared to be a small V-shaped cut, lined with small upright slabs with a capstone no wider than 200mm (Photos 25, 26) and was still flowing.

8.0 Discussion

The trial trenching proved that the terrain underlying the windblown sand is steep, running down into a cleft, and unlikely to be the location of settlement structures. There remains the possibility of the early settlement predicted as a result of the initial desk-based assessment and walk-over survey being sited in the vicinity and this should be considered should any future development involving excavation into the sand to any depth be planned.

The middens cut through by the access road, observed during the watching brief, appear to be firmly of late 19th century date and therefore definitely associated with the croft house and not earlier structures on this site. The midden pile on the west side of the group of ruinous buildings, which may be associated with earlier structures, was not affected by this development.

While the whole area to the east of the split rock. Clach Thuille, remains archaeologically sensitive, no archaeological features, with the exception of 19th century middens, have been damaged or destroyed for this development.

Catherine Dagg, BA, AIfA 2, Ruigh’Riabhach Scoraig Peninsula Dundonnell Wester Ross IV23 2RE Tel: 01854 633 337 26.10.09

8 Appendix 2. Photographic Record (digital)

Photo no. Trench Description Viewpoint no. 1 1 Trench excavated to bedrock at SE end From SE 2 1 SW-facing section, clay layer between sand and bedrock From SW 3 1 SW facing section, showing depth of windblown sand layer with From NW underlying red clay 4 1 SW facing section, showing depth of windblown sand layer with From SW underlying red clay 5 2 Trench excavated to bedrock From NE 6 3 Trench excavated to bedrock From NW 7 3 Detail of yellow-green clay intermediate layer between sand and From SW bedrock 8 1-3 Full extent of trench 1-3 with area in foreground not excavated to full From NW depth of sand 9 3 SE end of trench 3, excavated to bedrock From SE 10 Access NW-facing section through site 12 showing sand content of bank From NW road 11 Access NW-facing section through site 12 showing sand content of bank From NW road 12 Access East end of NW facing section of site 12, sandy bank with topsoil From NW road overlying 13 Access First topsoil strip along access road between old croft ruins and house From SE road site. Site 12, dyke/bank on left 14 Access Stripped access road passing two upright marker stones of site 12 From SW road 15 Access First topsoil strip along access road, site 12, dyke/bank on right, house From N road site in far right 16 Access Detail of sand underlying topsoil and water ingress probably from From N road blocked land drain 17 Access Route of access road with site 12, dyke-bank behind From S road 18 middens West-facing section of access road adjacent to old croft buildings, with From NW exposed material from middens a. and b. 19 middens West-facing section of access road adjacent to old croft buildings, with From SW exposed material from middens a. (to right) and b. (to left) 20 Access Road north of old croft buildings with midden b. on right in section and From S road midden c. , mid- left in section 21 middens Midden a. detail showing shell and ceramics From W 22 middens Midden a. detail showing shell and fish bone From W 23 middens Midden b. detail showing layering of ash and unburnt coal, with clay From W pipe fragment on left 24 Middens Midden c. detail showing shell From E 25 Land W facing section of cut for access road, showing exposed end of land From NW drain drain 26 Land Detail showing slab construction of drain From NW drain 27 Access Incomplete section of road north of croft buildings From SW road

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Location of Trial Trenches (red) and area of watching brief (green)

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