Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project Data Structure Report Excavation Summary and Preliminary Finds Discussion May 2010 Mary Peteranna Cait McCullagh With contributions from Cathy Dagg The Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project has been funded by: Applecross Campsite Applecross Historical Foundation Aurelias Charitable Trust Awards for All The Highland Enterprise Hugh Fraser Foundation LEADER European Development Programme North of Scotland Archaeology Society (NOSAS) Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Ward Forum 1 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Table of Contents Summary 5 Acknowledgements 5 Volunteers during the 2009 Season 6 1 Introduction 1.1 Background 7-9 1.1.1 Site location and geology 1.1.2 Archaeological and historical background 1.1.3 Time Team 1.1.4 Applecross Archaeology Society 1.2 Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project 9 1.2.1 2006 Season 1.2.2 2007 Season 1.2.3 2008 Season 1.2.4 2009 Season 2 Objectives 10 2.1 Overall aims 2.2 Specific objectives 3 Methodology 11 3.1 Desk-based assessment 3.2 Excavation and recording 3.3 Sampling and finds processing 4 2009 fieldwork results 11 4.2 Trench 8 12 4.2.2 Courtyard 12 4.2.3 Intramural passage and staircase gallery 13 4.2.4 Intramural staircase 16 4.2.5 Intramural gallery (#3) 16 4.2.6 Inner broch wall 17 4.2.7 Outer broch wall 19 4.2.8 Possible pre-broch structures 21 4.2.9 External deposits 23 4.2.10 Sub-broch passage 23 4.3 Trench 9 25 2 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 4.4 Discussion 4.4.1 Pre-broch external structures 28 4.4.2 Main broch structures 29 4.4.3 Post-broch internal changes 29 4.4.4 Trench 9 30 5 Radiocarbon dating results 31 5.1 SUERC 26924 5.2 SUERC 26925 5.3 SUERC 26926 6 Summary of finds from the 2009 season 6.1 Introduction 32 6.2 Worked and utilised stone 32 6.2.1 Lithics 6.2.2 Pumice 6.2.3 Quartz 6.2.4 Other worked and utilised stone 6.3 Worked Antler 34 6.4 Worked and possibly worked oil shale 35 6.5 Pottery 36 6.6 Fired clay 37 6.7 Slag 38 6.8 Metalwork: Cu alloy 38 6.9 Modified bone 39 6.10 Conclusions 39 7 Recommendations for 2010 Season 40 8 Post-excavation analysis 40 9 Further work and reporting 41 10 Publication and presentation 41 11 Archiving and finds disposal 41 References 42 3 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Appendices Appendix 1 Index of Contexts 45 Appendix 2 Index of Features 55 Appendix 3 Index of Finds 56 Appendix 4 Index of Samples 63 Appendix 5 Index of Site Plans 66 Appendix 6 Index of Site Photographs 68 List of Figures Figure 1 Map of the orthwest Highlands 7 Figure 2 Applecross broch site location 8 Figure 3 C.0809 Intramural stairs and gallery, C.0803 Intramural passage (APL09 Plan 14) 15 Figure 4 Outer broch wall C.0837 in Trench 8 (Plan 10) 20 Figure 5 C.0851 wall face in sub-broch passage (APL09 Section plan 3) 24 Figure 6 Recumbent slabs from Trench 9 (Plan 4) 25 Figure 7 Site plan, showing outline of site structures and four outlying trenches 27 Figure 8 Radiocarbon plots for Samples 108, 118 and 138 from Applecross Broch 2009 31 List of Plates Plate 1 SF236: Antler comb end plate fragment 13 Plate 2 Stair gallery, jaw bones and vertebrae from C.0844 and paved surface C.0845 15 Plate 3 Third intramural gallery 17 Plate 4 Inner broch wall face and stone setting 18 Plate 5 Outer broch wall ‘improvement’ C.0837 18 Plate 6 Trench 8 at the end of the 2009 season facing E-SE 22 Plate 7 South face of sub-broch passage 23 Plate 8 Trench 9 structure 26 4 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Summary This report presents a summary of the results of the excavation and preliminary analysis of finds from the 2009 field season of Applecross Broch, Wester Ross, Highlands (National Grid Reference NG 71183 44331), carried out during September 2009. Copyright of this report is held jointly by Applecross Archaeology Society and the authors. The Applecross broch site was first investigated in 2005 by Wessex Archaeology for presentation on the television programme Time Team. This resulted in the formation of Applecross Archaeology Society , who initiated the Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project with local professional archaeologists. Previous seasons of fieldwork for the project took place in October 2006, April 2007, September 2007 and July 2008. The 2009 season was directed by Cathy Dagg, who was assisted by Cait McCullagh and Mary Peteranna. A final season is scheduled in June 2010. Acknowledgements The volunteer excavators have been a vital part of the success and enthusiasm of the Applecross Broch Community Archaeology Project . At the heart of the project are the community and the educational and heritage value that the excavations represent to them. The experience and commitment of members of orth of Scotland Archaeological Society (OSAS ) has been invaluable. The directors of the project would like to thank the following people and organisations for their assistance during 2009: Martin Wildgoose, Dr. Fraser Hunter of National Museums Scotland, Historic Scotland , Dr. Jennifer Miller of Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, Owen Kilbride, Nick Goldthorpe, John and Trina Wombell, Kirsty Cameron of the Highland Council Archaeology Unit and the Applecross Campsite. Special thanks to Beverly Ballin-Smith for visiting the site on September 6, 2009 and for her helpful review of the overall assemblage of ceramics. Special thanks to Fraser Hunter and Tanya Romanciewicz for visiting the site on July 17, 2009. 5 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Volunteers during the 2009 S eason Steven Birch Liz Curtis Brian Duff Paul Dungey Joyce Durham Freida Dyson Sam Easson Marleen Forsyth Allan Gilles Jim Glazzard Stephanie Glover James Goldthorpe Nick Goldthorpe Jonie Guest Richard Guest Susanne Inman Alistair Jupp George Kozikowski Cathy and volunteers digging in Trench 8, September 2009 Allan MacKenzie Meryl Marshall Ella McDonagh Gordon Sleight Ann Wakeling Heather Walker Sue Walker Anna Welti Martin Wildgoose Graham Wilson John Wombell Trina Wombell Project team and volunteers at the end of the 2009 Season 6 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 1 Introduction 1.1 Background 1.1.1 Site location and geology The village of Applecross is situated on the western coast of the Applecross Peninsula in the northwest Highlands of Scotland. The small residential community is situated along a natural harbour that opens into the Inner Sound of Skye and faces the Isle of Raasay and Isle of Skye to the west. The Sound of Skye borders Applecross to the north and west, and although Applecross is isolated from the adjoining mainland by mountainous terrain to east and southeast, the situation of the site is an ideal location along prehistoric sea routes of communication and transportation. The broch site is centred at Ordnance Survey NGR NG 71183 44331 on the raised beach site where Applecross Campsite is located. It was constructed on the southeastern end of a low ridge of glacially-formed material, sitting at about 40m OD and 200 metres from the present coastline. Its location gives it on an outstanding vantage point with a viewshed arcing from southwest to northeast 1. Figure 1 Map of the orthwest Highlands (red arrow points to Applecross) 2 1 Peteranna and McCullagh, 2008. 2 Mapping reproduced courtesy of Landmark Information Group, RoCAS license #LIG1044. 7 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 Figure 2 Applecross broch site location 3 1.1.2 Archaeological and historical background Applecross or Abercrossan , meaning mouth of River Crossan, has another ancient name, Comrich or Comaraich—a Gaelic derivation meaning protection, implying that this was a land on which one could seek immunity 4. Applecross is well-known as being the centre for the foundation of an early Christian Community in the early Medieval Period. In 673 AD, St. Maelrubha is believed to have founded a monastery (NMRS #NG74NW1) at the eastern end of Applecross Bay. It was later reported to have been raided by Vikings. In the Old Statistical Account of 1792 (Vol. 3, 378-9) , the site is referred to as a ‘dun’ by Rev. J. MacQueen. The site location was at that time known as ‘Borrodale’, a Norse derivation for ‘stronghold valley 5.’ More recently, the site was recorded by the Ordnance Survey and the Highland Council Archaeology Unit (NMRS #NG74SW 2, Highland HER# MHG7680) and in 2005 it was proven to be a broch by Time Team archaeologists. 3 Mapping reproduced courtesy of Landmark Information Group, RoCAS license #LIG1044. 4 McQueen, J. Pp. 378. 5 Watson, W.J., 1904. 8 APL09 Data Structure Report May 2010 1.1.3 Time Team The Applecross campsite manager, Nick Goldthorpe, first brought the site to the attention of Time Team , who commissioned Wessex Archaeology to conduct excavations in 2005. The aim of the 2005 Time Team excavation was to determine whether or not the rubble-covered structure was an Iron Age broch, to establish the extent of the remains and to investigate areas outside of the broch for other structures 6. Eight trenches were excavated by hand, three of which (Trench 1, Trench 3 and Trench 8) located broch walling and features (including an intramural wall passage). Five trenches were focused on outlying areas around the site, targeted mostly by using geophysical survey, which suggested the outline of the broch structure and revealed a possible second stone structure on the glacial ridge to the northwest of the site.