Uamh an Eich Bhric (Fiskavaig 1) Fiskavaig, Isle of Skye. OS Grid Ref. NG3028 3264 Excavation of an Eroding Midden Site – Data Structure Report 01 June 2009 Plate. 1 : The Rock Shelter at the foot of the Fiskavaig Cliffs (Scale = two figures in shelter) Authors Martin Wildgoose AIFA Steven Birch PIFA Plate 2: Approaching the site. Plate 2: Boulder hopping to site. Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey West Coast Archaeological Services. 20th May 2009 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 2 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey West Coast Archaeological Services June 2009 Grant Aided by: Historic Scotland Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey West Coast Archaeological Services UAMH AN EICH BHRIC (FISKAVAIG 1) Bracadale, Isle of Skye (NGR NG 3028 3264) The excavation and preliminary Analysis of Late iron Age Cultural Deposits from a Coastal Rock Shelter Data Structure Report 01 Authors: Martin Wildgoose Steven Birch Contributors: Fraser Hunter National Museums of Scotland Dawn MacLaren National Museums of Scotland Ann MacSween Ceramics Mike Cressy CFA Archaeology Ltd Alison McLaggan Line Illustrations Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey Tigh an Dun Dunan Broadford Isle of Skye IV49 9AJ Tel: 01471 822562 Email: [email protected] Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 3 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 4 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Contents List of Figures 7 List of Plates 7 List of Tables 7 1. Summary 8 1.1 Background 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Results 1.4 Further Work 2. Introduction 11 2.1 General 2.2 Background 2.3 Objectives 2.4 Layout of the Report 2.5 Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 2.6 Wider Publication 3. Methods 14 3.1 General 3.2 Desk-based Research 3.3 Field Survey 3.4 Excavation 4. Results 16 4.1 Desk-based Research 4.2 Field Survey 4.3 Excavation 4.3.1 Trench 1 4.3.2 Trench 2 4.4 Discussion 5. Further Work 26 6. References 26 7. Small Finds Analysis 27 7.1 Site Assessment 2006 – 2007 7.2 Excavation 2008 8. Radiocarbon Dating Program 33 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 5 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Appendix 1: Context Register 34 Appendix 2: Features Register – Trench 1 36 Appendix 3: Features Register – Trench 2 36 Appendix 4: Digital Images Register 38 Appendix 5: Field Drawings Register – Trench 1 46 Appendix 6: Field Drawings Register – Trench 2 47 Appendix 7: Small Finds Register – Trench 1 48 Appendix 8: Animal Bone Register – Trench 1 49 Appendix 9: Small Finds Register – Trench 2 50 Appendix 10: Animal Bone Register – Trench 2 51 Appendix 11: Samples Register – Trench 1 53 Appendix 12: Samples Register – Trench 2 54 Appendix 13 Preliminary Pottery Report 54 Appendix 14 Names and Addresses of Contributor 56 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 6 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 List of Figures page 1. Location maps for Uamh an Eich Bhric 10 2. Plan showing erosion of rock shelter between 2006 – 2008 11 3. Distribution of known Archaeological sites 17 4. Location of Trenches 1 and 2 within the rock shelter 19 5. Trench 1: Southern section. 20 6. Trenches 1 & 2: Occupation surface at the time of abandonment 20 7. Trench 2: Southern section 22 8. Trenches 1 & 2: Features relating to initial occupation surface 23 9. Uamh an Eich Bhric: Hearth typology 25 10. Find No. 1.08: Whetstone 47 11. Find No. 1.29: Bone skin scraper 48 12. Recording squares in Trenches 1 and 2 57 13. Radiocarbon plots 57 List of Plates 1. Uamh an Eich Bhric from the sea Front cover 2. Boulder hopping to site Front cover 3. View of site location from the south 8 4. Interior of the rock shelter from the south 9 5. Detail of the eroding midden face 12 6. Interior of the rock shelter from the north 12 7. Site 4: A 10 meter diameter round-house (Desk-based research) 16 8. Site 10: Cliff-top boulder alignment (Landscape survey) 18 9. Site 11: Outfield boulder alignment (Landscape survey) 18 10. Trench1: Hearth, Feature 1.01 and surface of Context 1.02 21 11. Trench 1: Hearth, Feature1.03 and surface of context 1.03 21 12. Trench 2: Hearth, Feature 2.01 23 13. Trench 2: Hearth, Feature2.04 23 14. Find No.1.06: Disc-headed rivet 24 15. Find no. 1.22: Stone bead 24 16. Find No. 1.29: Bone skin scraper 28 17. Find No. 1.07: Bone/antler needle 32 Tables 1. Archaeological sites recovered during desk-based research 16 2. Archaeological sites recovered during walkover survey 17 3. Uamh an Eich Bhric: Hearth typology 25 4. Radiocarbon determinations 33 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 7 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 1. SUMMARY 1.1 Background 1.1.1 This report presents the initial results of excavations, and analysis of recovered artefacts and samples, carried out at Uamh an Eich Bhric (Cave of the Speckled Horse). Uamh an Eich Bhric is a rock shelter, containing an eroding midden, lying at the base of sea cliffs west of the village of Fiskavaig, in the Parish of Bracadale, Isle of Skye, (NGR NG 3028 3264). This work was carried out between April and December 2008 by Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey and West Coast Archaeological Services. Plate 3: The impressive location of Uamh an Eich Bhric (red arrow). 1.1.2 The above fieldwork was carried out as a result of preliminary rescue work and site evaluations undertaken between October 2006 and March 2008. (Wildgoose and Birch 2006; Wildgoose and Birch 2007; Wildgoose and Birch 2008), which included, setting of erosion markers, monitoring of erosion, collection of eroded finds and collection of ecofactual and faunal samples as insurance against the complete loss of the site during winter storms. 1.1.3 Preliminary analysis of the recovered material from the midden suggested occupation of the site occurred during the Late Iron Age, while two radiocarbon determinations on animal bone from secure positions within the exposed midden face produced dates of 50 –175AD (SUERC-? : 1905 +/- 35 BP) for the base of the midden and 80 – 210AD (SUERC 14657:1870 +/- 35 BP) for abandonment. 1.2 Objectives 1.2.1 The aims of the grant-aided excavations carried out in 2008 were to further evaluate the extent and preservation of the surviving portions of the midden while at the same time removing sections of the midden from further erosion by storm action. Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 8 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 1.2.2 Two trenches were excavated – Trench 1 was placed at the southern end of the exposed midden, Trench 2 was placed at the northern end of the midden. Both these areas were being heavily eroded, (the central section of the midden was protected by 3 massive boulders), and may not have survived the 2008/9 winter storms. 1.3 Results 1.3.1 The excavation of Trench 1 revealed a short-lived sequence of occupation deposits and associated hearths with large quantities of ecofactual material including a well preserved faunal assemblage. A wide range of small finds was also recovered including stone, iron, copper-alloy, bone and antler artefacts, ceramics and evidence for both iron and copper alloy working (iron slag, crucible fragments, mould fragments, fragments of furnace lining and copper-alloy scrap). 1.3.2 The excavation of Trench 2 revealed a similar stratigraphic sequence to Trench 1 but with a heavy bias towards ceramic finds. A large faunal assemblage was also recovered from Trench 2. 1.3.3 The excavations undertaken during 2008 have demonstrated the potential importance of the site, both in a local (there are distinct parallels with Dun Ardtreck, (MacKie, 2000) and an Atlantic Iron Age context. Site work also demonstrated the potential for tightening the dating sequences of Late Iron Age sites by comparing closely dated small finds from Uamh an Eich Bhric with those from other excavated sites in the area. 1.4 Further work 1.4.1 A second season of excavation is scheduled for 2009. Recommendations are made for further fieldwork and post excavation analysis at the Fiskavaig site, (See section 5). Plate 4: The interior of the Uamh an Eich Bhric rock shelter, viewed from the southern end, showing the eroding midden face. (Standing scale is a 2-meter survey pole, plus Martin and George in the back of the shelter). Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 9 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 Figure 1: Location maps for Uamh an Eich Bhric (red dot) The Maps in this DSR are reproduced from OS originals under licence No. AL100035903 Archaeological and Ancient landscape Survey. 10 Uamh an Eich Bhric: DSR 01 Excavation Uamh an Eich Bhric, Fiskavaig 1, Isle of Skye May 2009 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 General 2.1.1 This report presents the results of excavations and preliminary analysis, carried out at Uamh an Eich Bhric (Cave of the Speckled Horse) in the Parish of Bracadale, Isle of Skye (See Fig.