Excavation of Graves at Ackergill and of an Earth-house at Freswick Links, Caithness, and a Description of the Discovery of a Viking Grave at Reay, Caithness

With a Preliminary Note on the Skeletal Remains from the Various Graves

Abstract

Further excavation at Ackergill near Wick revealed a further five long cists containing extended burials. Three of the cists were located within kerbed four-sided enclosures beneath a single mound. A smaller adjacent mound sealed the other two cists. The stone-built earth-house consisted of two curvilinear chambers and a passageway. A layer of clay covered the floor and parts of the walls. A midden located nearby included pottery sherds, animal and fish bones. The grave at Reay contained an extended male skeleton buried with an iron axe, shield boss, sickle, bronze ring-headed pin and a whetstone.