Early medieval settlement and ironworking in Dornoch, Sutherland

excavations at The Meadows Business Park

Authors

  • Russel Coleman Author
  • Effie Photos-Jones Author
  • Simon Chenery Contributor
  • Adrian Cox Contributor
  • Derek Hall Contributor
  • Mhairi Haistie Contributor
  • Catherine Smith Contributor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2008.28.1-22

Keywords:

Building Ditched Enclosures, Settlement, Bone, Ironworking Evidence, Iron Slag Bog Iron, Bone Pin Beater

Abstract

Monitoring and excavation during the development of a new business park in Dornoch (NGR: NH 797 895) in 1997 revealed numerous features including a building, ditched enclosures and several hearths, all sealed beneath an artefact-rich cultivation soil. Radiocarbon dates obtained place the main period of activity here in the late 1st millennium AD. The evidence recovered also suggests a tradition of ironworking here from the early medieval period continuing through into the medieval period. A small assemblage of finds was recovered from the excavation, including quantities of iron slag, bog iron ore, fragments from a clay-lined furnace, whale bone, a bone counter and a bone pin beater. This paper reports on the results of the work and includes an extended section on the analysis of the iron making and working evidence.

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Published

01-01-2008

Issue

Vol. 28 (2008): Early medieval settlement and ironworking in Dornoch, Sutherland: excavations at The Meadows Business Park

Section

Full issue

How to Cite

“Early Medieval Settlement and Ironworking in Dornoch, Sutherland: Excavations at The Meadows Business Park”. 2008. Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports 28 (January): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2008.28.1-22.