Baines, Andrew C.W. (1999) An archaeology of Iron Age domestic settlement in northern Scotland ...

476 Pages·2009·60 MB·English

Baines, Andrew C.W. (1999) An archaeology of Iron Age domestic
settlement in northern Scotland. PhD thesis.

http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1982/

Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author

A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or
study, without prior permission or charge

This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first
obtaining permission in writing from the Author

The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any
format or medium without the formal permission of the Author

When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the
author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given

Glasgow Theses Service
http://theses.gla.ac.uk/
[email protected]
An Archaeology Iron Age Domestic
of
Settlement in Northern Scotland
ANDREW BAINES
C. W.
for
Thesis in
submitted accordance with the requirements
degree
Doctor Philsophy in Faculty Arts
the of of the of of
University Glasgow, September 1999
the of
r----s,
ý. _........
ý . ti'rt ý
ý'rý
,., -ý;,
ýý`ý
.., 3
ý'ý. :: ýiý
ý
.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
During four I have
the past years, received the assistance and encouragement of a great many
have been The
people, without whom the production of this thesis would not possible.
mistakes, of course, are all mine.
I Prof. Christopher Morris Dr. Alex. Morrison, for
wish to warmly thank my supervisors, and
in for incisive
suggesting the germ of the research project presented this thesis, their and
I have for
prompt criticism of the work which subsequently produced, and their willingness
I have benefited from discussions
to assist with all aspects of my research. also greatly with my
both
postgraduate colleagues, on topics specific to my work and on general theoretical matters.
In I Kenneth Brophy, Andrew Jones, William Kilbride, Allan
particular, am grateful to
Rutherford Eland Stuart. I Glasgow Archaeological Society for
and am also grateful to the
initial field
sponsoring my week of work.
I have invaluable from Glasgow, in
also received assistance archaeologists outside particular
Trevor Cowie (Royal Museum Scotland) for locating finds from Wag Forse,
of the the of
Lesley Ferguson (RCAHMS) for her A. 0. Curie,
assistance with the excavation notebooks of
Roger Mercer (RCAHMS) for kindly
allowing access to unpublished excavation reports and
data Janet Hooper Dorothy Low (Highland Council Archaeology Service)
survey and and
for from Highland SMR. I like Robin Hanley
providing material the would also to thank
(Inverness Museum) David Cowley (RCAHMS) I
and who answered specific queries. also
farmers, landowners in Caithness Sutherland
extend my thanks to the crofters and other and
land, Dunbeath Langwell
who allowed unconditional access to their and especially to the and
during
Estates
who allowed me to wander the moors the shooting and stalking seasons.
I Nan George Bethune for hospitality
owe special thanks to and their warm on my visits to
Caithness, I have been fieldwork in
without which would unable to complete the presented
for interest in I Kenneth Brophy for
this thesis, and their my work. am also grateful to assisting
in field, in force March 1996. I have
me the especially the gale winds and snows of also
benefitted from local knowledge George Watson during
greatly the exhaustive of my time
in Caithness.
working
Finally, I Janet Baines, Helen Hope,
wish to thank my parents,. aid'T'4rence and my partner
'40-
for both financial,
their support and assistance, moral and without which the completion of
have been impossible.
this thesis would
11
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
:
1.1. Background Research Project
3
to the
............................................................................
1.2. Research Aims Objectives 4
and
.....................................................................................
1.3. A Note Chronology 7
on
...............................................................................................
1.4. A Note Fieldwork Illustrations 9
on and
........................................................................
PART 1: APPROACHES IRON AGE NORTHERN SCOTLAND
TO THE IN
CHAPTER Two THE IRON AGE ATLANTIC SCOTLAND REVIEW CRITIQUE
: IN :A AND
2.1. Introduction 13
..............................................................................................................
2.2. The Idea Iron Age in British Prehistory 14
of the
...........................................................
14
2.2.1. Review
.....................................................................................................................................
16
2.2.2. Critique
....................................................................................................................................
2.3. The Scottish Atlantic Iron Age 19
..................................................................................
19
2.3.1. Review
.....................................................................................................................................
26
2.3.2. Critique
....................................................................................................................................
2.4. Summary 27
...................................................................................................................
CHAPTER THREE INTERPRETING FIELD SYSTEMS
:
30
3.1. Introduction
..............................................................................................................
3.2. A Social Archaeology Agricultural Landscapes 30
of
......................................................
30
3.2.1. Approaches Landscape Archaeology
to
.....................................................................................
33
3.2.2. The Social Significance Cultivated Landscape
of the
.................................................................
3.3. Domestic Architecture Cultivated Landscape 36
and the
.................................................
3.4. Summary Conclusions 40
and
.......................................................................................
CHAPTER FOUR CONSTRUCTING SEQUENCE LATER IRON AGE
A FOR THE
:
4.1. Introduction 43
..............................................................................................................
43
4.1.1. The
problem
............................................................................................................................
44
4.1.2. Sequence, Atlantic Iron Age
typology and the
..........................................................................
4.2. A Thematic Approach Later Iron Age in Northern Scotland 48
to the
..........................
4.3. The Wag Forse 50
of
......................................................................................................
4.3.1. The Site Sequence
..............................................................................................................
4.3.2. The Wider Context 52
..................................................................................................................
4.4. A Suggested local Thematic Sequence
58
.......................................................................
iii
CHAPTER
FIVE CLASSIFYING
NORTHERN IRON AGE
: THE
5.1. Introduction
62
..............................................................................................................
5.2. The Process Classification
62
of
.....................................................................................
5.3. Classifications in Iron Age Northern Scotland 66
the
of
................................................
5.3.1.
Hut-circles 66
...............................................................................................................................
5.3.2. Brochs 72
......................................................................................................................................
5.3.3. Later Iron Age Settlements 77
.......................................................................................................
5.4. Discussion
79
.................................................................................................................
PART 2: THE STUDY AREAS
CHAPTER AN INTRODUCTION STUDY AREAS
SIX : TO THE
6.1. Introduction
83
..............................................................................................................
6.2. The Physical Landscape Northern Scotland
84
of
..........................................................
6.2.1. Landscapes Topography 84
and
.....................................................................................................
6.2.2. Past landscapes 87
.........................................................................................................................
6.2.3. The Modern Agricultural Landscape 90
........................................................................................
6.3. The Study Areas 92
........................................................................................................
6.3.1. Rationale 92
..................................................................................................................................
6.3.2. Study Area 1: South East Caithness Eastern Sutherland 93
and
....................................................
6.3.3. Study Area 2: North East Caithness 94
.........................................................................................
6.3.4. Study Area 3: North West Caithness 94
........................................................................................
6.4. The Structure Chapters 7-9................................................................................. 95
of
CHAPTER SEVEN STUDY AREA 1, SOUTH EAST CAITHNESS EASTERN SUTHERLAND
: AND
7.1. Introduction 98
..............................................................................................................
7.2. Landscapes Domestic Architecture: An Overview South East Caithness
and of and
Eastern Sutherland in Iron Age
98
the
..............................................................................
7.2.1. Hut-circles 98
...............................................................................................................................
7.2.2. Brochs 114
....................................................................................................................................
7.2.3. Later Iron Age Sites 123
................................................................................................................
7.3. Local Case Studies
128
......................................................................................................
7.3.1. Glen Loth Lower Strath Kildonan 128
and the of
.........................................................................
7.3.2. Langwell Berriedale 149
and
.........................................................................................................
7.3.3. The Dunbeath Water Burn Houstry 170
and the of
......................................................................
7.4. Summary Conclusions
and 193
........................................................................................
iv
CHAPTER EIGHT STUDY AREA 2: NORTH EAST CAITHNESS
:
8.1. Introduction
198
............................................................................................................
8.2. Landscapes Domestic Architecture: An Overview North East Caithness in
and of the
Iron Age
19 8
.....................................................................................................................
8.2.1. Hut-circles 19 8
.............................................................................................................................
8.2.2. Brochs 202
....................................................................................................................................
8.2.3. Later Iron Age Sites 218
.................................................................................................................
8.3. Local Case Studies
222
...................................................................................................
8.3.1. The East Coast 222
.......................................................................................................................
8.3.2. Yarrows Watenan 260
and
..............................................................................................................
8.3.3. The Camster Area 277
...................................................................................................................
8.4. Summary Conclusions 284
and
.....................................................................................
CHAPTER NINE STUDY AREA 3: NORTH WEST CAITHNESS
:
9.1. Introduction 288
............................................................................................................
9.2. Landscapes Architecture: An Overview North West Caithness in Iron
and of the
Age 288
............................................................................................................................
288
9.2.1. Hut-circles
.............................................................................................................................
295
9.2.2. Brochs
....................................................................................................................................
304
9.2.3. Later Iron Age Settlement
.......................................................................................................
9.3. Local Case Studies 306
...................................................................................................
306
9.3.1. Reay Creag Leathan
and
.........................................................................................................
9.3.2. Ben Dorrery Upper Forss Water 323
and the
.................................................................................
338
9.3.3. Westerdale
...................................................................................................................
9.4. Summary Conclusions 348
and
.....................................................................................
CHAPTER TEN
:
CONCLUSION TOWARDS SOCIAL ARCHAEOLOGY IRON AGE NORTHERN SCOTLAND
: A OF THE IN
10.1. Introduction 351
..........................................................................................................
10.2. Changing Landscapes Everyday Life in Northern Scotland 351
of
..............................
10.3. Notes for Further Work
358
........................................................................................
V
APPENDICES
APPENDIX
1
THE WAG FORSE REINTERPRETATION MULTI-PERIOD SITE CAITHNESS
OF OF A IN
:A
1. Introduction 362
...............................................................................................................
I. I. General description 362
...................................................................................................................
1.2. Geographic location landscape 362
and setting
................................................................................
364
1.3. Early
excavation
........................................................................................................................
2. Re-interpretation 365
........................................................................................................
365
2.1. General
methodology
................................................................................................................
366
2.2. The
site sequence
.......................................................................................................................
407
3. Summary
....................................................................................................................
408
4. The Finds
...................................................................................................................
APPENDIX
2
A Gazetteer AISLED BUILDINGS NORTHERN SCOTLAND
IN
of
415
1. Introduction
...............................................................................................................
415
2. Gazetteer
....................................................................................................................
415
2.1. Firmly Identified Sites
.............................................................................................
425
2.2. Possible Sites
..............................................................................................................
APPENDIX
3
430
Radiocarbon Dates
...........................................................................................................
434
BIBLIOGRAPHY
.....................................................................................................................
V1
LIST FIGURES
OF
Figure 1.1 Conventions in Chapters 7-9.............................................. 10
: used site plans,
Figure 2.1 Piggott's for Scottish Iron Age
21
: scheme the
....................................................
Figure 3.1 Diagrammatic British Iron Age landscapes 31
: representations of southern
........
Figure 3.2 Radial Caithness broch 40
: partitions at sites
......................................................
Figure 4.1 `Pictish' buildings
47
:
..........................................................................................
Figure 4.2 for Wag Forse 49
proposed sequence the of
.A
....................................................
Figure 4.3 Comparative broch
: plans of excavated sites with that at the Wag of Forse. 53
...
Figure 4.4 Later Iron Age Howe
structures at 56
. ................................................................
Figure 5.1 Hut-circles in Scotland
68
northern
...................................................................
Figure 5.2 MacKie's developmental for Atlantic Iron Age
scheme the 73
............................
Figure 5.3 Schematic Caithness broch
sections through
mounds
...................................
Figure 5.4 Aisled buildings
: 78
.............................................................................................
Figure 7.1: Study Area 1, hut-circle
elevation of settlements 109
............................ ..............
Figure 7.2 Study Area 1, broch
: elevation 116
......................................................................
Figure 7.3 Broch & field Ach Fhionnfhuaraidh
systems at an 120
.......................................
Figure 7.4 Kintradwell broch
: 125
.......................................................................................
Figure 7.5 Study Area 1, later Iron Age
: site elevation 127
...................................................
Figure 7.6 Aisled buildings in Glen Loth
: 132
.......................................................................
Figure 7.7 Hut-circles field Kilphedir
1
: and systems at 136
................................................
Figure 7.8 Hut-circles,
Learable Hill
: enclosures and clearance cairns at 145
.......................
Figure 7.9 Complex hut-circle Ach Fhionnfhuaraidh
1
: at an 145
.......................................
Figure 7.10: Aisled building house, Borgue Langwell
and associated 155
............................
Figure 7.11: Aisled Building house, Morven
157
and associated circular
.............................
Figure 7.12 Circular buildings, Wagmore Rigg
aisled 158
..................................................
Figure 7.13 Aisled buildings, Berriedale Water
166
.............................................................
Figure 7.14 Hut-circle Bouilag Hill 172
settlement and enclosure,
.....................................
Figure 7.15 Aisled buildings, Dunbeath Water 176
.............................................................
Figure 7.16: Aisled buildings Wag 178
at the
.......................................................................
V11
Figure 7.17: Aisled buildings Wag Mor 180
and enclosure at
..............................................
Figure 7.18 Associated Achorn 182
: sub-circular and sub-rectangular structures at
.............
Figure 7.19 Aisled buildings, Cor Tulloch 188
:
......................................................................
Figure 8.1 Study Area 2, broch 211
: elevation of sites
..........................................................
Figure 8.2 Souterrains Freswick Links 223
: at
......................................................................
Figure 8.3 Plan features Kettleburn 227
: of excavated at
......................................................
Figure 8.4 Excavated features Hillhead broch 229
: at
...........................................................
features Norwall broch 230
Figure 8.5 Excavated
: at
...........................................................
features Skitten broch 232
Figure 8.6 Plan
: of excavated at
..................................................
Figure 8.7 Entrance interior features Skitten broch 232
: and at
...........................................
features broch Wester 235
Figure 8.8 : Plan of excavated at the of
........................................
features Keiss Road broch 237
Figure 8.9 Plan
: of excavated at
............................................
features Keiss Harbour broch 241
Figure 8.10 Plan
: of excavated at
...................................
broch 244
Figure 8.11 Keiss Harbour
:
.................................................................................
features Keiss White Gate broch 247
Excavated
Figure 8.12
at
:
...........................................
250
Kerbed burial Ackergill
Figure 8.13
cairns at
:
...............................................................
features Nybster broch 252
Figure 8.14 Plan
: of excavated at
..............................................
features Ness broch 256
Excavated
Figure 8.15
at
:
...............................................................
features Freswick Links broch 256
Figure 8.16 Excavated
at
:
..............................................
262
large hut-circles, Loch Watenan
Figure 8.17: Adjacent
and small
...................................
Groat's Loch 262
Figure 8.18 Hut-circle
with extended entrance passage,
: ..........................
266
Watenan North broch
Figure 8.19
:
...............................................................................
271
Loch Yarrows
Figure 8.20: Structure with complex entrance, of
...................................
272
features broch Yarrows
Figure 8.21 : Plan of excavated at the of
....................................
hut-circle by 293
Study Area 3,
Figure 9.1 elevation of settlements, group
:
.........................
300
broch
Figure 9.2 Study Area 3,
elevation of sites
:
..........................................................
by Cnoc Stanger 308
Figure 9.3 Structures
: revealed excavation at
.....................................
308
Figure 9.4 Structure V, Cnoc Stanger
:
...........................................................................
Cnoc Stanger 310
Figure 9.5 Cultivation
: traces at
..............................................................
Figure 9.6 : Plan of hut-circles and associated enclosures at Little Rock 315
.........................
Little Rock 1 315
Figure 9.7 Hut-circle
: with attached enclosure,
.......................................
Broubster Village 324
Figure 9.8 Hut-circle
: settlements and clearance cairns at
.................
Figure 9.9 Hut-circle Dorrery 2 329
: with elaborate entrance,
............................................
in Westerdale 340
Figure 9.10: Hut-circle
sites and modern enclosures the area
..................
viii
Figure 1: Location Wag Forse
of the of 363
............................................................................
Figure 2: Field Wag Forse
363
systems around the of
...........................................................
Figure 3: Published Wag Forse
367
plan of the of
................................................................
Figure 4: Pre-excavation Wag Forse 367
plan of the of
.........................................................
Figure 5: Plan Phase 1 369
of structures
...............................................................................
Figure 6: Original Wag Forse 370
plane-table plan of the of
...............................................
Figure 7: Location Phase 2 373
of structures
........................................................................
Figure 8: North face defining Enclosure I 375
of wall
..........................................................
Figure 9 Phase 2, Aisled Building I 379
and associated structures
.......................................
Figure 10 Excavated features in House III 381
:
....................................................................
Figure 11 Phase 2, Aisled Building II 383
: and associated structures
....................................
Figure 12 Phase 2, Aisled Building III 392
: and associated structures
..................................
Figure 13 Phase 2, Excavated hearth in House VI 394
:
........................................................
Figure 14 Phase 2, Broch 396
: the and associated structures
................................................
Figure 15 The 'cist' Structure II 406
: within
.........................................................................
ix