A Norse Farmstead in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations at Mound 3, Bornais, South Uist

Description

This volume examines South Uist, a small island in the soutern half of the Outer Hebrides. In the middle of the island lies the township of Bornais. This covers a particularly flat area of land which means that the three mounds can be seen all the more clearly. These mounds have been identified as being from the Viking period, with evidence of pre-Viking habitation at the site coming from Iron Age sherds. The excavation of the Bornais settlement is a long-term project, which has been going since 1994. This first volume of results of the excavation focuses on Mound 3, but includes a discussion of the topographic and geophysical survey of all the mounds. There is also considerable analysis of the environmental remains and radiocarbon dating. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Illustrations Tables List of Contributors Chapter 1: Introduction The beginning South Uist The history of recent research on South Uist The Norse context for the excavations Publication strategy Acknowledgements Chapter 2: Surveying the Mounds The physical topography of the settlement – N Sharples The geophysical survey – M A Hamilton, N Sharples and T Young Gradiometer survey Resistivity survey Mound 1 results The enclosure Mounds 2 and 3 introduction Mound 2 Mound 2A Mound 2B Mound 3 Off-mound activity Discussion Chapter 3: Methodologies Excavation strategy – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples and H Smith Sediment analysis of floor layers – H Smith and P Marshall Soil micromorphology – K Milek Pottery – A Lane and J Bond Fragmentation analysis – N Sharples Artefact methodology – A Clarke, I Dennis, P Macdonald and A Smith Slag and related materials – T P Young Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge and H Smith Crop species Wild plants Charcoal – R Gale Mammalian bone – J Mulville Bird bone – J Cartledge Fish bone – C Ingrem Marine shell – N Sharples Crab – J Light Chapter 4: Trench D The early house (DA) – N Sharples Sand accumulation (DB) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Pottery – J Bond and A Lane Artefacts – A Clarke, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge, R Gale and H Smith Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples The main house (DC) – N Sharples The house floors (DD) – N Sharples Sampling – P Marshall, H Smith and N Sharples Measurements – N Sharples Pottery – J Bond and A Lane Artefacts – A Clarke, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge and H Smith Charcoal – R Gale Animal bone – J Mulville and J Cartledge Fish – C Ingrem Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples The house abandonment deposits (DE) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Measurements – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Clarke, A Lane, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge, R Gale and H Smith Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples Chapter 5: Trench F The pre-kiln/barn sand dune (FA) – N Sharples An adjacent structure (FB) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane and P Macdonald Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples The kiln/barn construction (FC) – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane and P Macdonald Charcoal – R Gale Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Discussion – N Sharples The occupation of the kiln/barn (FD) – N Sharples Soil micromorphology – K Milek Sampling – P Marshall, N Sharples and H Smith Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane and P Macdonald Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge, R Gale and H Smith Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – K Milek, N Sharples and H Smith The abandonment of the kiln/barn (FE) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane and P Macdonald Charcoal – R Gale Animal bone – C Ingrem,J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples Activity associated with the use of the kiln/barn (FF) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge, R Gale and H Smith Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples Occupation deposits accumulating on the edge of the mound (FG) – N Sharples Sampling – N Sharples Artefacts – J Bond, A Lane, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge, R Gale and H Smith Animal bone – C Ingrem, J Mulville and J Cartledge Marine shell – N Sharples Discussion – N Sharples Chapter 6: Test Excavations Trench E – N Sharples Finds – P Macdonald Trench K – N Sharples Chapter 7: Comparative Analysis of Floors and Middens Pottery – A Lane and J Bond Artefact distribution – A Clarke,I Dennis, P Macdonald and A Smith Carbonised plant remains – S Colledge and H Smith Ubiquity analysis Spatial variation Compositional variation Statistical analysis Charcoal – R Gale The house The kiln/barn Mammalian bone – J Mulville Intra-site comparison Bird bones – J Cartledge Fish bones – C Ingrem Intra-site distribution Marine shell – N Sharples Crab – J Light A comparison of the sorting data– N Sharples Geochemical analysis of the different floor layers – P Marshall and H Smith Discussion – N Sharples Chapter 8: The Chronology Radiocarbon dating – P Marshall Introduction Analysis and interpretation The house samples The kiln/barn samples Chapter 9: Resource Exploitation The Sea. 1. Fish – C Ingrem Fish ecology and fishing techniques The Sea. 2. Mammals – J Mulville The Shore. 1. Shellfish – N Sharples Measurements Coastal exploitation The Shore. 2. Crab – J Light The Shore. 3. Wood – R Gale Liminal resources. Birds – N Sharples and J Cartledge The Machair. 1. Plants – S Colledge and H Smith The Machair. 2. Mammals – J Mulville The Moorland. 1. Plants – H Smith and S ColledgeThe evidence for wild edible plants, for The Moorland. 2. Trees – R Gale The Moorland. 3. Mammals – J Mulville Discussion – N Sharples Chapter 10: Site Activities Artefact classes – A Clarke, P Macdonald and A Smith Manufacturing evidence Vessels Dress and ornament Tools Structural fittings Miscellaneous iron Slag and related materials – T Young Fish – C Ingrem Fish processing and the implications for trade Bone modification and disposal Birds – J Cartledge Animals – J Mulville The movement, distribution and disposal of plant materials – S Colledge and H Smith Firewood – R Gale Discussion – N Sharples Chapter 11: Discussion The wider context – N Sharples Bornais – N Sharples The house The kiln/barn Plants – H Smith Animals – J Mulville Fish – C Ingrem Artefacts – A Clarke, P Macdonald, A Smith Pottery – A Lane The end of settlement on the machair – N Sharples Conclusion – N Sharples Appendix 1: Context List and Concordance Summary Appendix 2: Artefact Catalogue – A Clarke, I Dennis, P Macdonald and A Smith Appendix 3: Catalogue of Illustrated Pottery – A Lane Bibliography Index