Condition

2
Mound & coastal exposure
Early Medieval, Medieval
3397
SMR144
Orkney

Description

Suspected archaeological remains have been reported to the east and south sides of the cemetery at Ladykirk. The remains on the east side are difficult to verify; the area is uneven and overgrown and the most identifiable elements appear to be a series of quarry hollows. On the south side, an erosion face containing archaeological deposits has been exposed by the sea. This section lies to the seaward side of an amorphous mounded area, beneath the modern cemetery enclosure wall. It extends for 5m and is up to 1.5m high. The greater part of the remains comprise of a wall, buried beneath 0.8m of soil, which is up to 7 courses/ 0.9m high and slumped inward. A probable floor surface, formed from closely-fitted flat slabs, extends from the base of the wall on to the foreshore. Anthropogenic soils associated with this contain both burnt and unburnt mammal and fish bone. While the walling may be no more than the remains of an earlier cemetery enclosure, it is more likely to be the remains of an older building, possibly even of medieval date. Ref.: Marwick, H (1923) 'Antiquarian notes on Sanday', POAS, 1 (1922-3), 26-7; RCAHMS (1946) #436; RCAHMS (1980) #79. Possible broch site. 2009 section of wall above pavement eroded to reveal culvert type structure with 1 -1.2 m midden material above including complete pig jaw and small animal bones. 2013 small slag/ironworking nodule emerging from midden material.

Location

367670.00
1039860.00
27700
59.2440643
-2.5684817

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
ladykirk south 20/04/2013 ladykirk south kirkhall
ladykirk south
ladykirkwide 20/04/2013 ladykirkwide kirkhall
ladykirkwide
ladykirkwide 20/04/2013 ladykirkwide kirkhall
ladykirkwide

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
934 20/04/2013 kirkhall
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Threats animal burrows
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Access easily accessible - no restrictions; accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is well known
Description Suspected archaeological remains have been reported to the east and south sides of the cemetery at Ladykirk. The remains on the east side are difficult to verify; the area is uneven and overgrown and the most identifiable elements appear to be a series of quarry hollows. On the south side, an erosion face containing archaeological deposits has been exposed by the sea. This section lies to the seaward side of an amorphous mounded area, beneath the modern cemetery enclosure wall. It extends for 5m and is up to 1.5m high. The greater part of the remains comprise of a wall, buried beneath 0.8m of soil, which is up to 7 courses/ 0.9m high and slumped inward. A probable floor surface, formed from closely-fitted flat slabs, extends from the base of the wall on to the foreshore. Anthropogenic soils associated with this contain both burnt and unburnt mammal and fish bone. While the walling may be no more than the remains of an earlier cemetery enclosure, it is more likely to be the remains of an older building, possibly even of medieval date. Ref.: Marwick, H (1923) 'Antiquarian notes on Sanday', POAS, 1 (1922-3), 26-7; RCAHMS (1946) #436; RCAHMS (1980) #79. Possible broch site. 2009 section of wall above pavement eroded to reveal culvert type structure with 1 -1.2 m midden material above including complete pig jaw and small animal bones. 2013 small slag/ironworking nodule emerging from midden material.
Monitoring. Geophysics to ascertain extent/ basis for substantial (+5m) mound immediately to east of field wall. Past 4 years have seen limited sea erosion but imminent collapse of field wall (approx 1 m high) standing on top of midden and substantial rabbit burrowing are breaking up/ collapsing compacted section. Reassign priority 2

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