Condition

2
Mound & coastal exposure
Iron Age, Early Medieval, Medieval
3626
SMR276
Orkney

Description

This alleged site of a chapel and broch is an elongated mound, which has been vertically truncated by coastal erosion. The long axis of the mound runs parallel with the coast; it extends for over 70m and is up to 50m wide. At its highest point, the mound stands to 3.75m above the level of the storm beach. Inland, it extends into a pasture field and is very overgrown. A drystone wall runs along its length. At the highest point of the mound, a curving earthwork may be part of a enclosure; it appears too wide to be part of a broch wall. The erosion face has slumped and is overgrown, but there are intermittent exposures in which archaeological deposits can be seen. These occur mostly towards the base of the section and appear to continue below the level of the present beach. Exposed deposits include layers of very organic soils, some with inclusions of animal bone and shell, and possible fragmentary structures. Previous records mention a stone-lined well of the type often found in association with brochs; this is no longer in evidence. Ref.: RCAHMS (1946), #460; RCAHMS (1980), #181. CP- Site is as described above, although what is thought to be the well was located. Local tradition stated that the well was dangerous and had been infilled with debris such as old fence wire. A deep, drystone lined circular shaft was located on the seaward side of the modern wall. This was obscured by rolls of rusty fencing wire and is most likely the well referred to. I could see no obvious evidence of a chapel but the mound is a classic Orkney broch mound. The erosion face is relatively stable, with only the lower part affected in places.

Location

371360.00
1043630.00
27700
59.2781868
-2.5043008

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Coastal exposure E-W 7 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 7 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 7
Coastal exposure E-W 8 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 8 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 8
Coastal exoposure E-W 9 26/08/2013 Coastal exoposure E-W 9 cparker
Coastal exoposure E-W 9
Coastal exposure E-W 10 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 10 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 10
Coastal exposure E-W 11 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 11 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 11
Coastal exposure, W end 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure, W end cparker
Coastal exposure, W end
Site from W at distance 26/08/2013 Site from W at distance cparker
Site from W at distance
landward side of site from E 26/08/2013 landward side of site from E cparker
landward side of site from E
Ean Peace contemplates the well 26/08/2013 Ean Peace contemplates the well cparker
Ean Peace contemplates the well
Coastal exposure E-W 3 26/06/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 3 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 3
coastal exposur E-W 2 26/06/2013 coastal exposur E-W 2 cparker
coastal exposur E-W 2
Coastal side E-W 1. 26/06/2013 Coastal side E-W 1. cparker
Coastal side E-W 1.
Coastal exposure E-W 6 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 6 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 6
Coastal exposure E-W 4 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 4 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 4
Coastal exposure E-W 5 26/08/2013 Coastal exposure E-W 5 cparker
Coastal exposure E-W 5

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
1229 26/06/2013 cparker
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge < 10m
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Threats ploughing
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Visibility in section Limited visibility in section
Access accessible - difficult terrain; accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge has local associations/history
Description This alleged site of a chapel and broch is an elongated mound, which has been vertically truncated by coastal erosion. The long axis of the mound runs parallel with the coast; it extends for over 70m and is up to 50m wide. At its highest point, the mound stands to 3.75m above the level of the storm beach. Inland, it extends into a pasture field and is very overgrown. A drystone wall runs along its length. At the highest point of the mound, a curving earthwork may be part of a enclosure; it appears too wide to be part of a broch wall. The erosion face has slumped and is overgrown, but there are intermittent exposures in which archaeological deposits can be seen. These occur mostly towards the base of the section and appear to continue below the level of the present beach. Exposed deposits include layers of very organic soils, some with inclusions of animal bone and shell, and possible fragmentary structures. Previous records mention a stone-lined well of the type often found in association with brochs; this is no longer in evidence. Ref.: RCAHMS (1946), #460; RCAHMS (1980), #181. CP- Site is as described above, although what is thought to be the well was located. Local tradition stated that the well was dangerous and had been infilled with debris such as old fence wire. A deep, drystone lined circular shaft was located on the seaward side of the modern wall. This was obscured by rolls of rusty fencing wire and is most likely the well referred to. I could see no obvious evidence of a chapel but the mound is a classic Orkney broch mound. The erosion face is relatively stable, with only the lower part affected in places.
Geophysical survey of landward side. Monitoring of coastal exposure.

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