Condition

2
Structure, possible long house
Early Medieval, Medieval
Shetland

Description

A quantity of strewn stone covers an area some 26m by 26m in size. Within this concentration, large stones and fragments of walling define the remains of a structure. It lies on the shore and is actively eroding. The structure is a large sub-rectangular building with bowed long walls and a curved gable. It measures at least 10m in length and 6m in width but the wall lines can be seen to continue into the sea, where only largest stones survive. The walls are up to 2m thick in parts and are faced on both sides with large orthostats. Natural sections cut through walls by erosion indicate a rubble core filled also with a soil matrix containing peat ash and charcoal. In the interior of the building stones protruding through the grass are suggestive of internal features. A fragmentary wall curves around the building. This site is interpreted as the remains of a long house of the Viking/Norse period. The remains of associated walls and structures or enclosures adjoin the building. 20.05.15 Site located, identifiable from description, exposed section similar to description. The structure is being submerged and lies partly in the intertidal zone and partly behind the coast edge. ShoreUPDATE 23/02/2018 As described. Pottery recovered from eroding sections looks prehistoric (Bronze Age?) which suggests an earlier date than the Norse period initially suggested by the CZAS record.

Location

438702.00
1134820.00
27700
60.0961800
-1.3059314

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Feb 2018: General view showing structure with wall lines continuing onto beach 23/02/2018 Feb 2018: General view showing structure with wall lines continuing onto beach joannahambly
Feb 2018: General view showing structure with wall lines continuing onto beach
Feb 2018: Eroded wall of structure continuing on beach 23/02/2018 Feb 2018: Eroded wall of structure continuing on beach joannahambly
Feb 2018: Eroded wall of structure continuing on beach
Feb 2018: wall lines on beach in front of structure 23/02/2018 Feb 2018: wall lines on beach in front of structure joannahambly
Feb 2018: wall lines on beach in front of structure
Feb 2018: wall lines continuing onto beach from coast edge 23/02/2018 Feb 2018: wall lines continuing onto beach from coast edge joannahambly
Feb 2018: wall lines continuing onto beach from coast edge
Feb 2018: View from beach showing walls behind coast edge, visible in section and continuing on beach 23/02/2018 Feb 2018: View from beach showing walls behind coast edge, visible in section and continuing on beach joannahambly
Feb 2018: View from beach showing walls behind coast edge, visible in section and continuing on beach
Erosion face through seaward end of structure, looking SW 20/05/2015 Erosion face through seaward end of structure, looking SW training1
Erosion face through seaward end of structure, looking SW
Landward remains of structure and submerged walls in background, looking NE 20/05/2015 Landward remains of structure and submerged walls in background, looking NE training1
Landward remains of structure and submerged walls in background, looking NE

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
3093 23/02/2018 training1
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Description A quantity of strewn stone covers an area some 26m by 26m in size. Within this concentration, large stones and fragments of walling define the remains of a structure. It lies on the shore and is actively eroding. The structure is a large sub-rectangular building with bowed long walls and a curved gable. It measures at least 10m in length and 6m in width but the wall lines can be seen to continue into the sea, where only largest stones survive. The walls are up to 2m thick in parts and are faced on both sides with large orthostats. Natural sections cut through walls by erosion indicate a rubble core filled also with a soil matrix containing peat ash and charcoal. In the interior of the building stones protruding through the grass are suggestive of internal features. A fragmentary wall curves around the building. This site is interpreted as the remains of a long house of the Viking/Norse period. The remains of associated walls and structures or enclosures adjoin the building. 20.05.15 Site located, identifiable from description, exposed section similar to description. The structure is being submerged and lies partly in the intertidal zone and partly behind the coast edge. ShoreUPDATE 23/02/2018 As described. Pottery recovered from eroding sections looks prehistoric (Bronze Age?) which suggests an earlier date than the Norse period initially suggested by the CZAS record.
2055 20/05/2015 SteveJ
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Access accessible - difficult terrain; accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is not locally known
Description A quantity of strewn stone covers an area some 26m by 26m in size. Within this concentration, large stones and fragments of walling define the remains of a structure. It lies on the shore and is actively eroding. The structure is a large sub-rectangular building with bowed long walls and a curved gable. It measures at least 10m in length and 6m in width but the wall lines can be seen to continue into the sea, where only largest stones survive. The walls are up to 2m thick in parts and are faced on both sides with large orthostats. Natural sections cut through walls by erosion indicate a rubble core filled also with a soil matrix containing peat ash and charcoal. In the interior of the building stones protruding through the grass are suggestive of internal features. A fragmentary wall curves around the building. This site is interpreted as the remains of a long house of the Viking/Norse period. The remains of associated walls and structures or enclosures adjoin the building. 20.05.15 Site located, identifiable from description, exposed section similar to description. The structure is being submerged and lies partly in the intertidal zone and partly behind the coast edge.
No visible erosion since description, reassign to priority 2. Detailed survey of site and associated features.

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