Monument record 12005 - IODCHAR

NF74SE 27 7528 4478

NF 7528 4478 Iodchar. Settlement mound. Geophysics revealed several rectilinear concentrations resembling structures, and linear readings which were probably walling. These appeared to overlie a circular wheelhouse-like structure. Ten test pits were opened up to confirm the readings.
Trenches 1 and 2 confirmed that the walling belonged to a structure now quarried away, and revealed the presence of another, 1m further down. Trench 6 revealed a T-shaped truncated area of walling. Trenches 8 and 9 located areas of shallow walling and some floor areas.
The other trenches located midden material containing an abundance of shell, cattle and sheep bone, a small number of bird and fish bone, and some horse bones. Some diagnostic (15th to 16th-century) pottery was uncovered from a number of these trenches. The middens also included baked clay, possibly from a kiln. One of the trenches also revealed a shallow pit containing the articulated bones of the rear end of a sheep. All the deposits were covered in a 50-75cm layer of clean sand, possibly confirming historical records of massive sand blows at the end of the 16th century. The midden also contained an iron arrowhead. Deposits were bulk sampled for environmental processing. (SEARCH Site 138)
Sponsors: Universities of Glasgow, Sheffield, Bournemouth and Southampton, King Alfred's College.
J A Raven 2003

REPORT DATE: 21/02/2005