Monument record 1735 - SLIGEANACH KILDONAN, SOUTH UIST

NF72NW 25 729 284.

A small midden 50m by 40m sited within a narrow, but fairly continuous cultural surface, both of which were buried by sand in the process of dune formation. Today, the site is exposed to prevailing winds and the dunes are deflating rapidly. The site has also been used as a quarry for midden soil to spread on the local fields, and as a dump. As a result the midden came under threat.
The objectives of the excavation were to clarify the existence of structural remains, retrieve evidence of food resources and assess the evidence for contact with other communities. This built on the previous year's project when survey quadrats were laid out to assess the variability of surface deposits. A further project involved the collection and analysis of dog-whelks in order to monitor changes in the nature of the coastal environment.
An area of approximately 150 sq m was opened; the main area, about 100 sq m, was located in the central part of the midden, and the southern portion, about 50 sq m opened southwards from the southern edge of the eroded area.
The general stratigraphy consisted of:-
1. Top layer of soil developing on a layer of wind-blown sand only a few centimetres deep and very poor in organic content.
2. A layer of wind-blown sand under the topsoil, reaching a depth of 40cm to 50cm and containing few finds.
3. A rich, organic layer sandwiched between the topsoil and the sand, containing large numbers of bones, carbonised grain, pottery and some artefacts. Episodes of burning and a large circular stone feature were associated with this layer.
4. A second organic layer underlying the thick layer of wind-blown sand and reaching to an unknown depth. Large boulders and a small, circular stone feature, probably a hearth, were sited on the top of this layer, at the juncture of the sand and the organic deposit. Due to constraints of time, it was impossible to investigate this layer further, beyond noting its existence.
Finds consisting mainly of bones of domesticated and wild animals, some of which were worked; coarse Iron Age pottery fragments; carbonised grains of cereals; shellfish; and a few metal items, of which the best preserved was a clover-headed pin. Deposit samples were taken from each context for environmental analysis.
This midden proved to contain more extensive archaeological deposits than anticipated. The top cultural layer was extremely rich in finds and dietary remains. The stone feature associated with this layer has only been partially excavated. It appears to be a roughly circular base of a house or similar structure covering perhaps 15 to 16 sq m, which has undergone at least two phases of re-building and possibly had internal divisions. Most of the structure, however, remains buried under the unexcavated deposits to the east of the main excavation area. The associated amber, grey and black lenses of burning suggest an episode of fire, possibly associated with the structure.
Sponsor: SDD HBM.
M Zvelebil 1989.

M Zvelebil, 1989, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 69-70 (Bibliographic reference). SWE10417.