A NORSE HOUSE ON DRIMORE MACHAIR, SOUTH UIST

Abstract

in July 1956, on behalf of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, as part of the programme of excavations mounted by the then Ministry of Works in advance of the construction of the guided weapons range on South Uist, and this account is published by courtesy of the Commissioners. The time available for this particular excavation was restricted to a fortnight, but with the help of a party of five workmen provided by the Ministry, and aided by an unbroken spell of fine weather, it was possible to achieve the ground-plan of the greater part of a Norse longhousc together with the recovery of an interesting variety of associated small finds. It is a pleasure here to record my thanks to Mr P. R. Ritchie (Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments), who made the arrangements for the excavation; to the following for examining and identifying faunal remains?Dr A. S. Clarke (Royal Scottish Museum), Dr Brian Mitchell (Nature Conservancy), Dr W. M. Stokoe and Mr A. N. Copland (University of Edinburgh, Department of Veterinary Anatomy), Mr Alwyne Wheeler (British Museum, Natural History); to Mrs. H. Thomson (Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh) for identifying wood fragments; to Mr W. N. Robertson (Inspectorate of Ancient Monu ments) for cleaning and restoration of small finds; and to my colleagues on the staff of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland?Mr I. G.