Iron Age domestic activity at Dornoch, Sutherland

Abstract

Archaeological works in 2015 within an agricultural area to the north of Dornoch have provided evidence for the prehistoric occupation of the area. The 2015 excavation uncovered evidence of Iron Age settlement, including a palisade enclosure within which was a post-built structure as well as a collection of hearth pits and large stone-lined pits. The recovery of a pivot stone from one later Iron Age feature is evidence for the former presence of a domestic structure. While the artefactual evidence and a programme of radiocarbon dating strongly indicates an Iron Age origin for the majority of the remains identified, a single calibrated date recovered from a shell midden indicates the likely reworking of Neolithic material, and one hearth structure may potentially overlie a large Neolithic pit feature. An artefact assemblage of worked coarse stone, worked antler, and Iron Age pottery was recovered.