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Crossiecrown

Settlement (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Crossiecrown

Classification Settlement (Period Unassigned)

Canmore ID 134216

Site Number HY41SW 154

NGR HY 423 137

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

C14 Radiocarbon Dating

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/134216

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Kirkwall And St Ola
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Orkney
  • Former County Orkney

Archaeology Notes

HY41SW 154 423 137

HY 423 137 As part of the University of Glasgow based Cuween-Wideford Neolithic landscape project a spring season of fieldwalking resulted in the discovery of a dense flint and stone scatter over two adjoining mounds on the land of Quanterness Farm. The finds included a barbed-and-tanged arrowhead and a variety of stone tools assignable to the early Bronze Age. The importance of this discovery cannot be too highly stressed as settlements of this period remain virtually undetected on Mainland, Orkney.

Sponsors: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, British Academy, University of Glasgow.

C Richards and R Jones 1995.

HY 423 137 Preliminary excavation was undertaken at Crossiecrown (NMRS HY41SW 154) in August/September 1998. Earthwork survey and surface collection of artefacts had been undertaken at the site in 1995 as heavy ploughing was taking place. These techniques indicated the presence of a later prehistoric settlement, and geophysical survey showed the presence of structures.

Two trenches were opened with the aim of gauging the nature, condition and extent of the settlement. One trench revealed thick artefact-rich midden deposits, indicating a date of Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age. In the second trench parts of a stone-built house were exposed. The house had recesses built around a central hearth; a complete polished stone axe was recovered within one recess, and a stone mortar was found within a small cell. Features and walling were recorded but not excavated; it would appear that preservation of the lowest walling and floor levels is at present good, although the ploughsoil over the site is extremely shallow.

Sponsor: Orkney Islands Council.

J Downes 1998

HY 423 137 A third season of excavation was carried out as part of the Cuween-Wideford Landscape Project. Previous seasons had uncovered a large Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age structure (House 1) in association with deep midden deposits (NMRS HY41SW 154; DES 1998, 70-71). This year an area c 20 x 6m was opened to the N and W of House 1 to investigate the presence of other structures and correlate the results from previous seasons.

A hearth, revealed last year to the NW of the entrance of House 1, proved to be central to another large structure, House 2. This house was almost identical in layout to House 1, with recesses/beds, stone boxes, stone furniture and a small cell with a drain. As in House 1, a polished stone tool was found in one of the recesses to the right of the entrance. The entrances to both structures faced each other across a paved area. This paving partially underlay the NW wall of House 1 and overlay an earlier phase of paving. The earlier paving probably relates to a structure underlying House 2. This earlier structure was not excavated and was only hinted at by the reuse of a section of walling as a revetment at the entrance to House 2. Although Houses 1 and 2 were partially contemporary, House 2 was constructed first and House 1 remained in use after the abandonment of House 2.

The NW wall of House 1 was dismantled to investigate earlier features. A bronze pin with a ringed decoration was found in the wall core. A sondage was excavated below this wall down to natural. This revealed a series of thick midden and rubble deposits sitting on top of a possible paved area directly above the natural. Adjacent to the paving was a section of a curving gully feature cut into the natural. A few sherds of earlier Neolithic pottery were found within the midden and rubble deposits, and a single sherd of Unstan Ware was identified in the redeposited fill of House 2.

In 1999 a small trench to the N of House 1 revealed part of a hollow that had been dug into the top of midden deposits and lined with orthostats. Excavations this year revealed the full extent of this feature. The hollow was sub-oval and measured c 7 x 4m by up to 0.5m deep. The NW side was partially lined with masonry. Two stone boxes were set into the floor. Settings for two upright parallel stones were found near the centre of the hollow.

Activity areas external to the two houses were implied by various compact platforms, a small hearth to the N of House 1, and some short lengths of walling.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, University of Glasgow, University of Manchester, Orkney College, Orkney Archaeological Trust.

N Card and J Downes 2000

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