Islay, Sanaigmore Bay
Cremation (Period Unassigned), Inhumation (Period Unassigned), Midden (Period Unassigned), Pendant (Stone), Unidentified Flint(S) (Flint), Unidentified Pottery
Site Name Islay, Sanaigmore Bay
Classification Cremation (Period Unassigned), Inhumation (Period Unassigned), Midden (Period Unassigned), Pendant (Stone), Unidentified Flint(S) (Flint), Unidentified Pottery
Canmore ID 37525
Site Number NR27SW 4
NGR NR 2356 7099
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/37525
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Kilchoman
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR27SW 4 2356 7099.
NR 236 709 A settlement has partly eroded from a buried turf horizon in a sand dune, circa 0.5m below the present surface, on the south bank of the main stream flowing into Sanougmore Bay on the west. Visible remains on a slope are scattered in an area circa 10m by 20m and include shells, flints, a hammerstone, coarse grit tempered pottery rim and body sherds, calcined bones and traces of an extended burial which was inhumed in a pit at least 0.55m wide and 0.15m deep, perhaps associated with stone slabs which were found nearby. If this association is correct, then more disturbed burials are indicated by the presence of other groups of slabs. The site has eroded fairly rapidly since 1964 when flints and a sherd of red coated black ware were found.
F Newall 1964; E J Peltenburg and C G Booth 1974.
The area of occupation in an eroded dune at NR 2356 7099 is indicated by scattered shell deposits and pot boilers, some small unidentifiable potsherds, and worked flints. There are some large slabs lying on the surface of the dune but no structures are exposed.
Visited by OS (N K B) 19 June 1978.
The area has suffered almost total destruction of the interpretable archaeological material but retains flint scatters and abundant pottery.
Information contained in letter from R McCullagh, Islay to Dr N Fojut, SDD?AM, 14 March 1984.
NR 235 709. In 2006 a small stone pendant was found by Mr Eric Bignal, Kindrochaid, Islay, in eroding machair on the SW side of Sanaigmore Bay. The site of the discovery lies in the bunker due N of the old sheepfold on this side of the bay, a location where midden material has previously been recovered. The pendant is a natural pebble, measuring 40mm in length by 26mm in breadth, and has an hourglass perforation at one end. Mainly dark orange in colour, its surface also displays several lighter coloured spots where small inclusions have been worn smooth.
Information from Mr Eric Bignal, Kindrochaid, Islay, (SPH) 8 August 2006
Note (1984)
(2) NR 235 709. In 1974, traces of an extended inhumation which had been buried in a pit, possibly slab-lined and measuring 0.55m in width and 0.15m in depth, were recorded on the w side of Sanaigmore Bay beside the s bank of a small stream (DES 1974, 11), but no further details are known.
RCAHMS 1984