Scratching the surface: residue analysis on ceramic and steatite vessels
As part of the post-excavation analyses on the material retrieved during our excavations at Clachtoll, we arranged for analysis of a selection of potsherds and steatite vessels to determine whether absorbed organic residues were present. This can identify residues from food production, for example, helping us to gain a clearer picture of what people were […]
Stories of Lake Coring in Assynt and Coigach
We’re delighted to share a guest post from Lou, a PhD student who has been carrying out research in Assynt. Her work will contribute to our understanding of the past environment at Clachtoll, helping us to build up a clearer picture of the landscape through the millennia. I’m Lou and I’m a student at Newcastle […]
Cell 2: A Mystery Solved!
Today Jack and Dawn have been investigating some fragments of fired clay recovered from within Cell 2 of the broch. During excavation the presence of organic material was noted but it was unclear what this material was and how it had formed, and the function of the cell was unclear. As you can see from […]
A Movie from Forge Photography
Many thanks to our friends at Forge Photography, who generously donated their services to make this wonderful documentary-style film about the project at the broch on behalf of Historic Assynt. Enjoy!
Pushing on with post-excavation analyses
The final phase of excavations at Clachtoll may be over, but the post-excavation analyses are still in progress, with lots of careful scrutiny of the evidence to come before we can make any more solid interpretations about the construction, use and demise of the broch. Our post-excavation research design (PERD) sets out the way in […]
More questions than answers at Clachtoll broch
The current phase of excavation the broch is complete, with many unexpected results and, as usual, more questions have been raised by the finds. The excavation focused on the ‘guard cell’ within the walls, to the left of the entrance. It has a corbelled roof but the wall at the far end is clearly a […]
Mysterious stones found at Clashnessie!
Archaeologists are often non-committal. When you ask them what they have unearthed on a dig you will often get a ‘well, on the one hand it could be… but on the other hand it might…’ Here in Assynt we have a situation where ‘your guess is as good as any’ prevails, at least for the […]
More interesting finds at Clachtoll broch
The excavation of the ‘guard’ cell to the left of the entrance, between the broch walls, continues to produce really interesting finds, particularly coming out from the sieving of the gloopy material in the floor of the chamber. Under where the almost complete skeleton of a sheep was found was some slimy deposits – possibly […]
Ewe What?!
A body of a dead sheep has been found in Assynt? That’s not exactly interesting, is it? Well, yes, actually. It’s astounding! Historic Assynt planned this fortnight of summer activities to coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Assynt Crofters Trust’s buyout of the North Assynt Estate, which is being celebrated through a marvelous Feis […]
All welcome to join in some experimental archaeology at Clachtoll
THERE ARE LOTS OF EVENTS TO JOIN IN WITH FROM 2nd – 14th JULY: ALL EVENTS ARE FREE EXCAVATION at the Broch Monday 2 July 2-5pm & then 9am – 5pm daily (not Sunday) until Saturday 14 July Volunteers welcome – no experience required CLACHTOLL BROCH ACTIVITIES AND DISPLAYS: Monday 2 July Afternoon In […]